The Limerick Post is involving ordinary Limerick voters in our General Election coverage.
Representatives of different areas of Limerick society will get the opportunity to question the first 16 declared candidates on their policies and promises.
First time voter David Neville gets the series under way with reporter Daragh Frawley.
ORIGINALLY from Castleconnell, David graduated from the University of Limerick in 2013 with an honours degree in Business and Marketing, having completed the Leaving Certificate in Castletroy College four years previously.
ORIGINALLY from Castleconnell, David graduated from the University of Limerick in 2013 with an honours degree in Business and Marketing, having completed the Leaving Certificate in Castletroy College four years previously.He has been in constant employment in several industries since 2007 and for many of those jobs he was in receipt of minimum wage. After graduating from UL, he began working with GECAS (GE Capital Aviation Services) in Shannon, where he spent 18 months.
Once his contract ended and with the recession deepening, he opted to leave Ireland and found work in the marketing department of a New York technology firm, where he was based for more than a year. When the opportunity arose to return to Limerick and work with an associated company, he had no hesitation in doing so.
David is currently renting a house with friends in the suburbs of Limerick and has been playing rugby with UL Bohemians for over a decade. Having been a key member of Castletroy College’s award winning debate team throughout his time in the school, he has an interest in public speaking, current affairs and travel.
He has no affiliation to any political party, and since returning from the United States, this is the first election he will be voting in.
A young man with big ambitions, David wants to see the younger workforce consulted and involved in helping Limerick reach its full potential as a city and county.
Limerick City Candidates:
Question:
Do you have anything to offer people under 30 wanting to start their own business?
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein)
Sinn Féin would cap utility costs for two years and review commercial rates with incentives for start-up indigenous business and prioritise access to credit. Open up public procurement to allow start-up and existing SME’s to compete for tenders for State and Local Authority projects.
James Gaffney (Green party)
I started my own business ‘English Week’ when I was 29, so I appreciate the challenges facing young – indeed all – entrepreneurs. I have proposed a regional, publicly-owned network of banks that would improve access to credit for local businesses. We can also streamline the number of agencies involved in enterprise.
Kieran O’Donnell (Fianna Gael)
I was self-employed from my 20s. As a chartered accountant and a previously self-employed person, I have always put forward the case for the self-employed. Based on my experience, I give advice to any individual contacting me about setting up their own business.
Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fail)
I would incentivise entrepreneurs to set up new businesses by providing tapered relief from capital gains tax. I would implement a phased introduction of an earned income tax credit for the self-employed equal to the value of the PAYE tax credit. I would address the lack of credit through the introduction of tax relief for individuals making loan capital investments to SMEs. We also need to extend PRSI benefits to the self-employed.
Cian Prendiville (Anti Austerity Alliance)
The huge cuts to people’s spending money has made it far harder for small and new businesses. We need a real recovery in incomes, so people can spend more in local business. The AAA fight for a progressive rates system that would benefit smaller companies, rather than the current flat-tax.
Sarah-Jane Hennelly (Social Democrats)
Absolutely. Â Some of our ideas include reforming commercial rates, simplifying compliance for small business and self-employed, implementing a user-friendly web portal for businesses to file tax returns, employment compliance similar to the Altinn system in Norway and we want to see social protections for formerly self-employed people reformed.
Michael Noonan (Fine Gael)
No Response
Jan O’Sullivan (Labour)
Sourcing finance and finding the right people are critical when starting a business. Labour has been pivotal in launching a new microfinance initiative for small business and start ups, see www.microfinanceireland.ie We’re also transforming education and training – launching new apprenticeships and through schemes such as ‘Jobsplus’ giving employers and the unemployed a real incentive to get the country working again.
Limerick County Candidates
Question: Do you have anything to offer people under 30 wanting to start their own business?
Emmett O’Brien (Independent)
From a Limerick County perspective we need to develop Rural Economic Zones with rateable incentives and attractive loans with low interest rates for start-up businesses. The artisan, craft food and IT sectors have the potential for great success, provided County Limerick finally gets proper broadband.
Seamus Browne (Sinn Fein)
We would alleviate some of their tax burden through a tax credit on earned income similar to that available to PAYE workers of €500, open up the SURE relief scheme to those who have been solely self-employed, and double the number of online trading vouchers currently available.
