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Ciarán McCarthy

Ciarán McCarthy

Social Democrats

These answers were provided by the party

Taxes and spending
1 of 32 questions
Money that is currently being saved for future policy challenges (such as climate change and an ageing population) should be spent now on things like housing and healthcare.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "While it would be impossible, and inadvisable, to spend all this money now, there is plenty of scope to use it in the shorter term on hugely important climate and infrastructure projects like upscaling wind energy, and building affordable housing."

- Social Democrats
Taxes and spending
2 of 32 questions
Taxes on people earning over €100,000 a year should be increased.
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "People on the highest incomes should contribute more. The Social Democrats would phase out tax credits for the highest earners, beginning with those who earn in excess of €108,000 pa. "

- Social Democrats
Taxes and spending
3 of 32 questions
The Universal Social Charge (USC) is a necessary source of revenue and should be kept.
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The USC raises approx. €5 billion in tax revenue every year, which is critical for the provision of important public services. Those calling for its abolition should say where the €5 billion needed to replace it would come from."

- Social Democrats
Taxes and spending
4 of 32 questions
Tax on inheritance should be reduced, even if it means cutting back on public spending or increasing other taxes.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Less than 3% ever pay inheritance tax – it is only paid by a minority who inherit relatively large sums. There’s no good reason to tax inheritance, which is received by accident of birth, more favourably than productive activities like work. "

- Social Democrats
Taxes and spending
5 of 32 questions
Universal payments, such as child benefit and energy credits, should be replaced with more targeted measures aimed at the less well-off.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "We would not remove child benefit from families, which is an important universal payment. However, the Social Democrats have always called for energy credits to be more targeted at those who needed it most – low and middle income earners. "

- Social Democrats
Housing
6 of 32 questions
The government should focus on making houses more affordable rather than providing financial supports to first-time buyers.
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "‘Help to buy’ is driving record house price increases and should be phased out, while investment in the provision of genuinely affordable housing is massively increased. The Social Democrats have a fully costed plan to provide 75,000 genuinely affordable homes."

- Social Democrats
Housing
7 of 32 questions
Planning guidelines should be relaxed to allow for more one-off rural housing
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Planning guidelines currently already allow for people to build in an area to which they have a legitimate connection. We do not propose to change the rules."

- Social Democrats
Housing
8 of 32 questions
A rent freeze should be introduced across the country, even if it risks landlords leaving the market
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Rent Pressure Zone legislation is not working, with the rules routinely being flouted without consequence by some landlords. We need a temporary three-year freeze to provide relief to renters and allow supply to increase. "

- Social Democrats
Housing
9 of 32 questions
The Local Property Tax should be scrapped, even if it means less money available for local councils
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Property Tax is an important part of a broad tax base in all developed countries, and local authorities need it to provide important services and amenities. Property ownership is a manifestation of wealth, which is impossible to move offshore. "

- Social Democrats
Transport
10 of 32 questions
The provision of public transport (trains, light rail, buses) should be prioritised over building roads
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We need a strong modal shift in transport use to create a more sustainable society and to meet our climate targets. Directing infrastructure investment towards public transport is the most equitable way to help people move around."

- Social Democrats
Transport
11 of 32 questions
The passenger cap at Dublin airport should be lifted
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "There is significant capacity in Shannon and Cork Airports that is going unused, while the infrastructure around Dublin Airport is not sufficient to allow for huge expansion. This is a great opportunity to encourage more balanced regional development. "

- Social Democrats
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 32 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Carbon taxes can be an important policy to encourage behavioural change, but government must provide accessible alternatives in transport and energy, otherwise such taxes just become penal for people who have no options. "

- Social Democrats
Environment, energy, agriculture
13 of 32 questions
Ireland should give up its exemption under the EU Nitrates directive
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland’s waterways are in an appalling condition and agricultural pollution is the main reason. Government has been leading Irish farmers off a cliff by pretending the nitrates derogation can continue indefinitely. Farmers must be supported to farm more sustainably. "

- Social Democrats
Environment, energy, agriculture
14 of 32 questions
The government should introduce measures to significantly reduce the extent of livestock farming in Ireland
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "The herd must reduce in size to meet climate obligations. Pretending otherwise harms, not helps, farmers. We would use financial incentives to encourage voluntary herd reduction over time in line with environmental targets and the carrying capacity of the land. "

