'I would usually be sitting between bags of beef nuts and sometimes a bale of straw!'

Q. Mr. Tom Hennessy, thanks for entering The No Spin Zone. Tell me briefly about yourself and your political career to date? 
A. Thanks for having me Cara. I’m a Dental Technician married to Teresa, a Nurse, and we have 4 children ranging from 11 to 19 years old, one of whom was born with Downs Syndrome. I have three brothers; two are Dentists and another a Vet. I’ve always had a great sense of social justice growing up; my Mother, a teacher, instilled in me a great passion for Irish History and Culture. This is my first time running for election, in the Cahir LEA.
 
Q. What are the biggest issues coming up on the doorsteps in the Cahir LEA? 
A. Housing, Immigration and we've also a big issue with parking in Cahir, with the free parking going at the end of this year, which in my opinion will be a disaster for Cahir. The bridge debacle here in Ardfinnan is also a major source of annoyance for people. 
 
Q. We’ll dive straight into Housing. You’re a massive campaigner for the Sean Meehan log cabin case – why has that become such a controversial case, and is Housing a national crisis? 
A. Personal circumstances forced Sean into the situation he’s in and he was refused planning permission. There are thousands of Sean Meehan’s all over the Country. Young people can barely rent, never mind buy a house. Housing is a national crisis and it’s forcing our children to emigrate. The very first submission I will make if elected is to allow people to put modular homes on their own land. 
 
Q. Tipperary County Council say that they are exceeding their Housing targets. What do you say about that? 
A. The Government has failed to spend over 1 billion of its housing budget since 2020. You only need to talk to ordinary voters and walk into any town to see the job they’re doing. People in their 30s living with their parents – that’s now normal. This is not acceptable. 
 
Q. What do you say to people who argue that housing IPAs & refugees is a totally separate issue to the ordinary County Council Housing waiting list? 
A. I would say these issues are intrinsically linked in the eyes of most people.  You have to sort out your own problems first before you sort out the world’s problems. Irish people are incredibly generous, and for the Government to put us in this situation is a disgrace. We don’t have the housing, health services, or facilities to accept in these extra people. I say that the sitting Councillors should have stopped dealing with Roderic O’Gorman’s office and call for a halt to any more IPA centres in our County. Who is running our Council? – Is it our Councillors or our area managers? The Councillors are letting all of this happen on their watch. 
 
Q. On the doorsteps, how will you answer the question of “Why do we need Tom Hennessy instead of the current Councillors?” 
A. Your local Government candidate may be a nice person, but also be totally ineffective at standing up for people and their issues. The Councillors collectively in the Cahir LEA haven’t produced the goods. The bridge in Ardfinnan is a disaster. On Visa Immigration; none of the Councillors have stood up and said they’re not happy with this. Sean Meehan’s case was recently brought up in the Council chambers and shut down – and Councillors did nothing about it. Why didn’t they protest or walk out. I certainly will make a stand on every issue if elected and won’t be silenced.   
 
Q. How do you rate the performance of the present Government? 
A. Terrible, Cara. We have major issues in Housing, Immigration, Health and Education. By anyone’s yard stick they are the fundamental issues a Government should be on top of. We need change from the bottom up. 
 
Q. I’ve heard people say that voting for Independents will send a very clear message to the Government. Are they right? 
A. 100% Yes! The party system has failed at a local level and now it’s time for more Independents in the Council chambers, so that we see real protest & progress. Let’s put the mandate of the people above the hierarchy of County managers. A vote for a Government candidate is endorsing what this present Government are doing. 
 
Q. Immigration remains a massive issue. Why do you think there is so much anger about this issue? 
A. Because there’s no proper services for Irish people. You can’t get a doctor or dentist appointment within a reasonable time, or so many other services. People have had enough. So if we can’t accommodate our own people, then how can we possibly accommodate anyone else? 
 
Q. I’ve yet to meet a person who talks positively about Irish Water, with the majority wanting Water returned to the local Councils. Where do you stand on Water, and what will you do if elected?  
A. The water protests at the time showed people-power at its best. Irish Water is not fit for purpose, they need to be got rid of, they’re not working, and it needs to be returned to the Councils. You can’t beat a local man on the ground, with local knowledge of pipes & systems. 
 
Q. There are 20,000 children waiting on Autism Assessments nationally, and I regularly call it a national disgrace. Am I wrong? And what will you do about it if elected? 
A. You’re totally correct Cara, and if elected, I’ll be going in there to fight for all disabilities. If we could throw money into referendums that nobody wanted, if we can pay a million a month for Ukrainian pets, then we need to start helping the most vulnerable in our society. 
 
Q. Are the national media independently & properly reporting the Immigration and Housing issues? 
A. There has been an erosion of trust in what we would have called mainstream media. Too many events have been poorly managed by these organisations. Tipp FM is brilliant. Locally here, they’re telling us the truth.  
 
Q. People often say that Councillors change when they’re elected, that they become part of ‘the establishment.’ Will you change if elected? 
A. No. Coming from my background, I know I’m being called an anti-establishment candidate, and I’m very proud to be called that. With my mandate, I will be going in to represent the ordinary person, and I will bring protest into the Council chambers, which is not being done at the moment. I won’t be part of any ‘cosy cartels’. I will be a real voice for the people. 
 
Q. Where do you think that Tipperary County Council’s performance is poor? 
A. I think they have lost touch with what the general public’s wants and needs are. I don’t think anyone sets out to cause upset or stress but their policies are causing real problems. The management of Immigration has left people feeling completely disillusioned. They see that they can’t get a home, a doctor, a dentist; they see SNA’s in schools cut yet €11.5million can be spent on modular homes in Clonmel. As a self-employed person I can see where local business has been forgotten. Rates are collected, parking charges are implemented but no help is given. I also think rural crime is completely out of control and more needs to be done to help these communities. 
 
Q. Can you tell the voters something amusing about Tom Hennessy? 
A. When I was a young lad I used go for drives with my Granddad Jack Ryan, to the Cashel Racecourse. He always drove a VW Golf. Anyway, I used to think Tipperary Town and Thurles were far away places in a different county, as it would take ages to reach our destinations. Jack would drive at a snail’s pace with the radio blaring. I would usually be sitting between bags of beef nuts and sometimes a bale of straw!! Great days!! 
 
Q. The last question – why should people vote for Tom Hennessy this June?  
A. I have been an activist in relation to local issues for many years now. People who know me, know I put my heart and soul into every project I take on. In the past 5 weeks I have seen how publicising the modular home issue and the car parking issue in Cahir has already created a pathway for change, change that will have a direct affect on people’s lives and hopefully make things easier for them in the future. I will also be fighting for more funding for independent-living for people with disabilities and older citizens. I will also put our Irish culture and history to the forefront in the council. I think on June 7th people have an opportunity to ‘Give Change a Chance’ and let me be their voice in the Council.