Mark Moore, The Nationalist Party
A Kerry native who has lived and worked in Cavan for the last 13 years, Mark (44) is a father of two. Living in Ballyjamesduff, he works as a technician.
Why did you enter politics?
To provide a voice to the downtrodden and unrepresented Irish people.
Where do you sit on the political spectrum?
I am a proud Irish patriot, the political spectrum isn't something I think about, if a policy is beneficial for the Irish people then it should be implemented. What's right is right, what's wrong is wrong.
What is your main campaigning issue?
Mass uncontrolled immigration
What would you do in government to address it?
I would seek for the closure of all Direct Provision centres in the counties of Cavan and Monaghan and for the rescinding of the Green Party's White Paper policy on immigration.
Put these in order of importance?
1. Housing
2. Health
3. Education
4. Policing
5. Job Creation
6. Defence
7. Roads
"However, they are all equally important and necessary towards the functioning of the state and no one issue should be ignored."
Can we afford more refugees?
It depends. If we deport the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and economic migrants illegally gaming the Direct Provision system, then maybe afterwards we can discuss taking in much smaller numbers of genuine refugees on a strictly temporary basis.
Should Ireland sanction Israel?
Perhaps, though my immediate priority regarding Israel is the safe return of all Irish soldiers in Lebannon currently serving as target practice for the ungrateful Israeli military. Our troops are better placed protecting Ireland and its territorial seas than protecting the borders of the hostile, expansionist Israeli state.
What's the answer to the biodiversity/climate crises?
Invest in Irish farming, which is far higher quality with less carbon output than in other agricultural exporting nations such as Brazil. Ban all sitka spruce plantations in Ireland and begin planting native species to revitalise Ireland's forests and wildlife.
Do we need state-run childcare facilities?
No, the multiple disappearances of children under state care have proven that the state is in urgent need of reform. Instead of focusing on private care providers, focus on child safeguarding.
One way to help revive towns and villages?
A ban and rollback on any further DP centres in rural Irish villages, the return of bus lines to rural villages, the reopening of rural GPs, and the rollback of wage-crushing mass immigration that has deflated salaries and led to higher emigration rates of young people from rural areas.