Independence is crucial to having more leeway on the important issues in Tipperary

Q.  Local Elections candidate Mr Liam Browne, thanks for entering the No- Spin Zone. Tell me briefly about yourself and your political career to date?
A. I’m married to Linda and have two daughters Saoirse (23) and Niamh (21). I grew up in Cashel, but live in the village of Rosegreen. I work for MSD Ireland as a maintenance engineer, and have previously stood for election in 2004 & 2009.
Q. We’ll dive straight into immigration. You were the most visible representative at last November’s immigration debacle in Cashel, where 74 IPA’s were due to be placed in a hostel being used to house homeless people. Can you give us the inside scoop on that?
A. The issue was that the hostel owner had been renting to the council as a homeless accommodation. When it was announced, it was to be used for refugee accommodation, this caused a lot of disquiet in Cashel, especially on social media. I organised a meeting in Halla Na Feile, and about 500 people attended, where local TD’s and cllrs claimed to have no prior knowledge of this. They were sent away to get more information, and a protest was held at the hostel. Mattie McGrath and myself spoke directly with Minister Joe O’ Reilly, and the move was paused. We’ve heard nothing more since.
MIGRATION AGENCY
Q. So, what’s your position on immigration right now?
A. The government needs to devise a proper policy which deals with both legal immigrations, but also non-documented immigration. We have to differentiate between economic migrants & refugees. We need to create a central migration agency, to avoid messes similar to what happened in Cashel.
Q. Are the national media independently and properly reporting the Immigration issue?
A. No absolutely not, and they haven’t from the start. They are too dependent on the government for funding as we’ve seen in the RTE case, which then puts pressure on journalists to follow the government line. That will be denied but there have been many cases involving asylum seekers which have not been reported on. Also, too many people are painted as ‘far-right’ if they raise legitimate concerns, which is also wrong. It’s a sad state of affairs, when people say they do not trust mainstream media. In fact, the term itself has become one of derision.
ASYLUM SEEKERS
Q. Newstalk radio ran a story this week that 85% of asylum seekers to Ireland have either no documents, or false ones when they arrive. What do you make of that?
A. It’s not surprising. That relates to about 7,500 cases over the past two years. I visited Berlin recently and my passport was checked 11 times in 3 days. Without documents, then they couldn’t have got on the planes in the first place. The big question is why they choose to destroy those documents, mid-flight.
Q. Five years go Fine Gael got 56% of the vote in the Cashel/Tipperary area, and one year ago people said there may be a ‘Sinn Fein wave.’ Do you think things have changed for both of those parties, and why?
A, I do, yes. The 56% FG got was a false vote in that much of it was taken up by now retiring Cllr Michael FitzGerald. Fine Gael’s support isn’t anything like 56% and will be lower this time. Sinn Fein got 9% which should go up, but nowhere near the national 30% average in polls.
Q. I’ve heard people say that voting for Independents will send a very clear message to the government. Are they right?
A. I hope so. People see that you’re not tied by national party decisions. Independence gives you more leeway to talk to different groups. In the last election, that’s the direction Tipperary voters went. Currently Independent councillors make up the biggest bloc on Tipperary County Council. I expect that to be even bigger post-election.
Q. People will be very familiar with you from being regularly on Tipp FM. Do you think that many politicians are reluctant to put themselves forward to answer difficult questions, and why?
A. I do. The strong political characters, who made tough decisions and stood over them, are nearly gone. Too many politicians want to be ‘polished’ and not offend anyone. You’ve got to expect that not everyone will like what you say, but voters really respect honesty.
Q. On the doorsteps, how will you answer the question of “Why do we need Liam Browne instead of the current councillors?”
A. I have a different skillset than other councillors. I’m bringing a working person’s knowledge of how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting people, and how it’s getting further and further away from their means.
Q. In my opinion, voters are becoming very frustrated when they go to their elected councillors about problems, only to learn that un-elected officials often stonewall their issue. Should elected councillors have more power?
A. Yes, they should Cara. But they gave it away previously because they didn’t want to be unpopular. They gave away executive powers to council officials, who they could then blame for unpopular decisions. If elected, I’ll be seeking for councillors to take back those powers.
IRISH WATER
Q. In my opinion, water may yet become the biggest issue in this election if things don’t improve. Who is to blame for the water issue mess?
A. Water is the biggest issue in Cashel/Tipperary area Cara. Irish Water was a huge mistake. All we’re doing is patching our old system up, when we should be building it to last another 100 years into the future.
Q. What will you do about water if elected?
A. Proper communications systems must be set up. There needs to be a Council Liaison Officer that we can get on the phone when something happens, or give warning about upcoming works and how long they will last. Most importantly, proper capital funding needs to be made available, to actually fix the system.
Q. Cashel has a problem with St Cormac’s Cemetery. Can you talk to me about that?
A. There is. Only recently a person went to a family grave and seen that it was fouled with dog litter. This as you imagine was very upsetting. It’s talked around, but the reality is, that many people in Cashel now have a serious problem with the number of members of the Travelling community being buried in Cashel, especially those who are from outside the local area. Sections of the graveyard are becoming places where mourners feel intimidated and feel the council are ignoring their own bye laws, with regard to how the graveyard is supposed to be used. The dog litter issue is just the latest problem that has arisen. It is now long past time a full conversation needs to be had around Cormac’s Graveyard between the council and the various Traveller families and advocacy groups, for example Pavee Point, the Tipperary Traveller Network, to solve these issues.
HOUSING
Q. Are we at crisis point in relation to housing, and what will you do if elected?
A. We’re past crisis point. We need to ramp up building and fast. We used to build 80,000 houses a year, and now we’re told that we don’t have the people to build 35,000. We need a government to take a much bigger hand in providing social and affordable housing themselves, either through councils or approved housing bodies. I will apply massive pressure on this issue if elected.

Q. Your late father, Cllr Michael Browne, became famous for welcoming the Queen to Cashel as Mayor, becoming the first Sinn Fein member to shake the hand of a British royal. SF now regularly attend royal events. Was your Dad way ahead of his time?
A. He was. The history between Ireland and the monarchy is well-documented, but my Dad formed the view that he’d be snubbing a million people in the North if he didn’t greet her, and we’d never achieve a united Ireland by doing that. Despite massive pressure on him not to do it, he did it because it was what the people of Cashel wanted him to do. History has been very kind to him since.
Q. The last question – In one sentence, why should people vote for Liam Browne this June?
A. Because I will bring a different, not just Independent point of view to the ouncil, but one which cuts across all parties, a view from working people, whose taxes pay for council services, but who feel are not being properly represented by council decisions, a practical, common sense view, that is badly needed in an institution that many feel is becoming too distant from the ordinary people who elect them.