Mike Deegan, Independent

Mike Deegan, Independent
Constituency: Dun Laoghaire

Personal Details

• Address: Blackrock, Co Dublin
• Year of Birth: 1974
• Email address: mikedeegan@gmail.com
• Phone Number: 086 816 3466
• Twitter account: @mikedeegan11
• Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/mikedeegan
• Website: www.mikedeegan.org
• Occupation: Writer/Advocate
• Previous Occupation: Internet Entrepreneur, Managing Director, Restaurant Proprietor, Designer
• Financial interests: None
• Income (aside from income derived from political office): Invalidity Pension

Political Details
Are you an outgoing politician? Not a politician

Information on political career to date: I have been an avid follower of Irish politics since the '82 elections. I worked for Carr Communications in the 80s and was privileged to have exposure to behind the scenes activities of elected politicians

How much money do you expect to spend in the election campaign? €3000

What will be the sources of this finance? My credit card or donations, currently zero

Record and Manifesto

Personal election manifesto: Fairness for every citizen

What in your record distinguishes you above the other candidates in your constituency? I have been on the coalface of many businesses. I have experienced success and failure, the latter being the most beneficial. I understand the working man, the unemployed man and the businessman alike

What do you consider to be the main election issues in your constituency, and where do you stand on these issues? Employment of course. Before we can address this of any other important issue, we first have to acknowledge that our problem is far greater than we are presently aware of. I cannot allow Ireland to fall as Argentina did. We have to fall as did Iceland, cut the bondholders, allow the banks to fail, and get on with it. Iceland was in a far worse off position than we are currently, they are now in recovery.

What do you believe are the national priorities, and what do you propose in this regard? Take the noose off our neck. Renegotiate with the ECB the interest on the €135BN bailout, cut loose the bondholders, they will not be surprised - they were playing a gamble and they lost with Ireland.

Specific Policy Questions

Do you support political reform, and why? What measures would you introduce to reform local and national politics? Absolutely. Politics in this country is the laughing stock of the world. Government ministers is other Eurozone countries do not have state cars for example, they take trains, not planes to the ends of the country.

Should Church involvement in provision of education and teacher training continue? If no, what measures do you propose? Chuch involvement may continue perhaps, but must be regulated

Do you support Freedom of Information reform, and why? What measures do you support in this regard? It is exorbitantly expensive for a citizen to gain access to free information. The act may have the word freedom in it, but the information is far from free.

What do you believe the smart economy to be, and what measures do you propose to foster this? The smart economy - I tried to bring it to the country in 1995. No one was ready at that stage for it. As a result I had to let go my 14 staff. We were award winning innovators but with no one to support us, we were abandoned. I am ready, willing and capable to do it again.

What steps do you propose to create sustainable and integrated communities in urban and rural Ireland? Social Networking is not just about the internet. It needs to be manifested in society by the formation of cluster groups throughout the country. There is nothing as powerful as people connecting with people. Relationships form, ideas spark and the resulting sum is greater than the component parts

Do you believe there is a need for pension reform? What measures do you propose to safeguard a dignified and secure old age for Ireland's citizens? Climbing out of the massive hole of debt that this country has -foolishly- succumbed to.

Where do you stand on the EU/IMF bailout? The IMF bailout is nothing compared to the ECB bailout which is alnost twice the size of the IMF funds. This is the one that we need to renegotiate. The ECB know this and will have no option but to come back to the table

Would you support holding a referendum decide the question of making any further payments from the citizens to bank creditors? No referendum is required. We simply have to stop funding these private bank debts. Soverign debt is the only debt that we should be looking after. Private enterprises and banks are just that - private. The citizen should not have to suffer these losses.

Do you support the Fine Gael policy for Health Reform? Fine Gael, like the others, have not published enough information on the specifics of their healthcare plans. Enough for the press perhaps, but not enough to make an informed decision or any commitment to. One thing is for sure. Our healthcare spend at 10% is far greater than the EU average of 7% - and we get less of a service and care for it. Total reform in healthcare in this country is urgently required.

What job creation initiatives do you propose?

• Lower taxes on exports to grow this, the only somewhat performing element of our economy
• Maintain a low, attractive tax base for multinational companies to encourage further inward investment
• Engage all of those who cannot complete their trade apprenticeships due to collapsed construction companies so that they may be employed at a low rate but will at least finish their qualifications
• Subsidise inbound flights to Ireland to make us more attractive for tourism and increase promotion of Ireland as a tourist destination
• Shift focus more to the food industry, we have proclaimed ourselves for years as 'The Food Island'. We have to do more

What measures do you propose to provide adequate housing and security of tenure to every Irish citizen? We must take possesion of a number of 'unfinished ghost estates' at a fair price from Nama

Questions from Politico Readers

How would you ensure greater transparency and communication to the public when in government? (Martin Byrne) The government must be obligated to inform the public on ongoing issues of state on all issues, including the most sensitive and difficult to stomach issues. We, the citizens, have the right to understand what is happening behind closed doors

Will you ensure that natural resources remain under state ownership? (Chris Maher) Well for starters, we have to perform a systems analysis on how our natural resources are managed and how we partner with potential leaseholders. The deal done with Shell on the west cost can never happen again and I will be demanding a renegotiation of terms with Shell on this regard

If in Government what would be the first change you would seek in the Constitution and why? (Kevin Cooney) On this issue I would need to consult with a team of experienced constitutional lawyers as well as gathering opinion and proposals from the public. I alone cannot dictate what should or should not be changed in our constitution. I am fully aware that reform in our Constitution in required.

Would you support capping TD & Minister salaries at twice the average industrial wage, with €10,000 per annum expenses? (John Murphy) Yes I would - and the massive pensions also. They are an insulting disgrace and far beyond the figures in other contemporary countries and governments.

What proposals do you have on debt reform? (Tara O'Grady) What debt reform, this is an extensive area, Im sorry but I cannot answer what seems to me such a vague question. For one thing, I certainly have utmost disappointment in the governments handling of our current crisis. Did the Minister for Finance even understand the options that were available to us with the situation we faced. I contend he did not.

Will you support root and branch reform of all levels of the public service? Starting with the top earners, including politicians. (Terri O'Brien) Absolutely. Public, Civil, Dail, Seanad - all areas where wages are paid from the peoples monies have to be made transparent and value for money - which they most certainly are not.

What experts would you try and get into the Dáil through the Seanad to help in the recovery? (Grainne Fallon) I will not be paying the Seanad much attention. I would hope that this is one area of public spending where we can reduce the costs to zero.