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Rachel Hurley Roche

Rachel Hurley Roche

Workers Party

The capitalist system is in deep crisis, and the internal contradictions can no longer be overcome through traditional methods of management. The system is in freefall, resulting in rising prices, increasing political repression, and military aggression. Working people need a workers party!

Priorities

  • Housing

    Expropriate private construction companies and use the assets to fund a state construction company to provide public housing

  • Social issues and education

    Education is a human right that must be accessible for all regardless of income, disabaility, etc

  • Foreign policy and defence

    Ireland must take a stand against the genocide of the Palestinian people

These answers were provided by the candidate

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: "Urgent investment is needed in housing, healthcare, and education before the systems collapse and are forcibly privatised"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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
Taxes and spending
3 of 32 questions
The Universal Social Charge (USC) is a necessary source of revenue and should be kept.
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "A wealth tax should replace USC. USC places undue hardship on low paid workers"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "There is already generous exemptions for family inheritance payments"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Means testing these payments has the potential to push families into poverty and increase deprivation of children"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "Yes, these measures are inflationary and do not support those most in need."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
Housing
7 of 32 questions
Planning guidelines should be relaxed to allow for more one-off rural housing
  • Agree Match with candidate
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "There is a housing crisis, all avenues should be explored"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "The private market worsens and benefits from this crisis, they will not solve the problem. As such landlords leaving the market is not a concern. The state should take over this housing through CPO"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
Housing
9 of 32 questions
The Local Property Tax should be scrapped, even if it means less money available for local councils
  • Agree Candidate position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Agree, it is not progressive and disproportionately affects people already struggling with mortgage repayments. There needs to be a complete reform of local authority funding and structure"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
Transport
10 of 32 questions
The provision of public transport (trains, light rail, buses) should be prioritised over building roads
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "All are in poor condition"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 32 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Same as above"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "Yes, but small farmers need real support. many live in fear of poverty and ruin and that is why they cannot apply more sustainable practices."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
Environment, energy, agriculture
14 of 32 questions
The government should introduce measures to significantly reduce the extent of livestock farming in Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Friendlier practices are needed for the environment, however there is little evidence that culling the herd or reducing output would do much. The emissions will simply move somewhere else. Live exports must be banned"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "Absolutely not, it opens the door to fracking which is a serious risk to human and marine life."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "Agree. However, this does not address the root cause of the financial motivations in which some women feel compelled to seek an abortion because they cannot afford to give a child a dignified and happy life."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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 Candidate position
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Quotas fail to address the root cause of why women are excluded in the first place and do not provide real support to women who are missing because fo work and caring commitments or engaged in low paid work."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
Social issues and education
18 of 32 questions
New laws on hate speech should be introduced to protect vulnerable communities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Match with candidate
  • No opinion
Comment: "Fails to address the states role in causing division based on race, gender, etc to distract workers from their common enemy. Does not address hate and its consequences at the root."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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 Match with candidate
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "NGOs exist because of government failure, we should not need lobby and interest groups to carry out the functions of the state and fulfil its duties to the people."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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
Social issues and education
21 of 32 questions
Gender diversity and transgender issues should be taught in Irish primary schools
  • Agree Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion Candidate position
Comment: "Distraction from the real issues plaguing all members of society. These topics are taught already in schools and we should support everyone's right to live dignified lives where they are respected "

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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: "Agree, end the lucrative contracts given to hoteliers and private accommodation owners who do not care about human rights or our legal obligations."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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 Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The whole system needs to be rebuilt to serve the needs of all people rather than private profit. Many questions like this only distract from class politics. Workers should not be divided by nationality while being exploited by the same system."

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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 Candidate position
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
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
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
Crime and policing
27 of 32 questions
Gardaí should take a more robust approach to dealing with political protests
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Your position
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Gardaí already take a "robust" approach to policing strikes and workers demonstrations. "

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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 Your position
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree Candidate position
  • No opinion
Comment: "Prioritise support for fleeing civilians from Ukraine and Russia as well as organisations working to secure peace in the region. We should not be funding a war in which the poor are sent to die to enrich the few"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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
Foreign policy and defence
30 of 32 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops abroad
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion
Comment: "the arguments for/against do not address the tendency of capitalism to turn to war in tough economic times. War is a money making machine and what must be addressed is the system driving this death and destruction"

- Rachel Hurley Roche
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
Irish unity
32 of 32 questions
A referendum on Irish unity should be held in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree Candidate position
  • Disagree Your position
  • No opinion

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