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Political platform: Labour Party’s Duncan Smith TD
Political Platform
Duncan Smith TD
Elected to the Dáil in February 2020, Duncan Smith is a Labour Party TD for Dublin Fingal. Previously, Smith was a member of Fingal County Council from 2014 to 2020 and is currently party whip and spokesperson on climate action, communications networks and transport.
How did your political career begin?
In 2008, following the banking crash and the bleak outlook for the company I decided to become active in politics and I joined the Labour Party. I had always been a supporter of the Labour Party and the labour movement so it was the natural party for me to join. I began campaigning and activism with the party in my local area and in 2011, I volunteered as Brendan Ryan’s director of elections for the general election. I then worked as Brendan’s parliamentary assistant in the Oireachtas and continued to act as director of elections for presidential, European and byelection campaigns in Dublin Fingal. In 2014, I ran and was elected in the Swords ward of Fingal County Council and was reelected at the 2019 local elections. In November 2019 I ran for the Labour Party in the Dublin Fingal byelection but was unsuccessful. However, the byelection was a very positive and energised campaign and it set me up for a successful run in the General Election in February 2020.
What are your most notable achievements to date?
Achievement feels like the wrong word considering my relatively short amount of time in the Dáil and the constraints placed by Covid. I did enjoy my work on the Covid Committee in the Summer of 2020. On that committee, I was a strong voice for the widespread provision and wearing of facemasks. It’s difficult to remember now but there was contested views as to how helpful they would be in stopping the spread of the virus. Now they are part of our everyday life and a key tool in stopping the spread of the virus. I have also brought my first Bill to the Dáil, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (Carbon Footprint Labelling) Bill 2021. This Bill would confer on the NSAI the responsibility to come up with a trusted and clear carbon labelling scheme for products. This would place responsibility on corporates to meet a stringent state-led measures and tackle any potential greenwashing or weak self-certification method.
What is unique about representing Dublin Fingal?
Dublin Fingal is the youngest and one of the most diverse constituencies in the country. Fingal is almost a monoscope of the entire country. Unlike most constituencies in Dublin, we have a large rural constituency in Fingal. We also have a coastline with numerous seaside towns, as well as Dublin’s county town, Swords, which is one of the fastest growing towns in the country. Fingal is also home to Ireland’s aviation centre, Dublin Airport. The diversity across the demographics and geography of the
constituency creates a broad wave of variety in local challenges and local issues. Uniquely for Dublin, Dublin Fingal shares many traits and challenges of many other counties.
What are your priorities going forward?
Workers and the environment. There are very many issues that I am passionate about but the priority for me is always workers and workers’ rights. In almost every aspect of the Irish society and economy there is a lot of work to be done to improve the conditions and quality of employment for workers in Ireland. My main priority in politics is to see the quality and conditions improve and that Ireland becomes one of the best countries in the world to work. People’s labour creates all value and keeps the wheels of the economy turning. Without workers the country would not function. It is the most valuable asset individuals have and a country has, and it must be valued and properly remunerated
Simultaneously, climate action is one of the most pressing issues facing us. We need to radically change how we use and treat our planet. The next decade will be a vital period in the fight against climate change and we must be prepared to make seismic changes to our habits, and more importantly we must see business and industry doing their fair share in this fight. The larger polluters in our economy must be regulated to reduce their emissions and move to more sustainable practises. My main focus in this challenge is to ensure there is a just transition for workers in emissions heavy sectors but also the job creation opportunities available in moving to a sustainable economy.
How can the Labour Party maximise its impact in the lifetime of the 33rd Dáil?
In this Dáil the Labour Party has brought forward a significant amount of legislation and parliamentary motions in the areas of workers’ rights, climate action and social injustice. The Labour Party’s Harmful Communications and Harassment Bill brought forward by Brendan Howlin TD was passed into law with the support of the majority of the Dáil. This Bill will help make the internet a safer place and will help hold those who misuse or abuse online to account. Senator Marie Sherlock and Senator Annie Hoey have brought forward legislation on remote working and sick pay, alongside motions to ensure fair payment for student nurses. While government have kicked the can down the road with this legislation, it has not been blocked or voted down and if passed would provide improved conditions for workers in Ireland and put us on the path where we need to be. Senator Rebecca Moynihan has also introduced a Bill on period poverty to ensure access to sanitary products for all regardless of their income, this Bill will help to alleviate the financial burden on those struggling in our country. Through this kind or work ethic and focus I believe the party can punch above its weight in the Dáil and make a meaningful impact. As mentioned before, I have also introduced my Bill on carbon labelling.
We also need to articulate a vision to people as to what we stand for and what vision we have for Ireland. That is a bigger job but I believe if we continue to articulate our core belief that justice and a fair shake should exist for all, then I believe our impact in the Dáil will be backed by increased support in the polls.
What are your interests outside of the political sphere?
