Dublin GE16 Candidates Answer Our 12 Questions

Irish National Opera buys old church on Abbey Street, to turn it into a performing arts space

The chapel on the ground floor is too small for a theatre “but it's the kind of place where you could have recitals, a piano player or string quartet”, says Diego Fasciati, the executive director.

In preparation for 26 February, we asked 132 candidates running in Dublin their views on a dozen issues, from abortion to building inspections, religious patronage of schools to Irish Water. Here are the answers from those who responded.

In preparation for 26 February, we asked 132 candidates running in Dublin their views on a dozen issues, from the 8th Amendment to building inspections, religious patronage of schools to Irish Water.

We started with this list of candidates posted by Maynooth lecturer Adrian Kavanagh, who keeps a close eye on Irish elections. Then we reached out to as many candidates as we could find – nearly all of them – and emailed them our questions.

Not all of them responded, which we understand, of course, as they might be a touch busy just now. But we’re grateful to those who found the time.

We received responses from independents, as well as candidates representing Labour, the Green Party, the Social Democrats, the Anti-Austerity Alliance, the People Before Profit Alliance, Sinn Féin, Renua, the Workers’ Party, and Direct Democracy Ireland. Interestingly, no candidate from Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil responded.

You can find your constituency below, and check where your local candidates stand on the issues.