Meet the candidates: Cormac Ó Corcoráin, Aontú (Roscommon Galway)

Here is our Q&A with Cormac Ó Corcoráin, who is running as a candidate with Aontú in the Roscommon Galway constituency. He is a native of Galway city and living in Ballaghaderreen.

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

I would like to see the planning process being less restrictive in the area of dwelling houses being built but there needs to be a lot more oversight and power of veto for large scale developments being foisted on communities against their will. More freedom for ordinary people on the ground. Less vulture funds and purely profit-driven large scale development.

As a native of Galway city, how do you propose to represent people in Roscommon?

I am a native of Galway city, but like a lot of people of that city, I am only one generation removed from the country. My father came from the parish of Caherlistrane in the north of the county. My mother's father came from a place called Srah on the shores of Lough Mask, her mother from the village of Williamstown near the border with Roscommon.

A large part of my youth involved regular visits to my many rural based cousins. Helping to move cattle or dose sheep, saving turf and repairing stone walls was a big part of my upbringing.

My family was involved in the setting up of GAA clubs in their respective parishes and all four of my grandparents were involved in the struggle for Independence. My paternal grandfather was at one time Director of Operations for the Second Western Division of the Old IRA based at Castlerea.

Since I moved to Ballaghaderreen I feel I have more of an understanding of Roscommon people in particular. I want to see this part of the country as a living community for people to live and work, and not just as some future National Park for big shots to visit at the weekends.

I have seen at first hand the negative impact of crime and anti social behaviour in Ballaghaderreen. We need a serious review of pay and conditions for Gardai at a national level. We cannot expect to hold onto talented members without more attractive pay and conditions.

How do you intend to address the economic concerns that many people face due to the rising costs of groceries, insurance, etc?

My contribution here would be to demand immediate investigation into possible profiteering by insurance industry as premiums skyrocket

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

Yes they do.

Over the past 30 years, the Labour Party, the Progressive Democrats and the Green Party have all had a massive influence on the policies of governments in which they were coalition partners.

Aontú is a small growing party and has indeed proven to be the main opposition party on so many occasions ,consistently trying to hold a mirror up to the government and its many failings