Green - Eamon Ryan

Q & A with Dublin South Green Party candidate Eamon Ryan

 Name  Eamon Ryan Address Ashfield Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Date of birth 28-07-63 Constituency  Dublin South Party  Green Party

Occupation                    

Politician  

Previous occupation      

Businessman  

Financial interests         

None

Income (aside from income derived from political office: 

Between €80,000 - €100,000Approximate net worth of capital assets aside from family residence  

Approximate net worth of capital assets 0aside from family residence:

Pretty much nil I am afraid.  

Information on political career to date:

I joined the Green Party in 1988 and worked as director of elections on John Gormley's election campaign in 1989 where we came close to winning a seat.     In 1997 I contested the Seanad elections for the NUI panel and received just over 1,000 votes.   In 1998 I was co-opted onto Dublin City Council for the Rathmines Ward instead of John Gormley who gave up the seat under Green Party regulations not to hold a dual mandate.    In 1999 I topped the poll in the same ward in the local elections.    In 2002 I won a seat for the Green Party in the Dublin South constituency and was appointed the Party parliamentary spokesperson on Transport, Communications Marine and Natural Resources and Enterprise Trade and Employment.

Personal election manifesto:

I would like to get into Government office or assist a colleague in office to administer real change in the way this country is managed.    In our decision making I would like to place greater value on the environmental resources we use and on the caring and voluntary work that insures we have a functioning and fair society.

Why should voters in your constituency vote for you rather than for other candidates, including candidates representing the political party which you represent?

I believe I can put the experience I have learnt in shadowing three Ministers over the last five years to good effect..    We face a huge challenge to try and reduce our climate change emissions and this will require radically different transport and energy policies.   I believe a Government with a Green input will have the right political vision, experience and expertise to deliver such a change.  The result should bring social and economic benefits as well as the right environmental solution.    The current administration have no appreciation of the scale and importance of this task. They deserve to be elected out of office for the manner in which they have squandered the wealth that has come with our rising economy.

What do you consider to be the main election issues in your constituency?

Housing and transport are two of the biggest issues and both relate to a lack of proper planning by this Government.

The crisis in our health service and overcrowding in our schools are also a clear signs of their lack of management ability.    Finally, I believe the Government's failure to address crucial global environmental issues such as climate change and protect us energy price increases, will have a real bearing on the next election.

Were do you stand in relation to these constituency issues?

I have consistently called for a rebalancing of our transport budget which this year will see expenditure on roads being six times that on public transport.    We believe the higher density housing we need, can still be high quality housing, if we use better building standards and the right design of community space.     We would amend stamp duty to reduce the disincentive for those trading down from large family homes.   The population of Dublin South has been contracting in recent years as young people have had to move further out into neighbouring counties.    It makes much more sense for young families to be in houses closer to the existing schools and other local services. Our proposed amendment of the stamp duty regulations would help dampen price rises in this sector and free up housing that is best suited for young families. 

How much money do you expend to spend in the election campaign?

I spent some twelve thousand  pounds last time and with inflation and ever more competitive and expensive campaigning I would expect this to rise to at least twenty thousand euro.

What will be the sources of this finance?

Largely small donations from friends and my own financial contribution which will be reduced if I get back a share of my spending back from the state as is allowed for under  electoral regulations.