Cllr Carmel Brady, Fine Gael

Originally from Bunnoe Carmel Brady now lives in Tullyvin. Her father has passed away but her mother still lives in the family home and just celebrated her 94th birthday on November 23. Carmel is a county councillor and part-time legal secretary. She is married to Seamus and they have two children, Tony and Angela, three grandchildren, and a dog called Bella.

Carmel's deeply involved in her community and is a member of Kill Shamrock GFC, Tullyvin Community Centre, Kill Parish Finance Committee, Tullyvin Tidy Village, Cootehill Chamber, Cootehill Area Development, Cootehill Tidy Town, St Michael's Renovation Committee, Cootehill Playground Committee. She's also a board member of CMETB, board member of St Aidan's Comprehensive school, St Bricin's College, Belturbet, Coláiste Dun a Rí, Kingscourt, Cavan Institute and is chairperson of Tanagh Outdoor Education & Training Centre and Breifne College, Cavan.

What's the last good film you enjoyed?

‘The Outrun’ starring Saoirse Ronan

Why did you enter politics?

To help people in my community and assist with application for grants.

Where do you sit on the political spectrum?

I believe that when we sit around a table or in a room that everyone's opinion and voice is important. We need to be respectful and then make our decision based on what is right for the community.

What is your main campaigning issue?

Roads and infrastructure, Education & Early Years, Community Development, and lobby for East-West link from Dundalk to Sligo to help the industries, companies and food producers in this area to get the raw materials into their factories and their products out. Extra funding for local and rural roads - everybody living in rural Ireland needs a car to get to work and do their daily routines so we need roads fit for purpose. Continue with reducing college fees and childcare fees.

What would you do in government to address it?

We need to keep funding coming down to all rural communities to continue building facilities for all age groups.

Put these in order of importance?

1. Housing; 2. Health; 3. Education; 4. Roads; 5. Policing; 6. Job creation; 7. Defence

Can we afford more refugees?

It is not a matter of affording refugees, we need to manage the applicants in a fair and fast manner.

Should Ireland sanction Israel and how?

Ireland needs to keep pressure on for a ceasefire.

What's the answer to the biodiversity/climate crises?

Well if we knew the answer to that we would save a lot of research. We have to keep working on the small wins but we need to increase clean energy sources and renewable energy systems such as solar panels.

Do we need state-run childcare facilities?

We need a combination of private and state-run childcare facilities with a balance setting of equal fees and salaries.

One way to help revive towns and villages?

We need to get people to come back to live above shops in our towns and villages. We also need to assist small business with their overheads and running costs.