Occupation :

Community Worker

Previous occupation:

Printer

Financial Interests:

None

Income (aside from income derived from political office): 

€30,000 - €40,000

Approximate net worth of capital assets aside from family residence:

None

Information on political career to date:

I am a long standing left-wing and community activist.  I am a member of the Irish Socialist Network, a small democratic participatory socialist organisation.  In the 2004 local election I received 6% of the vote in Finglas Ward beating the Green Party and PD candidates.  I was imprisoned in Mountjoy for a fortnight along with eight other Finglas residents for defying court a High Court injunction against direct action by anti-bin tax campaigners.  With others I have been active in many local campaigns including the restoration of bus routes, workers rights, community based anti-racism campaigning etc.

Personal election manifesto:
The interests of workers cannot be served by those who represent the interests of the wealthy.  The transformation of society so that working people control all aspects of their workplace and communities can only be achieved by struggle from below.  This is also true of immediate changes such as the demand for a massive programme of social housing construction, an end to the two tier health system and real equality in education. I oppose the cynical attempts by politicians to divide workers along the lines of nationality/race and I believe that all workers, immigrant and Irish, have the same class interest.  I oppose social partnership because it has benefited the bosses far more than the workers, in its place I support the building of campaigning, member-controlled fighting unions.  Unlike many on the left I reject the idea of an elite leading workers to socialism, be it the Blairite version of a parliamentary party or the Leninist version of a vanguard party.  Only bottom-up organisation by working people themselves can bring about real and lasting change.

Why should voters in your constituency vote for you rather than for other candidates, including candidates representing the political party which you represent?
I am the only unambiguously anti-capitalist candidate standing in the constituency.  My sole purpose in standing in election is to encourage working people to organise collectively to tackle the issues that affect them rather than relying on politicians to deliver changes that never come.  I reject the pro-rich politics of the right wing parties and the milk and water coalition touting Labour, the Greens and Sinn Fein. I oppose any role by Ireland in the so-called ‘War on Terror’ and want to see an immediate end to the use of Shannon airport by the US military and their allies.  As a socialist I am opposed to imperialism, dictatorship and fundamentalism of all types and I support the struggle of all those struggling against occupation and oppression.

What do you consider to be the main election issues in your constituency?

Health, Housing, Crime, and Taxation.

Where do you stand in relation to these constituency issues?

How much money do you expect to spend in the election campaign?

Approximately €6000.

What will be the sources of this finance?

The donations of ordinary members and supporters of the Irish Socialist Network will be the main source.  Most ISN members donate a regular amount from their wages to the organization on a monthly basis.  I will probably also hold a social night/fundraiser in Finglas.  

Comments (2)

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At least we have one genuine candidate
written by Joe, May 20, 2007

John is the only candidate in the area dealing with the issues honestly. He is the only one to have emphasised the need for youth facilities to prevent crime. Providing extra gards while they may be needed is is a bad cure and little or no prevention. He is also the first person I've seen to criticise the gards. While there are many good gards, there is an uncomfortable degree of corruption and apathy. (Try and get your report of mugging followed up in Ballymun Garda station!). John's committment to getting people to fight for their rights and to not just rely on a few politicians is just another example of John's genuineness. John is correct in all these thing and more. He is running an admirable campaign as he speaks truth (or at least what he believes in) even if people won't like it. Fair play. Got my No.1.

shane
written by shane kelly, June 09, 2008

i have been hounded by local garda and have never been convicted by a court of any crime as to date

i have been driven to extrems souch as sucide im which i attempted on 14 feb 08 due to the harressment

i would like to thank you
for your intrest in the public and that you are awear that their is croupt garda

thank you
shane

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