Activist Sadhbh O'Neill to seek Labour nomination in Waterford
O’Neill announced her bid saying, “The Labour Party has been the driving force behind social change in Ireland." Photo: SadhbhONeill.com
Waterford City native Sadhbh O’Neill has launched a bid today for the Labour Party nomination to stand in the upcoming general election in the Waterford constituency.
The former Green Party Councillor was first elected to a public position in 1991 while she was a student in Trinity College Dublin. She was elected to Dublin City Council and held the position until 1996.
Since then, O’Neill has been a regular contributor to the Irish Times opinion and science pages, while working in climate policy at DCU and engaging in environmental activism. O’Neill most recently ran for election in the 2022 Seanad Bye-election when she was eliminated on the 11th count after receiving 6.5 per cent of first preference votes.
O’Neill announced her bid saying: “The Labour Party has been the driving force behind social change in Ireland. The Party campaigned for equality, fairness and respect during a time when Irish society was dominated by religious institutions and political cronyism.”
“The party has proven itself over and over to be a forward-looking, inclusive and progressive organisation that seeks to improve wellbeing for all, whilst tackling the root causes of poverty, inequality and injustice.”
She said that the “next wave of social progress in Ireland will be through climate actions that are delivered in a way that is fair and affordable to all” citing the need for schemes to retrofit homes in a manner that is “affordable and easy to access” in a bid to “end fuel poverty.”
O’Neill went on to comment: “We know that environmental injustices are taking place every day, where disadvantaged communities are often living in areas with poor air quality, inadequate public transport, inadequately heated homes and where the rising cost of living has made energy services a luxury instead of a basic right.”
O’Neill has committed to campaign under three headings; housing and public amenities, sustainable infrastructure and jobs, and policing and health.
Among her campaign issues, O’Neill aims to tackle overcrowding issues at Waterford Hospital by campaigning to increase staff and capacity, as well as campaigning for a greater on-street Garda presence to crack down on “illegal dumping” and to improve road safety.
In line with her climate activism, she focuses heavily on sustainability in her campaign issues. She has committed to campaigning for the extension of public transport services across the county and to buy out the public-private partnership on the Waterford By-pass to reduce traffic through Waterford City.
She also wants to invest in sustainable and affordable housing on the North Quays in Waterford City in addition to creating a “dedicated fund for footpath repairs” and pedestrian facilities across the county.
The Labour Party last won a seat in Waterford in 2011, when Ciara Conway was selected on the 10th count. Councillor John Pratt was then selected in Waterford to contest the 2020 General Election for Waterford.
If successful, O’Neill will join the growing list of candidates who have been selected by their parties to contest the upcoming General Election.
So far, sitting TDs, Marc Ó Cathasaigh and Min Mary Butler have been selected to contest the next election for the Green Party and Fianna Fáil respectively. Sinn Féin has selected two candidates for the Waterford constituency, with Deputy David Cullinane seeking re-election and Councillor Conor McGuinness making the leap into national politics. Senator John Cummins will contest the General Election for Fine Gael in the Waterford constituency.
