It’s difficult to comment open on yesterday’s budget. Yep, huge re-adjustments needed to happen. As someone who works for myself, I work hard to bring in a wage (like many other people). As someone who is freelance, I am always on the lookout for the next project and opportunity. During the last number of years,  I found it difficult to find a job that encompasses my own love of heritage and history and so on. Becoming a councillor this year was also part of that but also my interest in heritage, arts, community life, the life of the city, led me to this point in time. I enjoy my life as much as I can and get involved in many things and plough forward and try to keep learning new stuff – new talents and skills.

I live at home. I am unable to buy a house. I was horrified in the last number of years to see the price of houses soar and how no one in power stove to stabilise the property boom and the associated greed. I empatise with my friends who now have mortages in negative equity. I strongly believe that Ireland Fianna Fail and Green Party partnership has led to huge mismanagement of the country’s finances. In particular, in yesterday’s budget, my heart went out to parents and carers in particular who strive to make the world of who they care for a better place. I’m also annoyed at what seems like a lack of a national job stimulus package. My heart goes out to decent people on the dole who just can’t find a job.

It’s clear that Ireland needs to re-invent itself. We need a better plan. We need to create enterprising citizens and give them incentives for start-ups. This year coincides with the 25th anniversary of the closure of Fords and Dunlops and mass unemployment. Is there anything, we can learn from those years to move forward with…

I also don’t see an alternative one party government. Certainly the next government won’t be the current one. Whoever the leaders are I would like to see fighters, business people with business savy, inspirers and doers, people who will stand and bring us forward, Ireland I feel now needs a new type of modern politics. One that will lead us forward and not keep us at the village pump. Otherwise, this country will be left behind.