Meet the Dublin Central by-election candidates: Green Party Councillor Janet Horner
Councillor Janet Horner accuses the current government of “rapidly deprioritising climate policies” and is determined to act as a strong Green Party voice in national politics if elected in the upcoming Dublin Central by-election this May.
As part of Dublin Live’s Local Democracy Reporting Scheme’s coverage of the upcoming Dublin Central by-election, we reached out to Cllr Horner and all the Dublin City Councillors currently in the running. By putting forward questions on the big issues affecting Dubliners, these profiles aim to provide voters with the information they need to make an informed choice come election day.
Cllr Horner has represented the North-Inner City since 2019 and in February was announced as the Green Party’s candidate for the by-election triggered by the resignation of Paschal Donohoe. Citing her achievements as a councillor, such as the pedestrianisation of College Green and traffic-free Capel Street, she wants to take things to the next level and deliver real change “at scale” as a TD.
Fighting for improvement standards in social housing and resisting the erosion of cultural spaces are important for Cllr Horner, and she explained how her collaboration and solution focused approach to politics, underpinned by climate action, has positively impacted life for Dubliners.
“I know we can deliver better for Dublin if we take this approach. I will use my voice in the Dáil to push solutions for housing and homelessness; culture and cultural spaces; delivery of essential infrastructure projects, liveable communities where people have access to the public services they deserve; and of course holding the government to account when it comes to climate,” she said.
While Cllr Horner believes there’s “no silver bullet to solve the housing crisis” she stresses that major changes are needed to address significant financial hardships, lowered standard of living, and people forced into sub-standard accommodation.
“The government must not just talk about a housing crisis, they must treat it as an emergency and use real emergency powers. This is an important step towards recognising housing as a human right in our constitution and ensuring that having a safe, secure home is something that we can all enjoy in our city,” she said.
Through Green Party proposals, such as doubling the new hotel charges, to expanding the council’s powers to force owners of derelict properties to sell, Cllr Horner outlined several proposals to address “bottlenecks in delivery.” “Dereliction isn’t just leaving buildings unused - it is dragging down a whole area,” she said.
“We need to prevent all newly built homes being snapped up by private investors – people need to be given a fair chance to enter the housing market. We can and must limit the power of investors.
“I want to see public housing solutions for people of various income brackets – that means investing in more cost rental and social housing and improving the current standard of our social housing stock. We need a balanced mix of singles, couples and family homes. In my time on the council I have seen countless planning applications submitted with no family homes included - we will not get sustainable communities if we don’t plan for families to live in the city.”
Tacking homelessness and ensuring dignity for those experiencing it is also a key point of concern for Cllr Horner, who said it must be addressed at national level and “not just outsource it to Dublin 1 alone to deal with.” “At the moment 10% of Ireland's population experiencing homelessness live on Gardiner Street,” she said.
“Whenever I have reached out to the Minister in the past to seek support for this unequal distribution of services, he has turned his back and said it is up to the council to deal with it. If elected to the Dáil, I will fight for a fairer and more equitable way of addressing the crisis of homelessness. And bring forward housing solutions that work for people and build community.”
Cllr Horner speaks with pride about Dublin’s reputation as a friendly place categorised by thriving nightlife, but also recognises “a strong trend of hostile, anti-social and criminal behaviour in the city.” She has already worked with the Community Safety Partnership to address safety concerns in Dublin Central and wants to see a greater emphasis on community policing.
“I want to see illegal scramblers and scooters clamped down on - aside from the obvious dangers, they send a strong signal of lawlessness and leave communities feeling they have been abandoned by the Gardaí which is really eroding people’s sense of safety - particularly those who feel more vulnerable,” she said.
A lack of services and support for those suffering from drugs and alcohol addiction must also be addressed, and Cllr Horner is calling for “coordinated, trauma-informed” responses that account for complexities of people’s circumstances. She also highlights the need for more resources toward youth services which can “target young people at risk of criminal behaviour and young people whose needs are not being met.”
“While we need to constantly strive to make the city safer, we also need to focus on presenting a balanced picture of the city: the craic, the amenities, the events, the meeting places, the enjoyment of the city. If elected to the Dáil, I will champion the best of the city, while fighting for meaningful change to address the real issues that are there,” she said.
Everyday people are increasingly feeling the crunch of a cost of living crisis, and Cllr Horner endeavours to address this through further reduction in childcare fees, reduced transport fares, and targeted energy credits. “These are all policies designed to reduce the cost of living while also reducing emissions and protecting the hardest off in our city from escalating costs,” she said.
While Cllr Horner believes the Green Party previously made strides on these points in their previous term, she said the current government has “stalled or taken backwards on these issues.” In her bid for election, she wants to send a clear signal to the government that these issues are crucial.
Cllr Horner has been critical of “people in this election who will try to convince us to be afraid of each other and seek to drive division” and wants to see Dublin celebrate the “multiple nationalities, cultures, languages and traditions” seen in “every street, school, sports team, community group and even in many of our families.” To do these, she cites the importance of investing in community infrastructure and public services.
“Supporting our schools, our sports teams, our public spaces, supporting entrepreneurship and cultural spaces, making early years education affordable, enhancing mental health supports makes Dublin a better place for us all to live and thrive in,” she said.
“Our strength is in our capacity to come together and address challenges together. I firmly believe that we are strong when we work together and weak when divided. Dublin is better for its rich mix of cultures and traditions.”
Describing Dublin Central as a “vibrant, connected community full of compassion, creativity and ambition,” Cllr Horner said that walking and cycling through the streets she connects with communities everyday. “I have always done my best to live my values: standing up for what I believe in and fighting for the causes which I know are just,” she said.
Whether it’s working for women’s equality as a campaigner for the Repeal the Eighth movement or supporting worker’s rights as a trade unionist on the equality and global solidarity committees of SIPTU, social justice is a core of her belief system.
“I have supported workers’ rights as a trade unionist - serving on the equality and global solidarity committees of SIPTU. I have supported global solidarity as a volunteer in Uganda, India and Palestine and elsewhere. I have supported a vibrant city as a cycling campaigner and advocate for imaginative, safe and beautiful city spaces,” she said.
“Dublin Central deserves a TD that believes in the best of it and will work tirelessly to ensure that our communities have the quality of life they deserve. That’s why I’m asking for your number 1 vote in May.”
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme