Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Constituency: Dublin Mid-West
Personal Details
- Address: Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
- Year of Birth: 1953
- Email address: rdowds@sdublincoco.ie
- Phone Number: 087-6520360
- Twitter account: @robert_dowds
- Facebook Page: Robert Dowds
- Website: www.robertdowds.ie
- Occupation: Teacher/ Councillor
- Previous Occupation: School Principal
- Financial interests: None
- Income (aside from income derived from political office): Teacher's Salary
- Approximate net worth of capital assets (aside from family residence): Nil
Political Details
- Are you an outgoing politician? Councillor
- Information on political career to date: 1999- date. Labour Councillor for the Clondalkin Ward, South Dublin Co. Council; 2004-5. Mayor, South Dublin.
- How much money do you expect to spend in the election campaign? C. €15,000
- What will be the sources of this finance? About €3,000 in donation from friends and family, the rest from my mother's will.
Record and Manifesto
Personal election manifesto: I live and work in my Constituency, therefore I am familiar with the problems faced by constituents. I led a successful campaign to block the construction of apartments beside Clondalkin's Round Tower. Secured sporting facilities for my area, e.g. changing rooms. Opposed bad planning, unsuccessfully in the case of Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, successfully in terms of protecting valley of Liffey between Lucan & Chapelizod. I helped to establish a link between South Dublin & two Ethiopian towns where our council gives training on installing basic infrastructure.
What in your record distinguishes you above the other candidates in your constituency? Success in relation to preserving our Round Tower. My commitment & work as a local councillor.
What do you consider to be the main election issues in your constituency, and where do you stand on these issues? Jobs. I support Labour's policy. Sorting out the Banks but not screwing the public in so-doing. Develop a fair & equal health/ education service, again supporting Labour Policy. Tackling the Drugs Problem. We need to think outside the box on this one and see what's worked best elsewhere. Helping People in Negative Equity.
What do you believe are the national priorities, and what do you propose in this regard? As in previous reply plus tackling Climate Change.
Specific Policy Questions
Do you support political reform, and why? What measures would you introduce to reform local and national politics? Yes because the present system is dysfunctional. Need for reformed Dail with ministers answerable to TDs.