“I just couldn’t be arsed to vote,” one young Dublin Central voter told Gript this week, as frustration over housing, crime, immigration and the political establishment dominated conversations ahead of the constituency’s upcoming by-election.
Speaking to Gript on the streets of Dublin Central this week, voters expressed a mixture of apathy, anger, cynicism and cautious optimism about the upcoming poll, with several saying they felt politicians were failing to address the issues affecting ordinary people.
One woman said she hoped to see Sinn Féin candidate Janice Boylan and notorious Independent candidate Gerry Hutch elected, citing homelessness, housing and taxation as major concerns.
“Well, the homeless is number one,” the woman said.
“You know, the housing, and the taxes and stuff like that.”
Another man described the by-election as taking place at a “very, very critical time” for Dublin Central, while expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as a lack of political choice.
“Not a lot of choice on offer, but the people that I would be voting for or giving my first preference to would be Malachy Steenson; I’d even throw in Gerry Hutch as a wild card; and an independent like Mannix Flynn.”
He said he believed voters were becoming frustrated with established political parties.
“I think we’ve had a lot of the same with Labor, Social Democrats, the Greens,” he continued, at which point his dog started barking.
“See? He doesn’t like them,” he joked.
“And I think it’s time that we get someone in there that really represents the people. And for me, that’s Malachy Steenson.”
The voter also raised concerns about crime and immigration, saying he believed both issues had become increasingly important in the constituency.
“They’re not necessarily linked, but I think they would be the two big things I would see,” he said.
He added that Dublin Central had “gotten a lot worse” in recent years, while also referencing Garda resources and the State’s accommodation system for asylum seekers.
“I’ve lived in Dublin Central for coming up to five years,” the man said.
“My family are originally from here as well. And after living here five years, growing up around the city, it’s gotten a lot worse and that’s a lot to do with lack of Garda resources, other things, but I don’t think the fact that this is a hub for people coming here from the IPAS system, I don’t think that’s helped it and yeah, I think we need to get a control a lot of control on that.”
Several younger voters expressed deep scepticism about politics and said they did not intend to vote at all.
One young man described politics as “a bunch of bollocks” and said he believed changing governments had little practical impact.
“I don’t vote really,” the young man said.
“I think it’s just a bunch of bollocks. You know, everything’s in the shitter essentially. Nothing’s being done.”
He said he viewed Irish politics as a “uni-party” system.
“The whole reason why I don’t vote is because no matter who you actually vote for, nothing really gets done anyhow,” he continued.
“It’s just the same incompetence just being turned in and out of government, so I don’t really like bother with politics at all.”
Despite his disengagement from elections, he said housing, homelessness and the cost of living remained major concerns for him personally.
“I cannot afford a house,” he said.
“My generation cannot afford a house. I most certainly cannot even dream of that.”
He also pointed to rising living costs.
“And you know, the energy cost just keep going up and groceries keep going up,” he added.
“And you know, that’s just hurting me really, the little man.”
Another young voter gave a brief response when asked about the election.
Asked for his general thoughts, he replied: “Well, not much. I just couldn’t be arsed to vote.”
Asked whether there were issues he still cared about despite his lack of electoral engagement, he pointed to housing and frustration with politicians more generally.
“Probably housing,” the young man said.
“And I just don’t see any politicians doing anything. So like why would I vote for somebody who’s just not going to change anything, you know?”
One older voter took a more optimistic view of the democratic process, while also strongly criticising aspects of the political system and public spending.
“I’m glad democracy is alive in Ireland and I hope it always will be,” he said, adding that he hoped younger voters would participate in the election and highlighted housing and crime as major issues.
“I have hopes that the young people will use their vote,” he continued.
“And that we will do some of the crime in this country and, above all, the housing which is causing awful problems for the people of all types of people that trying to pay their way and live a normal life.”
The man also criticised State spending on public bodies including RTÉ, An Post and Dublin Bus.
“I might also add I would like to think that RTE would be sold off,” he said.
“And An Post, and Dublin Bus and these sort of organisations because they’re dead weight being carried by the taxpayer and we can’t afford that no more.”
He said he hoped voters would not spoil their ballots, referencing people who had encouraged others not to participate.
“I hope people won’t spoil their vote,” the man remarked.
“There’s some man going around saying people should spoil their vote. I hope to God they will not do that.” He said that people had died for the right to vote throughout the centuries.
The voter also said he intended to support Sinn Féin in the by-election, arguing that voters were entitled to “give it a try” after decades of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments.
“Well I’ll tell you the truth now, to be honest, Sinn Fein themselves,” he said.
“Because, everything else has been tried… We’ve tried Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for over 100 years and they’ve been a failure.”
He also said he thought “Socialism” should be tried, because capitalism had failed.
The Dublin Central by-election comes amid continued public concern around housing availability, homelessness, immigration, crime and the rising cost of living.
Recent opinion polling has suggested growing political fragmentation, with Independents and smaller parties continuing to attract support alongside the larger established parties.
The election is on Friday the 22nd of May, triggered by former Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe’s departure from Irish politics to go and take up a top job at the World Bank. It is taking place alongside another election in Galway West, which was prompted by ex-Independent TD Catherine Connolly vacating her seat to become President of Ireland last year.