Meet the candidates: Carol Okeke, Green Party (Longford Westmeath)

Here is our Q&A with Carol Okeke, who is contesting the election in the Longford Westmeath constituency on behalf of the Green Party.

What would your party do to solve the housing crisis?

The Green Party, if elected to return to Government, would continue to deliver affordable homes (approximately 15,000) at scale via Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and local authorities under our flagship cost-rental housing policy.

What would your party do to address the economic concerns that many people face due to the rising costs of groceries, insurance, etc?

The Green Party would continue to deliver progressive budgets with a focus on further investments in childcare, indexing welfare payments in line with earnings and inflation and tackle energy poverty, which helps the most vulnerable in society.

What would your party do differently to other parties if part of the next Government?

The Green Party will spend every day of the next Government working to protect us all from climate change while ensuring that we continue to build a fair and just society for everyone regardless of age, ability or background.

If you were marking the performance of the current government out of 10 what would you give it?

I'd give it an 8.

This leaves room for improvement, but we firmly believe the Government has a strong record during its term of office - with an economy at full employment and excess tax receipts following our unprecedented response to exogenous shocks such as Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and a cost-of-living crisis.

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

The Green Party firmly believes that climate change is the existential threat to our generation and future generations, with our top priority being a relentless focus on delivering upon the binding targets in the Climate Act we enshrined in law.

Do smaller parties have any real power to enact change in the Dáil?

Yes. The Green Party has been the most impactful small party in a coalition Government in the history of the State, with a strong record of policy delivery throughout the near five-year term.