John Waters
Independent
Incumbent : No
Main message to voters:
Our 'public representatives' no longer support the values or culture of Ireland, being too beholden to exterior masters, who hold them to ransom, controlling their every word and action. Ireland is being stolen in the name of “globalism”, “progress”, “equality”, “openness” and/or “tolerance”.
Priorities:
- Other Protect Irish borders. End the exploitation of the Irish taxpayer by NGOs and self-serving politicians hiding behind a fake humanitarianism.
- Other Restore respect for natural parenthood, families & especially fathers. End the abuses of family law. Support parents in rearing their own children.
- Other Prevent the mainstream parties introducing 'hate speech' legislation to silence criticism of policies that are causing untold damage to Ireland.
Candidate positions on the election issues:
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:
"We need to build a proper Irish economy that one day will enable us to be free of the external interference arising from the current policy of foreign direct investment. That requires vision, creativity, longterm planning and investment. We need to take our country back from extrinsic usurpers. "
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:
"In principle I favour low taxes but we ought not to see the operation of the State in ideological terms. There is no simple formula by which government might be ruled or organised. Some areas, such as health and education, require increased investment. Others, such as NGOs, merit disinvestment. "
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:
"Incomes have been lowered by stealth in recent years, partly due to low interest rates which has enabled increased borrowings. We need to restore the earnings of those who work in the most vital occupations, so that Irish people are able to earn a good living in their own country. "
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:
"With the caveat that I would favour abolition of the USC, which was supposed to be a temporary tax but has become a permanent fixture. "
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:
"I favour less taxes on personal income and more on corporations. "
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:
"I believe we need to review incentives we offer to transnational operating in Ireland, which have not merely taken advantage of us in this way but have also abused their presence here by seeking to dictate how Ireland is run. This needs to be done in tandem with developing the indigenous economy."
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:
"I am opposed to taxes on family homes. "
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:
"The housing and homelessness problems are not in the main caused by landlords, but my mass migration and draconian policies which have driven many landlords out of the sector. If we deal intelligently with these issues, the problems will resolve themselves. "
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:
"We are currently building many houses to cater for people coming to live here from abroad, while our own people are shoved to the end of the queue. If this policy is changed, & we lift some of the ridiculous imposition on landlords, we will find that there is already an adequate supply of housing. "
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:
"See comments above. "
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:
"Ideally we should have free health care for all, but at the moment the HSE is a complete basket case. It will take some years of reform before it wil become fit for purpose. This is not difficult: we need merely to dismantle its vast bureaucracy. Free healthcare will then become attainable. "
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:
"We need to rethink our entire approach to transport, but again not ideologically. There is a need for private cars and also for decent public transport. We need to look at ways of creating nationwide networks to incorporate remote parts of the country currently excluded from economic opportunity. "
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:
"Climate is a chaotic system that follows a logic that defies all prediction. We should cease listen to the scaremongering of climate activists who have many hidden agendas. We certainly ought not be formulating policy on the basis of scaremongering. "
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:
"Se above. "
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:
"Se above. "
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 need to return to a view that Ireland belongs to the Irish people — those who have built and nurtured it. It does not belong to globalists and manipulators of markets. The Irish people have a right to decide who comes to Ireland and on what terms they are allowed to stay. "
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:
"Many so-called asylum seekers are fraudulent. They are in breach of the Dublin Convention and, in many cases, have already failed in their applications for asylum. Yet, nothing is done to enforce the law. The first duty of any government is to protect the nation's borders. "
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:
"The 2018 referendum was unlawful and unconstitutional. There is no right of the people to sanction the killing of innocent human beings. It needs to be reversed. In due course, as sanity returns to the human race, it will be reversed. "
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 government has no right to demand that people give up the security, tranquility and values that communities have built for themselves in which to rear their families. This bullying of people needs to stop. "
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:
"Irish hospitals run by nuns were infinitely more efficient than they are now. Education requires to have a religious component at its centre & without this it is not real education. Our civilisation was created out of Christianity. If we do not value religions we will one day lose our civilisation. "
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:
"I don't like the formulation of the question. It's not a question of 'problems' but of reconciliation. We have a lot of work to do before we can create the correct conditions for true reconciliation between the Unionist and Nationalist traditions. Firstly we need to restore our own National values. "
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 honour our diaspora more than we do. At the same time we need to prevent monied interference form abroad in our electoral processes. Some thought will be required in order to achieve both objectives, but it is possible. "
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:
"We are not ready for national unity. The Republic has never been so devoid of values and a country without values cannot genuinely embrace the values of others. A shallow 'tolerance' such as we have developed in recent years will not wipe out nearly a millennium of differences. We need wiser heads. "
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:
"Voting is a great responsibility. The reason we send young people to school is that they are immature. When they cease to be immature, we allow them to vote. This makes sense to me. "
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:
"In 1973, we joined a Common Market. We did not sign up for a United States of Europe, with its own laws, parliament and — soon, it seems — army. It;s time to start rolling back. "
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:
"Of course we should cooperate with our neighbours in defending our mutual interests and territories. This does not mena that we need a European army. "
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:
"This is an ideological question. Why do we not ask whether Ireland should import goods from countries using slave labour to undercut producers in our own country? "