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Darren  O’Rourke
Darren O’Rourke
Sinn Féin


Incumbent : No

Election history:

Contested the Meath East by-election in 2013. Elected, on the first count, to Meath County Council in 2014. Re-elected in 2019.

Party positions on the election issues:

These positions were provided by the party

Taxes and Spending

The government should prioritise putting money aside for future challenges (e.g. Brexit) rather than putting it back into the economy now

The government now takes in more money than it spends. Some argue that this should be set aside to prepare for shocks like Brexit or a sharp reduction in corporation tax revenue. Others argue that the priority should be putting money into the economy through higher public spending or tax cuts.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin’s manifesto provides for both scenarios. We will embark on a significant public investment programme while also running a budget surplus."

When there is scope for tax cuts or public spending increases, what should be done?

During the recession, new taxes were introduced and public spending was cut. Some argue that when possible, the government should cut taxes to put money back into people’s pockets. Others argue that the priority should be to increase public spending in areas such as housing and health.
Significant tax cuts
Some tax cuts and some increases in spending on public services
Significant increase in spending on public services
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We will abolish the USC on the first €30,000 earned, saving workers up to €700 per annum. We will also abolish the LPT while embarking on a significant public services investment programme raised through alternative and progressive taxation."

Should taxes on lower earners (below €35,000) be increased or decreased?

Currently, people earning under €16,500 do not pay income tax. People earning over that pay the standard rate of 20%. There is also the Universal Social Charge: those earning under €13,000 are exempt, while those earning up to €20,000 pay up to 2%, rising to 4.5% for earnings over that amount.
Increased
Stay the same
Decreased
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin’s policy of removing the first €30000 of all salaries from the USC will put up to €700 back into the pockets of all workers earning less than €100,000."

Should taxes on middle earners (€35,000-€70,000) be increased or decreased?

The standard rate of income tax is 20%, which applies to all income up €35,300 (for a single person); earnings above that are taxed at 40%. The Universal Social Charge is 4.5% on income between €20,000 and €70,000.
Increased
Stay the same
Decreased
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"All workers earning under €100,000 will benefit from Sinn Féin’s policy to remove the first €30000 from the USC."

Should taxes on high earners (over €70,000) be increased or decreased?

The standard rate of income tax is 20%, which applies to all income up €35,300 (for a single person); earnings above that are taxed at 40%. The Universal Social Charge is 8% on earnings over €70,000.
Increased
Stay the same
Decreased
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Incomes up to €100,000 would pay less tax with us. But we’ll introduce a 5% levy on individual incomes above €140,000, remove tax credits from individual incomes above €140,000, tapered at a rate of 2.5% for every €1,000 above €100,000."

Should corporation taxes be increased or decreased?

Ireland’s corporate tax rate is 12.5%, which is low by international standards. Many large companies pay a much lower rate in practice. This makes us attractive for multinationals, which are a major contributor to the economy; it has also led to accusations of Ireland being a tax haven.
Increased
Stay the same
Decreased
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We would retain the 12.5% rate. But greater transparency is needed and loopholes must be closed to ensure corporations pay what is due. The Apple tax appeal against the European Commission must be dropped and money used for public services."

Housing and Health

Should the local property tax rates be increased or decreased?

The standard rate of LPT is 0.18% of a property’s market value. This rate can be adjusted up or down by the local authority. The revenue raised is used to fund local services and some of it is redistributed to other local authorities. LPT currently makes up less than 1% of all tax revenue.
Increased
Stay the same
Decreased
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin has long campaigned for the abolition of Local Property Tax, which is an unfair tax on family homes and a tax on debt that takes no consideration of family incomes or ability to pay. "

A rent freeze should be introduced across the country

Currently, rent increases are limited to 4% in ‘rent pressure zones’. Some argue that there should be a blanket rent freeze, so landlords could not increase rents at all for a period. Others argue that a rent freeze would drive landlords out of the sector and reduce the supply of houses for rent.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin will reduce rents by up to €1,500 a year, via a refundable tax credit, and freeze those rents for three years to help ease the burden on renters who are suffering during the housing crisis."

