This site is for elections in the Republic of Ireland

Find your match All Dublin Fingal East Candidates
Dean Mulligan

Dean Mulligan

Independent

As a sitting Councillor, I understand the challenges in our communities and have always advocated for affordable housing, improved infrastructure, enhanced services and government accountability. We need new voices in the Dáil and If elected I will continue the fight for a better future for all.

  • Priority: Housing

    Solving the housing crisis requires a new approach. The state must play a bigger role in construction, while building key infrastructure in tandem.

  • Priority: Transport

    Ambitious transport projects should not be a pipe dream. We need a government that spends taxpayer money responsibly to connect our communities.

  • Priority: Social issues and education

    We need to ensure that education, mental health, and disability services are fully supported and accessible in every community across Ireland.

These answers were provided by the candidate

Taxes and spending
1 of 31 questions
Money that is currently being saved for future policy challenges (such as climate change and an ageing population) should be spent now on things like housing and healthcare.
  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I disagree with the premise of this question. We have been provided a golden opportunity with the Apple windfall surplus to invest massively in the immediate crises of housing and healthcare while still saving for future unforeseen policy challenges. "

- Dean Mulligan
Taxes and spending
2 of 31 questions
Taxes on people earning over €100,000 a year should be increased.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland has one of the highest levels of market inequality among developed nations, while public trust in taxation has rightly eroded due to government failures like the Bike Shed and Children's Hospital scandals. The wealthiest need to pay their fair share to combat this inequality."

- Dean Mulligan
Taxes and spending
3 of 31 questions
The Universal Social Charge (USC) is a necessary source of revenue and should be kept.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The USC should be kept and merged with PRSI, as it will ensure high earners contribute fairly, due to this being one of the few taxes they can’t easily avoid. Merging PRSI with USC would maintain essential revenue while simplifying the tax system."

- Dean Mulligan
Taxes and spending
4 of 31 questions
Tax on inheritance should be reduced, even if it means cutting back on public spending or increasing other taxes.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Inheritance tax shouldn't be reduced as it combats inequality and ensures large estates contribute to public services. This tax is also harder to evade as it's tied to domestic assets. Lowering it would widen the wealth gap, threaten essential services and shift the burden to lower-income families."

- Dean Mulligan
Taxes and spending
5 of 31 questions
Universal payments, such as child benefit and energy credits, should be replaced with more targeted measures aimed at the less well-off.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Irish citizens face the highest energy and childcare costs in Europe. While one-off credits offer short-term relief, they fail to address the systemic issues. What we need is universal childcare and a sustained windfall tax on energy providers to ensure fair pricing and service improvements for all."

- Dean Mulligan
Housing
6 of 31 questions
The government should focus on making houses more affordable rather than providing financial supports to first-time buyers.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Financial support to first-time buyers has proven to be an ineffective measure due to it inflating the overall prices of houses. In order to have truly affordable housing we need to decomodify housing and treat it as a public good rather than a market for Vulture Funds to make massive profits from. "

- Dean Mulligan
Housing
7 of 31 questions
Planning guidelines should be relaxed to allow for more one-off rural housing
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "One-off housing isn't something that should be dealt with punitively, but rather people should be incentivised to live in villages & towns as opposed to in one-off housing. Sustainable, accessible communities with appropriate infrastructure are needed."

- Dean Mulligan
Housing
8 of 31 questions
A rent freeze should be introduced across the country, even if it risks landlords leaving the market
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The current rent pressure zones are a half-measure that have done little help renters. A countrywide rent freeze is needed to relieve pressure, prevent homelessness and stop further increases. While frozen a no-fault eviction ban and income based rent caps need to be introduced to protect renters."

- Dean Mulligan
Housing
9 of 31 questions
The Local Property Tax should be scrapped, even if it means less money available for local councils
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "As a sitting Councillor, I've seen the LPT burden hard-working people, while making up just 12% of Fingal’s 2024 budget. This taxbase is unreliable for long-term planning due to frequent rate changes and should be replaced by a localised wealth tax, with Councillors deciding how the funds are spent."

