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Vote No.1 sadhbh o' neill for tcd seanad

ABOUT ME

I remember the moment that I learned about climate change, or the ‘greenhouse effect’ as it was called in the late 1980s. I was terrified. Since then, very little has been done to bend the emissions curve. But I was left with an overwhelming desire to work for environmental protection and climate justice. When I was asked to stand on a green ticket in 1991, I stepped up, even though I was still a student at Trinity. I’ve spent the last three decades stepping up. As a mother, an academic, a writer and an activist, I will bring passion, expertise and experience to the Oireachtas.

I have a proven track record of working with people in all parties and none and a reputation for research excellence and coalition building. In September 2024 I was delighted to join Labour and I stood as the Party’s candidate in the General Election in the Waterford constitutency. Now I am asking for your number one vote in the TCD Seanad election. 

  • Regular contributor to the Irish Times Opinion and Environment pages

  • Former senior climate advisor to Friends of the Earth Ireland

  • Member of the board of Transport Infrastructure Ireland*

  • Member of the board of ActionAid Ireland

  • Lecturer in climate change policy and politics and climate and energy law at DCU and TU Dublin.

  • Former Green Party councillor – Elected to Dublin City Council in 1991

  • BA TCD 1993, MA UCD 2015 and PhD candidate at UCD in climate change ethics and policy.

  • Certificate in Renewable Energy from the Tipperary Institute 2003

  • Former coordinator of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition

  • Campaign coordinator for Climate Case Ireland which pursued a successful legal challenge against the Irish government over climate policy.

  • Worked in the Oireachtas for Independents for Change group as policy advisor on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action 2018-20.

  • Former Environmental Awareness Officer for Kilkenny County Council
*Note: since 7th October I have recused myself from all TII board meetings and deliberations for the duration of the General Election campaign. In any commentary on matters relating to TII I am not representing the views of the executive or board and am expressing personal opinions only. 
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My Seanad agenda

1. Climate crisis

The climate crisis is the most urgent problem humanity has ever faced. Ireland has an historic opportunity to embrace a circular economy and energy resilience if we seize the opportunity to harness our abundant renewable energy resources as rapidly as possible. I will propose amendments to the Climate Law to strengthen the requirement on government and public bodies to meet legally binding targets. 

2. Environmental justice

Policies to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises must be fair to all. Climate action should address existing inequalities and tackle hotspots of air and water pollution as well as transport and energy poverty. I will propose legislation to enshrine the principles of sustainability, nature restoration, net biodiversity gain and fairness in public policy. 

3. Higher education

The funding deficit in higher education hampers educational quality, limits research capacity and hinders competitiveness on a global stage. Lower and middle income families still struggle with the costs of college and student housing. I will campaign to close the overall funding gap while ensuring that the cost of meeting public service pay agreements are provided for separately in annual funding and do not fall on HEIs as at present. 

4. Young people

Younger generations are locked out of housing, job security and are anxious for their futures. I will propose legislation to make it easier to get a postal vote and to lower the voting age in European and local elections to 16. I will propose legislation establishing an ombudsman for future generations and a living wage. 

5. Social media and big tech

Social media platforms, AI and big tech are having a growing influence on every aspect of our lives, along with our jobs, our energy security and our tax base. I will work to ensure that technology companies are properly regulated. I will propose legislation outlawing the practice of greenwashing by companies. 

6. Housing, transport and planning

Ireland’s population is growing and we have a massive housing shortfall. We need more affordable, cost rental and social housing alongside investment in public transport, water services and nature restoration. I want everyone to have access to warm, affordable housing that is within easy reach of public services and frequent, affordable public transport. I will legislate for mandatory targets to end vacancy and dereliction and to ensure public transport and active travel get prioritised in development plans. 

"THE seanad NEEDS A

CHAMPION FOR CLIMATE

ACTION AND CLIMATE JUSTICE"

Sadhbh in pink suit

CONTACT ME

hello@sadhbhoneill.com

For media inquiries contact press@sadhbhoneill.com 

Tel: 087 2258599

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"we have a duty to

safeguard our world"

Sadhbh with Cllr John Pratt
Sadhbh with cllrs Seamus Ryan and Thomas Phelan
Sadhbh with cllrs Seamus Ryan and Thomas Phelan

My agenda

My priorities for Waterford

As one of Ireland’s leading environmental activists, I am passionate about driving the changes we need to protect our environment and ensure a better – and fairer – future for all. I live in Waterford city, and have worked as a lecturer and campaigner for the past thirty years. 