Much more resources should be directed to building local authority housing, even if that means cutting back in other areas or raising taxes

Some argue that local authority house building should be increased dramatically, as there are almost 70,000 people on waiting lists. Others favour alternative methods of solving the housing crisis, such as encouraging more private development or providing more supports for people to rent or buy.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Everyone needs a roof over their head. Sinn Féin will deliver 100,000 public homes on public land (60,000 social homes, 30,000 affordable purchase homes and 10,000 affordable rental homes)."

The best solution to the housing crisis is to incentivise more building by private developers

To solve the housing crisis, some argue we need to incentivise developers to build more houses (e.g. by reducing taxes on construction or introducing harsher penalties for ‘land hording’). Others argue that the solution should instead focus on building more local authority housing.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"The overreliance on the private sector to solve people’s housing needs is the reason we are in the midst of housing and homelessness crises in the first place."

There should be free health care for all, even those on higher incomes

Currently, only some people are entitled to a medical card or free GP care. Many people who can afford it choose to take out private health insurance. Some argue that there should be universal health care for most medical treatments, paid with public funds. Others say this would cost too much.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin believes healthcare should be free at the point of use and available to everyone when they need it based on need, not ability to pay. We are committed to an Irish National Health Service funded general taxation."

Environment

What should the focus be for investment in transport?

Some say we need to reduce our dependence on cars, and invest in sustainable transport instead (e.g. buses, trains, cycling, walking). Others argue that failing to invest in our road network will damage the economy. Currently we spend more on roads than on public transport and cycleways.
Continue to prioritise investment in roads
Spread resources evenly between roads and public transport/cycle lanes
Cut spending on roads and invest significantly in public transport and cycle lanes
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin will increase bus lanes, cycling lanes and park and ride facilities. We will substantially increase funding for public transport as a key plank of our plan to tackle the climate crisis."

New petrol and diesel vehicles should be banned in the next ten years

The draft Climate Action Bill aims to ban the sale of new fossil fuel cars from 2030 in an effort to reduce emissions. Critics say that this is unrealistic.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We will not set unrealistic targets for the uptake of electric vehicles. We will however accelerate the roll-out of public EV charging infrastructure with an investment of €50m. This is critical to making electric vehicles a viable option for people."

Should carbon taxes be increased?

Carbon tax applies to fossil fuels, e.g. oil, petrol, diesel, gas. It recently increased from €20 to €26 per tonne of CO2. The Climate Change Advisory Council recommends a rapid increase (€80 per tonne by 2030). Critics say that carbon tax disproportionately impacts those on low incomes.
Increased significantly (reaching €80 per tonne by 2030)
Increased at a more moderate rate
No increases
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"The carbon tax is regressive - the sole purpose of it is to raise funds. It will not make the state greener or cleaner. We need real investment in public transport and renewable energy to do that."

There should be a tax on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture

Agriculture is a key sector in the Irish economy. It is also responsible for 33% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. Some have called for a new tax on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, but opponents say that would be too damaging to the agri-food industry.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"An emissions tax would further punish already struggling farming families. With proper support, many farmers can transition into renewable energy. We will support farmers so they can continue to have a livelihood while contributing to EU 2030 climate/energy targets."

Immigration, moral and social issues

Should immigration into Ireland be made more restrictive or less restrictive?

Non-Irish nationals make up 12.7% of the population, most of whom came from the EU. Work permits are issued to people from other countries only with a well-paid job offer in certain occupations. Some say immigration puts pressure on services; while others say it is needed to tackle job shortages.
More restrictive
Stay the same
Less restrictive
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We believe that all states must manage migration. This system must have regard to the labour market, integration, support and resources. The system must also protect and treat people fleeing persecution and war with dignity."

More resources should be given to improving conditions for asylum seekers

Asylum seekers are housed in Direct Provision centres. Some argue that conditions are poor and have a negative effect on the physical and mental health of residents. Others disagree and argue that improving conditions would cost too much and could attract more asylum seekers to Ireland.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We are committed to ending the Direct Provision system. We must treat people - many of whom are distressed having fled war torn countries - with dignity and respect, while processing asylum applications in a timely manner."

