Val Martin, Irish Freedom Party
From Kingscourt, Val has a background in farming. He's married with an adult daughter, three sons and two young grandsons. In his youth, he joined the FCA and later served 32 years in the Gardaí and rose to the rank of Detective Sergeant for 17 years. Based in this division, he is most proud of the role he played in solving the theft of 74 cattle from Ballyhaise College in 1996. In 2003, Val attained an honours degree in Business after four years of study. In 2005, he became project manager with Kingscourt Community Development Council and retired to suckler farming in 2008.
Val has a cat called Duish and runs a Youtube channel ValMartinIrelandrealtrueeducation not fakenews with 6,700 subscribers. He is secretary of Ballinagh/Crossdoney Game Preservation Club; Irish spokesperson for the European Platform Against Windfarms. Val took three planning cases to the High Court, winning one. He also likes to helping people, for example with writing official letters.
What's the last film you enjoyed watching?
The 2006 film 'Idiocracy' about a country run by crazy ignorant people. I also like the film 'Trading Places'.
Where do you sit on the political spectrum?
Politically, I stand where Ireland stood 20 years ago. I am against the present fad of Green Woke Cultural Marxism, which is a form of communism. I sympathise with the plight of school teacher Enoch Burke who is in jail and I believe the sexualisation of school children is wrong.
What is your main campaigning issue?
The immigration crisis is the most serious. Our Government refused to allow a Catholic woman, Assia Bibbi, who was sentenced to death for her religion in Pakistan to come to Ireland. That made my blood boil and motivated me to act. EU citizens can come here by right.
What would you do in government to address it?
I want a proper multi-agency body to process immigration applicants from outside the EU as was the case when I was in the Gardaí. Those who come here to work in our public services and industry will be welcomed. Too many innocent people have been killed or injured by unvetted immigrants who would never be allowed in under my system.
What's the answer to the biodiversity/climate crises?
Farmers are wrongly being targeted for the climate crisis. The sugar beet industry was destroyed when the Agri Minister read a directive wrong. The Argentine delegation walked out of the recent COPsummit and have gone home to produce beef, while Ireland is damaging its beef industry with green restrictions. I will make sure our beef industry is protected and will read all laws properly to avoid a repeat of the beet industry's destruction.
The government must assess renewable energy from an environmental and engineering perspective, according to law. The present policy has given us the highest electricity prices in the world. We must bring down energy prices and the cost of living.