Tom Neville (Fianna Gael)
Budget 2016 introduced a new earned income tax credit worth €550 for the self-employed. The Government has committed to tax equalisation for the self-employed by 2018. Reductions in USC and the elimination of the tax during the next Government will also benefit those starting new businesses
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail)
We will establish a new lending Commercial Bank with a focus on new SME start up business and we will introduce a business advice voucher scheme, worth €2,500 each, to 5,000 entrepreneurs in the start-up stage. We will also incentivise new business by reduced employers PRSI and reduced Capital Gains Tax.
Patrick O’Donovan (Fianna Gael)
No Response
Richard O’Donoghue (Independent)
I will ensure that the Government works out a system in consultation with banks and other financial institutions to offer favourable terms to those who wish to start their own business. I will encourage the council to reduce the rates not only for the under 30s but to all businesses across County Limerick.
James Heffernan (Social Democrats)
I would like to see a range of measures introduced to promote new business start-ups. A few examples are that we must develop a community-banking sector to make lending responsible and accessible, make R&D
Mark Keogh (Direct Democracy Ireland)
Direct Democracy Ireland has a network of people who have real life experience in running their own businesses who would be able to offer advice and mentoring to anyone that requests it. All aspects of how small start-ups can thrive would be looked at.
Limerick County Candidates:
Question: Where would you draw the line if you fundamentally disagreed with one of your party’s policies?
Emmett O’Brien (Independent)
I do not have to worry about petty back-biting and grand-standing in a political party as I am an Independent and free to represent the people of Limerick free from a party whip and on the basis of the personal mandate they give me.
Tom Neville (Fianna Gael)
Fine Gael has a plan to keep the recovery going, to create more and better jobs, and to use the resources from a growing economy to invest in vital public services. Stability is needed to achieve this so all parts of the country benefit. I agree with this vision.
Richard O’Donoghue (Independent)
I have already demonstrated by my recent action of resigning from Fianna Fáil that I will put the people of County Limerick first.
Seamus Browne (Sinn Fein)
I would work hard within the structures of the party to change it. I believe in constructive action. Our Ard Fheis debates policies and passes them democratically. I would try to win the argument through that mechanism. I wouldn’t stand over what the Labour Party has done over the last five years.
Mark Keogh (Direct Democracy Ireland)
DDI do not have a whip system in place. In fact, it is the people who elect the DDI candidate who draw the line if they do not adhere to their wishes.
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail)
A principal of democracy within a political party is the minority accepting the majority decision. On all issues I express my view and abide by the group decision. This is accepted practice for a functioning democracy with political parties. My party Fianna Fáil was the first to allow a free vote on issues of conscience during this Dail term.
Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael)
No response
James Heffernan (Social Democrats)
When the Labour Party made cuts to children and the disabled, that’s when I resigned. If promises that are made get broken that’s where I draw the line. The problem with party politics in Ireland is that parties try to appeal to the widest number of voters by adopting broad policy platforms that make major disagreements inevitable. I joined the Social Democrats because we’re trying to change that.
Limerick City Candidates:
Question:
Where would you draw the line if you fundamentally disagreed with one of your party’s policies?
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein)
Sinn Féin is a democratic party, our policies are decided by delegates voting at Ard Fheis. Therefore it would not be my sole decision on drawing a line. Having said that if the party were to completely abandon its principles like the Labour party did, I’d consider my position.
James Gaffney (Green party)
The Green Party allows representatives to abstain on genuine matters of conscience and express their personal views, while stressing the Party position on the issue. I would find it difficult to support measures that were popular in the short term, if they made life more difficult for future generations.
Sarah Jane-Hennelly (Social Democrats)
It depends how extreme this policy is. If it ran against the needs of the city, I’d fight to have the whip removed. I’m a principled person and we’re a fledgling party. We generally hold the same values and so I’d be confident we’d come to agreement in the end.
Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fail)
At present I’m in broad agreement with all party policies, but will deal with each issue as it arises. If there is an issue that I fundamentally disagree with, I will vote against the party like I did in relation to Barrington’s Hospital.
Jan O Sullivan (Labour)
I argue my case in Cabinet and in the Labour Party passionately and privately.  However if in the future, a course of action that had a major negative impact on Limerick or the wider region then I couldn’t support it. However, this Government has delivered for Limerick – unemployment is falling, we’re investing in schools and a new maternity service. Having a strong voice for Limerick at Cabinet is crucial and that’s what I’m fighting for in this election.