The liberalisation of abortion in Ireland has gone too far

The legislation introduced after the 2018 referendum allows for terminations for any reason up to 12 weeks in a pregnancy. Terminations are only permitted after this date (and before the foetus becomes viable) if there is a serious risk to the health of the pregnant woman.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin supports the mandate delivered by the Irish public’s emphatic decision - 66.4% to 33.6% to repeal the Eighth Amendment in 2018."

Small towns and villages should not be forced to accommodate asylum seekers

There are approximately 6,000 asylum seekers living in Ireland. Many are accommodated in or near small towns and villages, where it is easier to find private premises to use as Direct Provision centres. In some cases locals have opposed this on the grounds that their town might be overwhelmed.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"The placement of all asylum seekers must be mindful of existing public resources available in any small town or village but also protect people fleeing persecution and war, and treat those people with dignity and care."

The Church has too much control over Irish schools and hospitals

The Catholic Church runs a number of private hospitals. Most primary schools & many secondary schools are under the patronage of the Church. Some say the Church provides invaluable services in health and education, while others say that a Catholic ethos is being imposed against people’s wishes.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"All public hospitals should be under full control of the state. Doctors and nurses must be allowed to work free from non-medical influences. Ireland today is a diverse society. More must be done to evolve our education system away from church control."

Political and constitutional issues

The reunification of Ireland would create more problems than it would solve

Some people are opposed to the division of Ireland and believe that reunification should happen as soon as possible. Others disagree on the grounds that Unionists in Northern Ireland do not want it, or because they believe it would be too expensive for the Irish government.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Partition is damaging. The Northern Ireland Assembly does not enjoy fiscal powers and people in the North are suffering from Tory policies. The conversation about Irish Unity must be based on mutual respect and inclusivity for all communities on this island."

Irish citizens living abroad (including Northern Ireland) should have a vote in Presidential elections

A referendum on this has been proposed. Some argue that political participation should be a core aspect of citizenship, regardless of where you live. Others say that there are too many citizens living abroad, and that they may be out of touch with what is going on in Ireland.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We need to embrace Irish citizens forced to emigrate and allow them to vote in presidential elections. Doing so would also be a signal of inclusion to Irish citizens living in the North, so often ignored by this state."

A referendum on Irish unity should be held during the lifetime of the next government

The Good Friday Agreement allows for a referendum in Northern Ireland & the Republic on a united Ireland, if there is evidence that unification is desired by a majority. Some say that, in light of Brexit, a border poll should be held soon. Others believe this would be premature and divisive.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Fein will work for Irish Unity. Everyone is talking about Irish Unity except Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. We need to start planning for a Unity referendum so that we can reap the benefits of a United Ireland. "

The voting age should be lowered to 16

18 is the most common minimum voting age internationally, but some countries have reduced it to 16. Proponents argue that young people should have a say as it affects their future, while opponents argue that many 16-year-olds lack the maturity to vote responsibly.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We need to empower young people to help them shape a more positive Ireland. Lowering the voting age to 16 would ensure that the rights and interests of young people stay firmly on the political agenda."

EU and international affairs

European integration has gone too far

Some people argue that the EU interferes too much in the affairs of member states, and powers should be returned to the national level. Others argue that further integration is necessary to tackle shared challenges and for economic stability.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"Sinn Féin is fully committed to the EU. However huge democratic deficits exist within its current structures. It is time to end the Brussels power grab, to rein in the Commission and return powers to the member states."

Ireland should cooperate with other EU member states on defence

Ireland has recently joined the PESCO framework, which seeks to increase defence cooperation between EU states. It commits members to work together on military planning & increase defence spending. It does not create an EU army, but some oppose it because they see it as a step in that direction.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"We are fully opposed to the further militarisation of the EU and any attempts to create an EU army. Neutrality is the product of a developed and coherent republican position stretching back over 200 years. "

Ireland should boycott Israeli goods produced in the occupied territories

A proposed law would make it an offence to import or sell goods originating in an occupied territory. Proponents say this will show solidarity with Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Critics say it discriminates unfairly against Israel, and could undermine important links with the US.
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
No opinion/skip
Comment:
"In Government, we will ban goods from Israel’s illegal colonial settlements in Palestine from entering the Irish market by implementing the Occupied Territories Bill, formally recognise the State of Palestine and assist efforts to find lasting solutions to the conflict."