candidatewatch.ie: the voters' virtual memory

CandidateWatch for the Dáil Éireann 2011 General Election

What is CandidateWatch? CandidateWatch is a non-partisan, non-profit project which helps to make election campaigning more transparent and politicians more accountable. Ask questions and find out what the candidates personally stand for in order to be prepared for election day on February 25^th. The questioning function has been disabled on Thursday, 6pm. Questions and answers will stay public after the election. We will clear last-minute answers until closing of polling booths, and beyond, so check for the latest updates on Friday before you go to vote.

For the most recent Irish elections to the European Parliament, candidatewatch.ie was visited by 150,000 users. All questions and answers are still online in the 'archive' section. That's why we also call CandidateWatch the voters' virtual memory.

How do I get started? Go to the overview of all candidates or directly chose your constituency from the map below. Or have a look at the latest anwers.

You ask, they answer, you decide!

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> overview of all candidates <

answers to citizens' questions

Dr. James Reilly, Fine Gael, Dublin North

5 questions received, 2 answered

Answer to a question from 20.02.2011

(...) Fine Gael believes that compulsion has not fostered growth or commitment to the language and this is reflected by the fact that only 4.4% of people speak Irish on a daily basis outside of education. To begin our reform in education, we will overhaul the curriculum at second level and will critically examine the effect of current training methods of teachers to teach. (...)

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Oisín Ó hAlmhain, Green Party, Dublin South - Central

3 questions received, 3 answered

Answer to a question from 24.02.2011

(...) Specific location of playgrounds is an issue for the Council, but I think there needs to be a directive that states that there should be playgrounds within walking distance of all homes in all built up areas. (...)

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Fidelma Healy Eames, Fine Gael, Galway West

2 questions received, 2 answered

Answer to a question from 07.02.2011

(...) There may have been an argument for introducing such a tax at the height of the boom, where it may have had some effect on dampening the madness. I believe that we have many areas of waste and profligacy to tackle first before considering a property tax. (...)

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Jenny McHugh, Labour Party, Meath West

3 questions received, 2 answered

Answer to a question from 08.02.2011

Thank you for your e-mail,the Labour party is to make the Dáil stronger, with a longer working day, a longer working week, less holidays, and with more powers to hold the Government to account. (...)

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Jenny McHugh, Labour Party, Meath West

3 questions received, 2 answered

Answer to a question from 05.02.2011

Thank you for your e-mail, the Labour party is to maintain Ireland’s overseas development aid budget, and progress to a target of 0.7 per cent of GNP dedicated to ODA by 2015. (...)

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Jenny McHugh, Labour Party, Meath West

3 questions received, 2 answered

Answer to a question from 08.02.2011

Thank you for your e-mail, the labour party is very concerned about environmental issues but at present its focus is on restoring the country´s economic growth. (...)

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John Pluto Hyland, Independent, Dublin - Central

1 question received, 1 answered

Answer to a question from 24.02.2011

(...) 1. Like many irish i have been contemplating leaving my own country ( as my father had to do before me in early 60´s) but I decided I couldn´t do that without at least giving a good fight first. I see the parties all waffling along the same lines and no creative or alternative proposals being put forth. (...)

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Paul Gogarty, Green Party, Dublin Mid - West

1 question received, 1 answered

Answer to a question from 07.02.2011

Yes, absolutely (...)

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Michael F Dolan, Fianna Fáil, Galway East

1 question received, 1 answered

Answer to a question from 17.02.2011

I am totally in support of maintaining traditional rail services and will fight tooth and nail to support proper and practical rail services in Woodlawn, in both directions. (...)

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Enda Kenny, Fine Gael, Mayo

21 questions received, 9 answered

Answer to a question from 20.02.2011

(...) It is for the people to decide what criteria to apply in selecting their representatives. (...)

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