GE 24 meet the candidates: Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent)

Meet the candidates GE 2024

Tell us a little about yourself

I am currently a member of Westmeath County Council and I previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford-Westmeath constituency from 2016 to 2020. I also served as a Minister of State from 2017 to 2020. I played a key role in organising and coordinating flood relief efforts, including during the severe floods of December 2015 and January 2016. I am strong advocate for rural communities, focusing on issues such as employment, job creation, family debt relief, reducing rural crime, and protecting the viability of family farms.

What do you think should be done to solve the housing crisis?

Big issues like housing can be solved if the will to do it is there at Government level. Unfortunately, with almost 15,000 officially homeless, including 4,500 children, the outgoing Government has clearly failed to deliver enough housing regardless of whether they will claim that they were doing their best. Results speak a 1,000 words. House prices have increased by over 150% since the financial crisis, making it difficult for many to afford homes.

Local authorities have to get back to building houses. Government have to fund this construction through exchequer funding or allocating some of the Apple money. Throwing subsidies and grants at people doesn’t address the fundamental problem of housing shortage. Young people, including teachers, gardai, nurses and defence force personnel must be given a realistic hope of being able to buy their own home that is close to where they work. The next government must also set housing targets on a regional and urban basis so that new supply is not concentrated in limited areas of the country, such as the bigger cities and towns. A shift in housing policies and a focus on long-term solutions are needed to address the root causes of the crisis.

We have to be innovative in our thinking - There are over 163,000 vacant homes in Ireland, many of which have been empty for years. Utilising these properties can also help and we need to find ways of getting these houses on the market for people to buy.

What should be done to address the economic concerns that many people face due to the rising costs of groceries, insurance etc?

A sticky plaster approach is not a solution. Tackling the cost of living in Ireland requires a multi-faceted approach. We are paying some of the highest energy costs in Europe and the next Government should immediately establish a taskforce to identify ways to bring electricity prices in line with the European average.

Would you be interested in doing a deal with larger parties and other Independents to form a new government?

I have always said that being in Government means you are in a much better position to deliver large-scale projects for your constituency and being in a stronger position to argue for that. Being on the outside, sitting on the opposition benches means you simply do not have that influence. Yes, you can jump up and down and do plenty of shouting but that only gets you so far. When I was a Junior Minister I was able to deliver €1 billion for flood relief schemes up and down the country. I was also able to bring in legislation to help people who were in difficulties with their mortgages. The law softens repossession rules by allowing courts to consider a range of factors, such as the impact on children and the physical and mental health of householders. I also introduced legislation for mandatory minimum sentencing for repeat sex offenders.

I successfully delivered the Hidden Heartlands tourism brand, university status for Athlone IT and a new garda station for Athlone - I could never have done that if I didn’t go into government as part of the Independent Alliance. As Minister of State Moran I introduced free access to all Office of Public Works (OPW) heritage sites for children under 12 years of age and for individuals with disabilities and their carers.

If you were marking the performance of the current government out of 10 what would you give it?

On the big ticket items such as housing, health, justice and immigration, the outgoing Government has struggled badly on all these fronts and on that basis, I would rate their performance at a generous 4 out of 10.

What one issue would be your top priority if you are elected to the Dáil?

It is difficult to separate out the big issues such as housing, health, justice and immigration but a top priority would have to be housing given the sheer scale of the numbers currently facing homelessness in Ireland – almost 15,000 – it is a shocking figure and the issue must be the first task for the next Government to declare as a national emergency.

Do Independents have any real power to enact change in the Dáil?

The Independent Alliance, of which I was a member in the 2016 to 2020 government played a very successful role in that government. As mentioned above, I was privileged to have introduced two pieces of legislation while I was also able to upscale flood relief schemes up and down the country, including for Athlone. I am known for my hands-on approach to problems and I like nothing better than to offer solutions to make people’s lives that little bit better.