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It is crystal clear that the life in the Irish countryside as we know it is under significant threat. East Galway is being asked to shoulder a disproportionate burden in meeting the energy needs of the entire country - it seems our rural hinterland is earmarked to be a charging point and a chimney for the prosperous greater Dublin area. This imbalance needs to be addressed and I will work with like-minded elected representatives to ensure balanced regional development for the west and Galway-East in particular.
The collective indifference to waste of public funds is alarming. People - the taxpayers - are resigned to the idea that "this is just how it is" in Ireland. They are far beyond frustrated as mindboggling sums are squandered as a result of poor decision-making or exploitation by greedy self-interest. I consider this waste a symptom of a broken culture. I refuse to resign myself to the idea that we can't do better than this. We need to demand better.
The world is changing at a rapid pace with artificial intelligence (AI) and the education system in Ireland must adapt in order to ensure our young people have the opportunity to thrive in society. I firmly believe that critical thinking and emotional intelligence will be the key skills of the future as many routine jobs get automated. I also consider it essential for young kids to enjoy school with a greater focus on play and getting outdoors. The Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training needs of the teachers who continuously adapt to changing societal needs must also be a priority for the country.
By committing to the EU Migration Pact, Ireland has signed up to an immigration strategy that we do not have the capacity to manage. Ireland has always had a strong reputation as a charitable nation and I believe we should do what we can to help people fleeing conflict and seeking a better life. This should be managed in a controlled way with respect for the facts that many public services (e.g. health) are already under a huge strain and we are in the midst of a self-inflicted housing crisis.
