Cross-Party animosities have corrupted Irish politics and this election seems to be driven more by personalities than it is by policies. I do not serve a political party; I will serve you.I want an economy that works for everyone and benefits all.

Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour
I will work to ensure that Garda Sub Stations are established in our most troubled estates.
Some of our estates have been surrendered to criminal gangs who decide who can and can't live there. People feel abandoned by the state. Garda Sub Stations should be established in the heart of such areas to house the "100 additional Gardaí" recommended by John Fitzgerald. While some parties are calling for the regeneration boards to be established before the election, despite the fact that Mr. Fitzgerald has clearly stated that firstly "...intensive policing intervention is required in the short to medium term to allow the other interventions an opportunity to work." First things first!

Health
I will oppose the creation of a two-tier system and promote a radical approach for Public Healthcare.
It is obvious that we need more beds and staff in our hospitals, better working conditions for our nurses and better hygiene practices.

Private and Public hospitals can co-exist in the same building. If you can afford to pay for your treatment, then you should. If you can't pay, you should be entitled to the same quality of healthcare as those who can. There should be no beds designated exclusively for those who have money, the quality of care should be equal.

Successive governments have failed to deal with this issue adequately. Over the years, billions of Euros have been poured into health with little effect. Too much money is spent on administration and not enough is spent on services. The problem here is not one of recourses but of structure and a continual lack of expertise at ministerial level. The answer is in our constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, Article 28.7:

1°: "The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the member of government who is in charge of the Department of Finance must be members of Dáil Éireann"

2°: "The other members of the Government must be members of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, but not more than two may be members of Seanad Éireann."

The Taoiseach has the power to nominate 11 members to Seanad Éireann. Whoever is Taoiseach after election should make an expert in the area of Health and management a Senator and then appoint them to the Cabinet as Minister for Health.

Family
I will work to ensure that both parents are not forced by economic necessity to work outside the home
I want to stop the fracturing of families; for many parents the reality is that both have to work to make ends meet. Struggling to pay the mortgage and crèche. Having less quality time with their children.

Community
I will work for the community by putting People before profit and Families first.
We need more affordable housing. The profit that a developer is permitted to make on a new house should be capped. The concept of a "property ladder" is bad for neighbourhoods; you can't build a community when people move in with a view to moving out.

Children
I will work for indoor and outdoor supervised playgrounds to be part of the community facilities recommended in the Fitzgerald Report.
It is often said by politicians that the children are our future. It's true. Our children deserve and need happy childhoods if they are to grow into happy and productive adults.

Immigration
I will work for effective immigration controls.
Government policy on immigration is exploitative and racist, preaching tolerance while promoting resentment. Little is being done to integrate and we have enough problems with crime and anti-social behaviour without importing more. It only takes a handful of bad apples to tarnish the public perception of the hard-working majority

Local Government
I will work to reform Limerick City Council.
Councillors should have more power to decide and direct policy so that they can promote the interests of the communities who elect them. We should have direct elections for the position of Mayor, whose status and power should equal to that of the City Manager.