Lack of policies lets Independents down

BASED on Monday’s debate, it is difficult to see the Independent candidates having the necessary impact to seriously challenge for any of the county’s four coveted Dáil seats.

It has to be acknowledged that Jim Connolly, Patrick Brassil, Ann Cronin, Brian Markham, Sarah Ferrigan, Madeline McAleer and Gerry Walshe have been courageous in putting their names forward for the ballot. It must also be recognised that their mountain is far higher to climb than that of candidates within the party structure.
Despite some good ideas from the likes of West Clare’s Brian Markham and the enthusiasm and passion of Madeline McAleer, there was little meat on the bones of the Independent opinions at the debate; granted there were absences from former TD James Breen and also from multi-millionaire JJ McCabe.
Rural resettlement pioneer Jim Connolly said he wants to see “basic radical change” in the country. He was erudite and stood on his record as an entrepreneur in support of his ideas about job creation but pointed out that every member of the electorate has their part to play in generating business and employment in the county.
Buying Irish, he indicated, is the simplest way to guarantee Irish jobs and he pointed to the growth that would be possible in the manufacturing sector if people bought clothes, cars or phones made in the country. Indeed, it was Mr Connolly who received the night’s first round of applause when he described politicians’ salaries as “obscene” and called for a salary cap of €35,000 for TDs.
For Balance on the Ballot, Ann Cronin tackled the record of Deputy Timmy Dooley but unfortunately was found wanting in relation to her own policies. She was outspoken and confident but, like many of the independent candidates without a well-oiled policy-making machine, failed to present clear, concrete, step-by-step strategies to get the country back on track.
Sarah Ferrigan fell into a similar trap, airing little in terms of specific policies. She did, however, stress the need for people to be “incentivised to work because currently people on a low wage, the marginal amount of money they are getting for working is being taxed with the Universal Social Charge and PRSI and all that. Employers need to be supported too in providing employment because employers find it difficult to pay employers’ PRSI on top of the wage.”
Ms Ferrigan also called for Shannon to differentiate itself from other airports, saying it is ideally placed to serve the whole Mid-West.
Though Madeline McAleer was the most popular of the Balance on the Ballot candidates with the polled audience, her contribution was light on actual policies. She was articulate and positive, saying she felt the health service could be remedied.
She highlighted the problems people in Clare have in accessing emergency medical care within the ‘golden hour’ and said she would like this to change.

Ms McAleer expressed her anger at the Government’s cuts to the minimum wage and said a Government’s job is to encourage job creation.
Electrical contractor, Gerry Walshe said if he was elected he would introduce a national loans scheme, “something along the lines of the Credit Union but I think it should have restrictions to Irish and give them tax-free incentives, instead of paying high interest rates to the IMF and I think we need to keep the money flow within Ireland to Irish people”. He said he believed organic farming could be further developed and that work projects for the unemployed should be created.
If elected, Newmarket-On-Fergus man Patrick Brassil said he plans to lower rates of tax and mortgage interest rates in order to generate spending and subsequently jobs. He also wants to see greater autonomy for Shannon Airport and better health services.
Brian Markham, Clare’s youngest general election candidate, showed promise. He said he felt damming the torrent of emigration is vital if the country is to recover. The West Clare man added that he wants to see the country examine high-tech possibilities for job creation and reiterated the need to protect Shannon Airport.
If he maintains his political interest, grows in confidence and polishes up his policies, his name may well be on future ballot papers.