Election 2024: Six things candidates are talking about on the road

A record number of women have been confirmed to run in the general election after registration closed over the weekend
Election 2024: Six things candidates are talking about on the road

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1. Going after motorists 

Sinn Féin has made a play to court motorists, pledging to cut the cost of filling the tank with petrol or diesel by €7.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald lashed out at the Government parties, saying they had opted to increase fuel duties during a period where households have struggled with the cost-of-living.

In particular, Ms McDonald said her party would reverse increases on fuel duty made last August and October.

2. Taoiseach backs McGahon 

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has stood squarely behind one of his general election candidates, amid questions over the role of John McGahon in a street brawl in Dundalk in 2018.

Controversy around his candidature arose after photos were published by the Sunday Times, which showed the injuries to Breen White — who was involved in the altercation with Mr McGahon.

While he was acquitted of any criminal charge in 2022, he was found to be civilly liable for assault in July.

Mr Harris has said that Fine Gael will continue to canvass for Mr McGahon, while highlighting that he has been acquitted by a jury of his peers.

3. Gender gap 

A record number of women have been confirmed to run in the general election after registration closed over the weekend. However, women are still outnumbered almost three to one.

In total, 247 women have registered to run this time around out of a total of 685 candidates.

Gender quotas mean that in order to retain the entirety of their State funding, political parties must now ensure at least 40% of their candidates are female.

4. End to the OPW 

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said Fine Gael would abolish the Office of Public Works (OPW) if re-elected to Government. Mr Harris, who previously presided over the OPW as a junior minister, said it would be subsumed into a new Department of Infrastructure.

5. The spat continues 

The war of words between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael shows no signs of ending.

Reacting to Fine Gael's manifesto, which was published on Sunday, Fianna Fáil's Jack Chambers called on the Taoiseach's party to explain "some very serious problems", especially with provisions for public services in the next five years.

He claimed the Fine Gael manifesto proposes to underfund the next public sector pay deal, due to be negotiated in 2026, impacting over 400,000 workers across the country. Its health proposals would lead to a five-year restriction on health posts.

"Fine Gael needs to clarify all this for public sector workers and for the public more generally who rely on these essential services," Mr Chambers said.

6. Pay-related maternity leave 

The Labour party wants to link Maternity Benefit with a mother's pay.

The proposal from Ivana Bacik's party would be similar to the pay-related Jobseekers' Benefit, which increases the amount of welfare provided depending on previous income and years of PRSI contributions.

The party has put forward a myriad of pledges in its manifesto, including a suggestion for a new surcharge for SUVs to encourage people to use smaller cars in urban areas.

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