If I have time, I love to go fishing and be surrounded by the peace and tranquillity of nature. I haven’t had the time in the last couple of years but it is a postpandemic promise to myself that I try to make time for fishing. I have a young family and any spare time I have I want to spend with them.
Meet the ”
Ciara Phelan Ciara Phelan is a political correspondent with Irish Daily Mirror and host of The Glass Ceiling podcast. A graduate of the University of Limerick, she previously worked for the Irish Examiner, RTÉ and Newstalk.
How did you get into journalism?
It’s a strange one because I didn’t come from a family who religiously bought newspapers every day, there would be the odd one bought at the weekend, sometimes. I didn’t know anyone or have a relative working in the industry.
I was really good at English in school and loved writing and I would literally talk for Ireland and find it easy to chat to people so I tried to combine those and thought maybe journalism was a career I should pursue.
However, for once I actually listened to some people around me and they were encouraging me not to seek a career in journalism because it was hard to get your foot in the door or there was this belief that jobs in the industry are scarce.
I left a degree in English and history after a month not really knowing what I wanted to do but reapplied to the CAO the following year, listened to my gut and ended up studying journalism and new media at the University of Limerick.
I sacrificed a few things like a J1 while in college and instead dedicated my summers to trying some freelancing at national titles as I found it hard to get experience while at university.
I also did an internship at my local radio station and I think this really helped me step into the industry.
The freelancing gave me an advantage when I left college as I had that little bit more experience than others who were also graduating with journalism degrees. On the day I sat my final exam I drove to Cork to interview for a job as a digital journalist with the Irish Examiner. I spent a while working there before moving to RTÉ, then Newstalk and I have been with the Irish Mirror for just over two years now and was promoted to political Correspondent in July 2020.
How do you think the profession is evolving?
I think the pandemic has really shone a light on why journalism matters. Social media can be fantastic but it is a dangerous tool to spread misinformation and a lot of opinionated people online believe they are actually a journalist when in fact they do not offer balanced reporting.
Don’t get me wrong, columns in
newspapers are for opinion pieces and we need them. But a lot of people online who have never trained as a journalist are now tweeting misinformation and write posts that they claim are factual which is not the case in so many scenarios. Others digest it without factchecking it themselves and that is worrying.
The news cycle is 24/7, stories are updated on the hour and journalists now need to be equipped with video skills and have a presence on social media. Due to live streaming of doorsteps, there’s pressure to break the story first online and then try to find an alternative angle for the newspaper the next day.
But it always boils back down to the skill itself, building contacts, good sources, exclusive lines, balanced reporting, asking the tough questions and how a story will impact readers.
What are the challenges of combining print journalism with podcasting?
I have yet to come across any really. I have recently launched my own podcast on the Irish Mirror. It’s called The Glass Ceiling and I chat to female politicians about their lives and their careers. It’s a non-Covid zone as much as possible and the episodes aim to inform listeners about the person, rather than the politician. Many guests have spoken about major events in their lives such as the loss of a loved one but also about the challenges and triumphs they have faced as a female politician.
I have a write up about the chat in the newspaper on the same day. Maybe one challenge is that the tone of the chat may not come across the same way in print. But I think it’s a great way for the public to learn a little bit more about who our elected representatives are.
Who do you admire most within the industry and why?
Oooh, that’s a tough one. I love a dark horse and someone who has been knocked off a saddle but got back up again.
I admire people for different reasons and I think given the year we’ve put in working throughout this pandemic, it’s hard not to admire anyone working in my own newspaper, the Irish Mirror and in other national titles. I think it is incredible that we’re producing newspapers from our bedrooms and kitchen tables. The Irish Mirror website attracts a huge amount of readers, over one million people most days.
If I have to pick one person though, I really enjoy Sarah McInerney. I think she’s a fantastic interviewer.
What has been your most significant story or project to date?
I probably can’t answer this question without mentioning the exclusive interview I did with Taoiseach Micheál Martin a few weeks back when he revealed extending the lockdown with strict measures for another nine weeks. The reaction was insane and the story ran for days.
One of my favourite stories to cover to date was former US President Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland in 2019.
I’ve written plenty of interviews where I was really moved. One that sticks in my mind was an interview I did with a mother who had been brutally beaten and raped which subsequently left her in a wheelchair. It was her first time speaking out after the attack and she trusted me to tell her story.
I also covered the Mr Moonlight case in court and I’ll never forget the look on the faces of Bobby Ryan’s family when the guilty verdict was given.
Those stories that have a significant impact on people stay with you for a long time.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love to hop into the car and go for a drive somewhere and get out for a walk if the weather is good.
I also watch a lot of reality TV such as the Kardashians, the Real Housewives, all of those types of shows. It’s a great way to switch off at night or on the weekends when I need a break from the political madness.
I would love nothing more now though to get back out on the dancefloor in a bar with my friends. Someday soon, hopefully!
