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Mairead Ruane

Cork South-West

With 20 years’ experience in Community Services Development, managing voluntary and state funded services that support the homeless, the disabled, the marginalised, prisoners and children in state care, Mairead will serve the people of Cork Southwest as a solution focused candidate for election.

As a psychologist and training consultant to Community and Mental Health Teams in various settings both in the UK and Ireland in recent years, Mairead uses her experience to support transformation and change while empowering families and diverse community groups to fight for better services that are attuned to the needs of young and old.

The Irish political system is radically broken



In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.



Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.



Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.




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