- Dean Mulligan
Transport
10 of 31 questions
The provision of public transport (trains, light rail, buses) should be prioritised over building roads
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Completely agreed. Imagine a Fingal with a modern metro system allowing people to get directly to the Airport, City Center and Universities in a climate friendly way. This shouldn't be a pipe dream, but due to the government’s failure to manage public infrastructure projects it sadly is. "

- Dean Mulligan
Transport
11 of 31 questions
The passenger cap at Dublin airport should be lifted
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "With Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary opening a campaign event for Fine Gael it is no surprise the government have taken a lenient stance on this topic. Ultimately, a passenger cap or emissions cap is needed in Dublin airport in order to meet our legally binding targets of 51% reductions by 2030."

- Dean Mulligan
Environment, energy, agriculture
12 of 31 questions
Carbon taxes should continue to increase each year
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Carbon taxes are often touted as the panacea for climate action, but regressive taxes like this are insufficient and just turn regular citizens against climate policy. Instead, we need industry-wide carbon taxes that target fossil fuel companies to encourage their swift transition to renewables."

- Dean Mulligan
Environment, energy, agriculture
13 of 31 questions
Ireland should give up its exemption under the EU Nitrates directive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "This exemption has been a disaster for our natural environment. This effort led by the lobbying power of big agri-businesses has brought the mass pollution of our rivers, lakes and beaches across Ireland due to the explosion in dairy production for export markets for the benefit of a few beef barons"

- Dean Mulligan
Environment, energy, agriculture
14 of 31 questions
The government should introduce measures to significantly reduce the extent of livestock farming in Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland currently has more cows (7.1mil cattle) than humans (5.2mil). This is the main reason why farming makes up almost 40 per cent of all emissions on the island. Simply put, this is not sustainable. We must listen to the Climate Change Advisory Council and gradually reduce the national herd."

- Dean Mulligan
Environment, energy, agriculture
15 of 31 questions
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals should be allowed in Ireland, to improve security of supply
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Bringing LNG into Ireland would be a disaster for our climate goals. Firstly, LNG is 33% more polluting than coal. Secondly, fracked gas would be imported into these terminals. Thirdly, a recent report by Gas Networks Ireland states that we do not need an LNG terminal for energy security."

- Dean Mulligan
Social issues and education
16 of 31 questions
Abortion should be allowed in a wider range of circumstances.
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I was delighted to be a part of the campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment in 2018. Sadly, six years later women are still travelling abroad to avail of this vital medical care. Reforms to the three-day waiting period and de-criminalisation of doctors is needed. This will be a key priority if elected."

- Dean Mulligan
Social issues and education
17 of 31 questions
Policies to increase the representation of women in politics have gone too far
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Only recently legislation has passed to provide maternity leave for TDs that are going through a pregnancy. Far from having gone too far we are significantly behind in allowing my peers to easily participate in political life. If elected, I will seek to have this legislation extended to Councillors."

- Dean Mulligan
Social issues and education
18 of 31 questions
New laws on hate speech should be introduced to protect vulnerable communities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 has just passed through the Dáil. Introducing any new measures would be premature before we can take into account how this new legislation performs in action."

- Dean Mulligan
Social issues and education
19 of 31 questions
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have too much power in Irish policy making
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "On balance I would lean towards disagreeing as there are many NGOs that provide vital services for homelessness, environmental protection, abortion rights and much more. However, I would like to see more public inclusion in the NGO model similar to PPNs on local councils."

- Dean Mulligan
Social issues and education
20 of 31 questions
Religious instruction should only take place outside school hours in Irish primary schools
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "In a modern society Church and State should be separated. This is the only way to ensure that all religions are valued equally and no religion has the ability to unduly influence the legislative process. What people do in their private lives should be between them and God, if they are a believer."

- Dean Mulligan
Social issues and education
21 of 31 questions
Gender diversity and transgender issues should be taught in Irish primary schools
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "It has been shameful to see librarians across Ireland being intimidated by anti-LGBT+ groups. There is no harm in children learning about this information in a safe setting, as long as the content is age appropriate, as opposed to seeking potentially harmful and misleading content on the internet."

