Wexford General Election 2016 candidates

Gorey native Ann Walsh will contest the 2016 General Election as a candidate for the Green Party. Her slogan is “A New Voice For Wexford.” She believes that “we need some presence within government that keeps the environment and its people at the forefront of everything.” Walsh is a psychologist and psychotherapist with more than 20 years’ experience in disability services. Her core policies include universal healthcare, housing as a social right, local investment, strong political regulation, and disability and special needs services. Contact email: [email protected]

Newcomer Aoife Byrne will contest the 2016 General Election for Fianna Fáil. She, who is the daughter of former Fianna Fáil TD Hugh Byrne, believes that County Wexford has been left behind and that “Irish politics needs to become more open and inclusive to all in our society.” She is originally from Fethard on Sea and believes she can “bring a fresh voice and a new perspective to the national parliament.” Contact email: [email protected]

Brendan Howlin is a Labour Party TD who is currently serving as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. He was first elected as a TD for Wexford in 1987. He has previously served as Minister for the Environment and Minister for Health. Contact email: [email protected]

Caroline Foxe will stand as a first-time Independent candidate. She is well-known in the Foulksmills area for her work as a postmistress. Her main campaign focus is “keeping post offices open and local communities alive.”

David Lloyd will contest the election for Direct Democracy Ireland / National Citizens Movement, an anti-bailout party that believes in a democratic system called “pure democracy.” In December 2015, Direct Democracy Ireland announced it was joining forces with the National Citizens Movement, a political group that campaigns against water charges. Lloyd previously ran as a DDI candidate in the 2014 local elections. He is from Wexford Town and has worked as an electrician for 16 years.

Deirdre Wadding is a councillor on Wexford County Council and a member of the People Before Profit Alliance, a far-left political party aligned with the Anti-Austerity Alliance. She is best known for her stance against water charges and other austerity policies. Contact email: [email protected]

Emmet Moloney is an Independent candidate new to the political scene. His campaign focuses on the need for social housing, rent regulation, job security, rural regeneration, and suicide prevention and awareness. Contact: Facebook link.

Ger Carthy is an Independent candidate currently serving as the Mayor of Wexford Town. The 37-year-old Lady’s Island native entered the political scene in 2014 when he topped the poll at the local election in Wexford. He is the son of the late Leo Carthy, who served as a local councillor for nearly 50 years. Contact email: [email protected]

James Browne is a Fianna Fáil councillor who serves on Wexford County Council. He is the son of Fianna Fáil politician John Browne, who was a TD for County Wexford between 1982 and 2016. Browne is a practising barrister and sits on the HSE Forum South. Contact email: [email protected]

John Dwyer will stand as an Independent candidate. The former New Ross County Councillor, who has represented Sinn Féin and Éirígí in the past, unsuccessfully contested the 2002 and 2007 General Elections as a Sinn Féin candidate. Dwyer previously worked as a Trade Union official for 17 years and was elected to the New Ross Urban District Council in 1999. Contact email: Facebook link.

Johnny Mythen is a Sinn Féin councillor who serves on Wexford County Council. In the past, he has served as the Chair of Enniscorthy Town Council and as a union representative, holding a position on the national union negotiator’s team. Mythen also worked for the ESB for 35 years. Contact email: [email protected]

Fine Gael has selected newcomer Julie Hogan as its candidate for the election. She, who lives in Wexford Town, has a “strong business, artistic, and community background” with significant retail experience, having held management positions in several retail outlets in Wexford. She currently works as a team manager to 17 agents at Eishtec in Wexford. Contact: Facebook link.

Leonard Kelly will contest the election for the Social Democrats, a newly-formed centre-left political party that supports the Nordic model of social democracy. He is a board member of Wexford Educate Together Primary School and the Wexford County Childcare Committee. He is an engineer and a trained counselling psychotherapist. He also chairs “Friends of It’s Good 2 Talk,” a non-profit organisation that raises funds and awareness for the counselling group Its Good 2 Talk. Contact: Facebook link.

Malcolm Byrne is a Fianna Fáil councillor who serves on Wexford County Council. He is employed as the Head of Communications with the Higher Education Authority and has previously served as the Chair of Wexford County Council. Contact email: [email protected]

Michael D’Arcy is a Fine Gael politician who currently serves as a senator in Seanad Éireann. Between 2007 and 2011, he served as a TD for County Wexford. He has also held the position of Chairman of the County Wexford Vocational Education Committee, as well as Deputy spokesperson on Justice. Contact email: [email protected]

Mick Wallace is an Independent TD who was first elected in 2011. He is a property developer and the registered officer of a political grouping called the Independents for Equality Movement. He has campaigned against austerity policies. Contact email: [email protected]

Paul Kehoe has been a Fine Gael TD for County Wexford since 2002. He currently holds the position of Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence. He has previously served as Fine Gael spokesperson for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources. Contact email: [email protected]