- Social Democrats
Environment, energy, agriculture
15 of 32 questions
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals should be allowed in Ireland, to improve security of supply
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Investment in energy infrastructure should focus on exploiting our reserves of wind and solar energy, not locking in fossil fuel-dependent technology long term. We must significantly ramp up renewable energy and become world leaders in clean energy and its storage. "

- Social Democrats
Social issues and education
16 of 32 questions
Abortion should be allowed in a wider range of circumstances.
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "An expert report into our abortion law, published 18 months ago, recommended a number of reforms. The Government sat on this report. We would implement its recommendations in full as a priority. "

- Social Democrats
Social issues and education
17 of 32 questions
Policies to increase the representation of women in politics have gone too far
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Democracy is more effective and more relevant when it is better representative of the diversity of the population it serves. Current low levels of representation of women (and of many minorities) are proof that more needs to be done."

- Social Democrats
Social issues and education
18 of 32 questions
New laws on hate speech should be introduced to protect vulnerable communities
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Hate speech laws are necessary so incitement to hatred, which has proliferated online, can be tackled. We can enact laws with strong safeguards for free speech in order to tackle extremist hate speech that results in minorities being targeted. "

- Social Democrats
Social issues and education
19 of 32 questions
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have too much power in Irish policy making
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Social issues and education
20 of 32 questions
Religious instruction should only take place outside school hours in Irish primary schools
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Irish education system, with more than 90% of schools run by one religious denomination, does not reflect the diversity of modern Irish society. "

- Social Democrats
Social issues and education
21 of 32 questions
Gender diversity and transgender issues should be taught in Irish primary schools
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "It is important for children to have a comprehensive and fact-based education and learn about diversity and inclusion. "

- Social Democrats
Immigration and asylum
22 of 32 questions
More resources should be given to improving conditions for asylum seekers
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Your position
Comment: "It is disgrace that, in a wealthy country like ours, any human being should have to live in the conditions we have seen many international protection applicants endure over the past year – denied even a place a pitch a tent."

- Social Democrats
Immigration and asylum
23 of 32 questions
Communities should be obliged to take their fair share of asylum seekers, even if there is local opposition
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Communities should be resourced properly if international protection applicants are being housed in the area, but no one should have the right to veto who lives near them. "

- Social Democrats
Immigration and asylum
24 of 32 questions
Accommodation centres for asylum seekers should not be located in economically disadvantaged areas
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "It makes sense to accommodate asylum seekers where there are good services and infrastructure, but no area should automatically be ruled in or out. No community should have an outright veto. Engagement with communities is a key precursor to integration."

- Social Democrats
Immigration and asylum
25 of 32 questions
Rules on immigrant work permits and student visas should become more restrictive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Businesses have been highlighting skills shortages in the Irish economy for years, there is no good reason to restrict people from coming to Ireland to work. Our health service, for example, would collapse without migrant workers. "

- Social Democrats
Crime and policing
26 of 32 questions
The solution to anti-social behaviour lies in tackling poverty and disadvantage rather than tougher policing
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "While an increase in garda numbers - particularly around community policing - is needed, the root causes of much of crime could be reduced by measures that target poverty and disadvantage."

- Social Democrats
Crime and policing
27 of 32 questions
Gardaí should take a more robust approach to dealing with political protests
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We have seen a number of anti-immigrant protests that have turned violent, with people being injured and property being set alight or damaged. Violence and arson are not legitimate forms of protest and Gardaí should have a robust response. "

- Social Democrats
Foreign policy and defence
28 of 32 questions
Ireland should continue to provide financial and political support to Ukraine in response to the ongoing war
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "It is clear that Russia is the aggressor in this war, and supporting Ukraine with non-lethal aid is the correct policy for Ireland."

- Social Democrats
Foreign policy and defence
29 of 32 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "What we are witnessing in Gaza is a genocide. There must be sanctions at every level – domestically and internationally – in response. "

- Social Democrats
Foreign policy and defence
30 of 32 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops abroad
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Triple Lock has served Irish neutrality well since its inception and it should not be removed. "

- Social Democrats
Foreign policy and defence
31 of 32 questions
Ireland should collaborate more with other EU member states on defence and security
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "A certain level of co-operation, for example in cyber-security, is appropriate and common sense. But, we do not agree with any attempt to co-ordinate defence spending or make the EU a defence union. "

- Social Democrats
Irish unity
32 of 32 questions
A referendum on Irish unity should be held in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Social Democrats aspire to a united Ireland, but an awful lot of planning remains to be done in advance. We would begin with a Citizens Assembly on Irish unity, to plan for what a united Ireland could look like."

- Social Democrats

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