- Dean Mulligan
Immigration and asylum
22 of 31 questions
More resources should be given to improving conditions for asylum seekers
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Often overlooked is that Ireland's direct provision system has become a billion-euro industry, yielding poor results for both communities and asylum seekers alike. The government must take charge by building reception centers to speed up the processing of claims and saving money in the process."

- Dean Mulligan
Immigration and asylum
23 of 31 questions
Communities should be obliged to take their fair share of asylum seekers, even if there is local opposition
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The current haphazard approach to asylum provision has led to heightened tensions and occasionally criminal acts of arson. Much like the previous answer, the government must take charge by building reception centers on public land to speed up the processing of claims."

- Dean Mulligan
Immigration and asylum
24 of 31 questions
Accommodation centres for asylum seekers should not be located in economically disadvantaged areas
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "No one specific type of area should be arbitrarily prioritised for asylum seekers. However, reception centers should be built on public land banks in areas well serviced by public transportation. Whether this is an affluent area or not should be subject to availability and public consultation."

- Dean Mulligan
Immigration and asylum
25 of 31 questions
Rules on immigrant work permits and student visas should become more restrictive
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Precarious contracts only benefit underhanded employers. The government introduced a General Employment Permit to attract workers in industries experiencing a skills shortage. While this permit sets baseline payments it should also include humane family stays for the duration of the permit."

- Dean Mulligan
Crime and policing
26 of 31 questions
The solution to anti-social behaviour lies in tackling poverty and disadvantage rather than tougher policing
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Completely agreed, the root cause of anti-social behaviour is social deprivation and wealth inequality. This is a major factor as to why so many of my answers argue for progressive taxation rather than regressive taxation. Good public policy should be tough on the causes of crime."

- Dean Mulligan
Crime and policing
27 of 31 questions
Gardaí should take a more robust approach to dealing with political protests
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Protest is the bedrock of any secure and robust democracy. I have been proud in recent weeks to join Swords for Palestine protests, outside the ASL office, after reporting outlined their culpability in the transport of weapons. Gardai presence should only be needed when escalation to violence occurs"

- Dean Mulligan
Foreign policy and defence
28 of 31 questions
Ireland should continue to provide financial and political support to Ukraine in response to the ongoing war
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Ireland should continue to be a shelter for refugees of war, including Ukranian’s fleeing from the Russian invasion of their country. In addition, we should continue to contribute non-lethal aid to Ukraine in a manner that respects our proud tradition of peacekeeping and neutrality."

- Dean Mulligan
Foreign policy and defence
29 of 31 questions
The EU should suspend its trade agreement with Israel
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "We must support all efforts for peace as Palestinians face a genocide. Sadly, our government’s actions have been sorely lacking. I was disgusted when the government failed to pass the Occupied Territories Bill before this election, despite opposition parties offering them additional time to do so."

- Dean Mulligan
Foreign policy and defence
30 of 31 questions
Ireland should retain its ‘triple lock’ rule for deploying troops abroad
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The triple lock was introduced into the Lisbon Treaty after the Irish public voted down entry into the EU on the basis of retaining our neutrality. Now, decades later, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are trying to erode this hard fought neutrality. If elected, I would advocate for a referendum on this. "

- Dean Mulligan
Foreign policy and defence
31 of 31 questions
Ireland should collaborate more with other EU member states on defence and security
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "While this question may seem innocuous, as a neutral nation that prides itself on our peacekeeping capabilities we must be particularly careful when participating in projects of “defence’. As Israel has demonstrated, defense is a slippery term that can be used to justify heinous war crimes."

- Dean Mulligan
Irish unity
32 of 31 questions
A referendum on Irish unity should be held in the next five years
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "In principle, I would support a border poll within the term of this next government. However, as the Good Friday Agreement outlines this must be a collective, majoritarian and all island decision in order for it to progress."

- Dean Mulligan

By using our site, you agree to our use of one strictly necessary cookie. Learn more