Independent candidate Tom McDonnell said he “wanted to look after the women of Ireland and make sure they have more children” by giving them tax incentives.
Mr McDonnell was elected without reaching the quota at the conclusion of the marathon four day count in the Newbridge LEA with 1419 votes.
Speaking to media afterwards he outlined his priorities and said he intended on running in the next general election.
“We need to sort out why we are losing our young and our brightest. It’s a crime. I have lost three of my children.”
Mr McDonnell railed against the vulture funds and pointed to issues like toll operator’s control of roads.
He also wanted Irish women to have more babies.
“My agenda going forward will be to look after the women of Ireland and make sure they have more children and give them tax incentives. The more children they have the more tax breaks they get.”
Independent candidate Tom McDonnell who was elected on the last count
He added: “They are not having enough children. I want to incentivise that, free childcare to have children and to give them tax incentives.”
Mr McDonnell said incentives would enable women to work outside the home.
“If we don’t have women breeding, we die out as a breed. We don’t want that to happen.”
Mr McDonnell said he will be contesting the general election. He described himself as an ‘Independent Nationalist’.
Mr McDonnell came to the fore in campaigning against modular homes for Ukrainians in a green area in Newbridge in 2022.
He denied he was anti-immigration but pro-immigration as long as it was controlled and vetted.
“Immigration is good for this country but controlled,” he said. “Letting in the good people we need.”
Mr McDonnell said foreign workers were incentivised to come to Ireland to work but the same incentives were not afforded to Irish people abroad to return home.