Despite Ireland’s wealth, many people are struggling to afford the things they need to survive and thrive. But current policies don’t address the underlying causes of inequality and poor quality infrastructure. The cost of living is still too high, Waterford UH still doesn’t have 24/7 cardiac care and people are struggling to access affordable housing, reliable public transport and childcare. County Waterford is not getting its fair share of government investment in vital infrastructure. 

I will continue to campaign for:

•⁠  ⁠Warmer homes for all: a significant increase in social, affordable and private purchase homes linked to accessible public transport and funding to retrofit all local authority housing in Waterford by 2030.

  • More financial supports for people who want to retrofit their homes and install renewable energy to make our houses both cheaper and greener to heat and run. 

•⁠  ⁠End traffic congestion and improve road safety with dedicated funds for active travel, footpath repairs and improved public transport connectivity for all towns and villages. I will propose a review of the PPP contract on the Waterford By-pass to free Waterford city of congestion and pollution.

•⁠  ⁠More visible policing on our streets, with enforcement focused on improving community safety and road safety for all road users. 

•⁠  ⁠Expand capacity and tackle overcrowding at Waterford Hospital with more staff and beds. 

•⁠  ⁠New jobs and investment in sustainable food production, nature restoration, renewable energy, eco-tourism and the circular econom

Prioritise fast and fair action for climate and biodiversity.

The biodiversity and climate crises are the defining issues of our time. To address them we need political leadership, policy expertise and public dialogue. Ireland’s landscape and biodiversity are under increasing pressure from air and water pollution and unsustainable land-use practises, but the Government is not taking this crisis seriously enough. We learned during the pandemic that delaying action is costly and dangerous, and that scientific expertise is vital to good decision-making. But we need to build public trust and ensure that all climate actions are implemented fairly for all.

Put environmental justice at the centre of all government policy.

Environmental justice should be the cornerstone of everything we do. Vulnerable groups often experience lower environmental standards, whether that be in the form of poor air quality, lack of green space, cold and damp housing and lack of affordable healthy food choices locally. Poor air quality alone is responsible for up to 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland every year and other forms of pollution contribute to a variety of health conditions, stress and mental health problems. Climate policies should be designed to improve public services in housing, transport and health for all. The Climate Action Plan must be poverty proofed to ensure that it provides for security and prosperity for all with decent jobs and state investment in our energy transition.

Give young people a better future.

Young people are increasingly disenfranchised and locked out of housing and job security. Short-term policy decisions are robbing children of a high-quality environment and a stable economic future. We are not handing the Earth on to them in a fit state. They deserve a stronger and louder voice in all decision-making. I will work to lower the voting age in general and local elections to 16, and work to establish an ombudsman for future generations. Giving younger people the vote strengthens our democracy and commits us all to working for their futures.

End housing inequality.

Everyone should have the right to a home, to an affordable rent and to a choice of location near jobs, schools and other services. The crisis in housing both in terms of supply and affordability is deepening inequalities and creating legacies of disadvantage.  We should take this opportunity to build communities, not just houses.  I support simplifying the planning system, greening buildings and architecture, with priority given to the reuse of existing buildings. We will need new settlements and even towns to cater for our growing population. I want to see more focus on high density, high quality cost-rental housing and a mix and choice of housing and tenure types – co-ops, co-housing and eco-villages that are affordable for all, catering to people of all ages and needs, and linked to integrated public transport networks that reduce car dependency. 

Curb the growing power of tech giants on our lives.

Technology is having a growing influence on every aspect of our lives, our social relationships and our tax base. The tech giants have increasing power over our access to news and information, but they are not subject to the same regulation as traditional media. Social media apps are increasingly being used to monitor and influence our behaviour, and our politics. New platforms will give some companies ways to avoid being regulated and taxed altogether. There is mounting evidence of the negative effects of social media on young people, and on girls in particular. I want to see more regulation of social media to end abusive content and trolling, and to halt the spread of disinformation, including ‘greenwashing’.  We need to review our tax policies so that all industries contribute fairly to Irish society and that taxes don’t discriminate against developing countries.

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1991 Election Photo
That’s me on the right, on arrival at City Hall after the local elections in June 1991.
Vote 1

"IT'S TIME TO VOTE

FOR FAST AND FAIR

CLIMATE ACTION"

@2022 Sadhbh O’Neill