I am standing as a candidate in Carlow-Kilkenny in the forthcoming general election. In our communities and in the counties of Carlow and Kilkenny we can work together to build a prosperous and thriving region of Ireland. I have much in common with other candidates including a commitment to expand and reform our public services. I am different to most other candidates because I speak out and act on issues of economic and social justice regardless of whether this is popular or expedient to do so. What you hear and see is what you get. Independent means independent. If elected I will not vote for a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael led Government. Neither will I vote for an alternative Government unless it offers protections to human rights in key areas outlined in my manifesto.
Four core principles uniquely mark me out as a candidate:
- A commitment to protecting all human life from its beginning to its natural end.
- A resolute opposition to the politics of hatred and division espoused by the far right.
- A pledge to work for a new economic and social model founded on principles of solidarity and the common good
- Uncompromising support for international solidarity and European social and democratic values.
Housing will be a key issue in the coming election. A home is the place where we can grow, flourish, enjoy and support one another. My first priority is to see the declaration of a housing emergency in Ireland with a carefully planned and coordinated strategy to double the rate of new house building and treble the number of social and affordable homes.
Kilkenny city must become not only a historical location of a small but beautiful medieval city but a modern and more inclusive one – well connected by public transport and infrastructure and enabling Carlow and Kilkenny to take the pressure away from Dublin. A SETU university campus linked to local communities and business and located in Kilkenny would boost our regional city. I support the development of a performance arts campus in Kilkenny.
I will work with other elected representatives to empower and liberate local government to build more homes and provide more services at local level. This means creating a sustainable flow of revenue to local authorities through a reformed Local Property Tax and non-residential rates. I will also campaign for clean, safe and reliable public water connections for communities in these counties. I will work with other elected TD’s to ensure that the public ownership of water be enshrined in our constitution.
For further information on my ideas, values and policies visit www.tomhealy.ie where you are welcome to contact me.
Note: Tom Healy lives in Goresbridge with his wife, Bridget. He is an economist who formerly served in a number of Government departments as well as the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as having served as Director of the trade union think tank, the Nevin Economic Research Institute. He has been an active volunteer in the Society of St Vincent de Paul, a trade unionist, a prolife activist and lay minister as well as a writer, speaker and author of numerous publications including An Ireland Worth Working For (2019). He holds a PhD in economics-sociology from UCD (2005).
