Former ceann comhairle criticises politicians for prioritising social media over public engagement
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The former ceann comhairle has criticised politicians for focusing on their social media content rather than actively listening to the public.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl said the disillusionment among a significant proportion of the public is a cause for grave concern following a disappointing turnout at the general election.
He said a large number of people did not feel it was worthwhile going to the polls and politicians needed to address this with meaningful engagement.
"By that I mean, not putting up on social media photographs of ourselves at every dog fight that happens in our constituency because that really has no meaning or benefit, but being on the ground in communities," Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.
As the so-called "TikTok Taoiseach" Simon Harris and other politicians went on the campaign trails in 2024, there was an increased focus across the board on fighting for votes online.
In the aftermath of the elections, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said those who lost vote share must seek to rebuild themselves by focusing on human contact.
Nothing in politics is better than person-to-person contact where the politician is "listening and hearing" what a citizen has to say, he said.
"People need to feel that sense of commitment, that sense of being heard, of being respected and seeing their priorities recognised."
The introduction of topical issues and questions each day in the Oireachtas has facilitated politicians, in a way, to play to the gallery and gather soundbites to use on social media, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said, but it did not mean anything unless there was follow-through.