GE 24 meet the candidates: Carol Okeke (Green Party)
Meet the candidates GE 24
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Carol Buchi Okeke and I’m a migrant woman originally from Nigeria, West Africa. I have Lived in Ireland for 24 years.
I am married with four children, who happen to be my greatest achievement. I am a graduate of the University of Benin in Nigeria. I hold a Masters degree in human resource management and diploma in big data, both from the Dublin Business School. Currently I am customer experience manager with Tesco. I am a people person.
What would your party do to solve the housing crisis?
The Green Party, if elected to return to government, would continue to deliver affordable homes (approx 15,000) at scale via Approved Housing Bodies, The Land Development Agency and local authorities under our flagship cost-rental housing policy.
What would your party do to address the economic concerns that many people face due to the rising costs of groceries, insurance, fuel…?
The Green Party would continue to deliver progressive budgets with a focus on further investments in childcare, indexing welfare payments in line with earnings and inflation, and tackle energy poverty, which helps the most vulnerable in society.
What would your party do differently to other parties if they form part of the next government?
The Green Party will spend every day of the next government to protect us all from climate change while ensuring that we continue to build a fair and just society for everyone, regardless of age, ability or background.
If you were marking the performance of the current government out of 10 what would you give it?
Eight out of 10. That leaves room for improvement, but we firmly believe the government have a strong record during their term of office – with an economy at full employment and excess tax receipts following our unprecedented response to exogenous shocks such as Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and a cost of living crisis.
What one issue would be your top priority if you are elected to the Dáil?
The Green Party firmly believe that climate change is the existential threat to our generation and future generations, and our top priority is a relentless focus on delivering upon the binding targets in the Climate Act we enshrined in law.
Do smaller parties have any real power to enact change in the Dáil?
Yes. The Green Party have been the most impactful small party in a coalition government in the history of the state, with a strong record of policy delivery throughout the near five-year term.