Cian Prendiville (Anti Austerity Alliance)
The AAA is not a party like the others, we’re an alliance of socialists, workers and young people, fighting against inequality and austerity. We are based on real left principles, of opposing austerity cuts and taxes, and repealing the 8th amendment. I could not support any breach of those principles.
Kieran O’Donnell (Fianna Gael)
I always look to effect change from within the party.
Michael Noonan (Fianna Gael)
No Response
Limerick City Candidates:
Question:
What is your view on young social welfare recipients refusing to work when they are in a fit to do so?
Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fail)
I don’t know many people who don’t want to work, but all able bodied people should make themselves available for jobs that suit their skill set.
Cian Prendiville (Anti Austerity Alliance)
Having been unemployed myself, I know how hard it is for young people to try get by on €100 a week. I don’t believe anyone chooses that. It’s terrible that unemployed people are often treated like criminals, or forced onto JobBridge scams. We need secure jobs, with a living wage.
Jan O’Sullivan (Labour)
If you are in receipt of jobseekers allowance then you are required to take up employment. However, I don’t believe there are many young people shirking work offers. We’ve reformed social protection and focused on giving young people routes to employment through training, apprenticeships and upskilling. The vast majority of young people want to work and, with employment growing, we’re giving them that opportunity.
Sarah Jane-Hennelly (Social Democrats)
These people are in the small numbers and should be addressed but really, if the country was governed more effectively, the system would be fit to deal with people like this. We should be focusing on young workers rights- removing zero hour contracts, low pay, precarious employment, reforming job bridge schemes.
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein)
All social welfare recipients fit to work should accept work, training or education if offered. Anyone not accepting a reasonable offer of work should be penalised if the offer is reasonable and does not involve exploitation on behalf of the employer.
James Gaffney (Green Party)
The social welfare system should be designed to help people get work. But we need to recognise our system is bureaucratic and complicated. I think we should look to countries like Denmark which are more supportive of jobseekers.
Kieran O’Donnell (Fianna Gael)
In my experience people want to work. Each case needs to be looked at individually to see the circumstances. Also, we need to continue making work pay – we have already increased the minimum wage and Fine Gael is looking at the abolition of USC by 2020.
Michael Noonan (Fianna Gael)
No response
Limerick County Candidates:
Question:
What is your view on young social welfare recipients refusing to work when they are in a fit to do so?
Richard O’Donoghue (Independent)
If they refuse to work when fit and able, they should be invited to attend an interview and if they fail to attend and subsequently fail to avail of any available job opportunity, their welfare should be cut.
Seamus Browne (Sinn Fein)
We have one of the highest rates of youth unemployment in the EU. That’s not because young people don’t want to work. It’s because of a lack of opportunity. The vast majority of young people want to work and succeed in life. The offer of work or training should be taken up once it is reasonable and not exploitative
Mark Keogh (Direct Democracy Ireland)
Any young person who is able to work but refuses to should be made to work for at least 12 weeks a year for the local authorities in community-based projects, such as road maintenance etc. This would mean that they would be putting something back into the community for their benefits.
James Heffernan (Social Democrats)
In my experience that sort of individual is rare. Those young social welfare recipients I come across in my work are generally incredibly keen to move away from dependence and towards getting into the workforce. Aside from the financial benefits employment brings, working provides an incredibly important sense of purpose that brings major social and psychological benefits with it.
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail)
Work must pay. I have signed up to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions “Living Wage” pledge. This will help remove the social welfare traps. I believe that if people are able to work they should work and I believe that the vast majority of people want to work. To help achieve this more and affordable childcare places must be provided.
Tom Neville (Fianna Gael)
The long-term economic plan will add 200,000 jobs by 2020, meaning that anyone who wants a job can have a job. This will guarantee young people with employment opportunities, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
Emmett O’Brien (Independent)
He/she must engage in a job activation programme such as Tus, which is a great asset for rural communities, or engage in further education or have their payment reduced. We need to move away from paying people not to work or educate themselves and give them the means to move out of the poverty trap.
Patrick O’Donovan (Fianna Gael)
No response.
