Paul King:

I’m fighting this election on one main national issue, we need to clean up our government, banks and systems. The International community must have confidence in Ireland so that we may have a real future.

In order to have any chance I need to try and get one message across. In relation to your questions all I have is my personal view which I’m not fighting this election on. I hope you understand my position, as an Independent candidate I feel I could only have one issue. If elected all I can say is I will make a difference in this one area of accountability.

Eric Byrne:

Ye Ye as a born Catholic who married a Jew we sent our two girls to protestant school…we are all now happy atheists.

In addition, the Labour Party statement provided on behalf of all its candidates.

Gerry Kelly:

As a candidate for Direct Democracy Ireland, we have no distinct policies as such. Instead we are sekking to change the way the political system works – whereby all major decisions must be referred to the public, by the politicians if there is a petition raised with sufficient numbers. It is what happens in Switzerland where there is an average of 7-12 referenda each year. In such a system neither the bank bailout, NAMA or the I.M.F./E.U. bailout could have been rushed through the Dail. We all know how the public would have voted. In Iceland the President insisted on a referendum on a bank bailout,the vote was 93% NO & now the Prime Minister, Finance Minister & Business Minister await trial for economic treason. THAT’S WHAT A REPUBLIC LOOKS LIKE !!!
Regarding your campaign, i wish you well and i agree that our school system is highly anomylous ( esp given this land’s history of abuse by religious orders) in a modern multi-cultural, multi-faith & non-faith society. I also agree that our blasphemy law takes us back towards the dark ages. There is also a serious issue in Irish schools of declining standards & nobody really in charge (the Dept of Educ say they only pay the teachers ) which is used to doge responsibility & dump it onto voluntary boards of management. A few years ago the Dept of Education ruthlessly used this device to avoid compensation to a woman in Co. Cork abused by her Primary School Principal. They are also demanding the woman pay the full €1 million legal fees for both sides. How caring is that ?
So, while i wish you well in your campaign, my answer is that in a Direct Democratic Ireland you would present your petition ( prob. 10 000 signatures might be the threshold) then the Govt would have to call a referendum & the ultimate say rests with the people, as it should in all major issues.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh:

See the statement provided by Sinn Fein on behalf of all its candidates.

Michael Conaghan:

See the statement provided by the Labour Party on behalf of all its candidates.

Henry Upton:

See the statement provided by the Labour Party on behalf of all its candidates.

Catherine Byrne:

See the statement provided by Fine Gael on behalf of all its candidates.

Ruairi McGinley:

See the statement provided by Fine Gael on behalf of all its candidates.

Colm Brophy:

See the statement provided by Fine Gael on behalf of all its candidates.

Oisín Ó hAlmhain

See the statement provided by the Green Party on behalf of all its candidates.

No Response Received From:

Michael Mulcahy

Joan Collins

Colm Callanan

Peter O’Neill

Candidates Not Contacted:

Sean Connolly Farrell

Noel Francis Bennett

Neville Bradley

Dominic Mooney

Fine Gael statement

Green Party statement

Labour Party Statement

Sinn Fein Statement