Meet the candidates: Martin Daly, Fianna Fáil (Roscommon Galway)

Here is our Q&A with Martin Daly who is running for Fianna Fáil in the Roscommon-Galway constituency. The Ballygar doctor received the party's backing ahead of sitting Senator Eugene Murphy, who is to run as an Independent.

* Why did you decide to run for the Dáil?

In this constituency, from Ballinasloe to Boyle, there is no Government representation in the Dáil, so we have no TDs in our Government.

We're the only constituency that doesn't have representation in Government, and I think that is vitally important. I also feel very strongly about the housing crisis.

I have four children in their 20s.

Many of my children's contemporaries are leaving the country. They are the best qualified, most educated generation in history, there are plenty of good jobs here, but they are leaving the country, for various reasons.

I also feel strongly about health issues and access to healthcare, mental healthcare, and the CAHMS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

* What one issue would be your top priority if you are elected to the Dáil?

Housing, I think is the nexus of the problems we are experiencing in our society at the moment. It's emblematic of a country whose population has grown rapidly, and whose infrastructure has not kept pace.

We have got to increase the pace of the delivery of housing.

* How do you assess your chances of being elected?

I'm a first time candidate but I have a reasonably good profile. I am a GP in my community, and most of my practice lies in my constituency. I have worked with the Roscommon football team for 28 years and have also been very active in my community in health issues over the years. I think I would be fighting hard to win the third seat in the constituency.

My team and I have put a lot of hard work in over the last five weeks and I'm hoping that will pay dividends.

* On housing, why should the Irish people vote Fianna Fáil back into power when homelessness is at a record level?

I would say that it has been a difficult task to turn this around. We have seen a huge rise in the cost of delivering housing because of Covid and the Ukraine war.

I do think we have made progress, especially in the last two years. We now, with the systems that are in place and the initiatives that are there, can build upon that and the target of 300,000 houses over the next five years is eminently achievable.

* How do you intend to address the economic concerns that many people are facing due to rising costs?

It's important that we drive inflation down, and that has been achieved.

However, we do need to concentrate on reducing the costs that the Government have power over.

So that would be maintaining the VAT rate on electricity and energy at 9% for the next 5 years, and funding the upgrading of the national electricity grid.