Dr. Shana Cohen:

The Deputy is completely right that there are multiple, even contradictory trends going on. There is significant trust in individual politicians who people know and with whom they have developed a relationship. Everything I have heard in the seven and a half years I have been in Ireland is that this is unique. It is certainly different from what I have seen in the UK, which is much more party focused. At the same time, there is a disaffection with the party system. Especially in areas of significant disadvantage and working-class communities like the Deputy represents, many people question what the local council, the Government or the party system is doing for them. They do not see rapid or even long-term change that they have confidence in. That is propelling disaffection and it has opened a space for the far right. I previously worked in a community that now has a far-right councillor who is a local resident. Several of them who ran in the last local election but there was only one successful candidate. However, there is enough momentum that multiple people think they have an opportunity to succeed electorally. They are from the area and they deliberately spread disinformation. They generate trust because they say they are going to make things happen for people. They emphasise that they are from the area and that they understand local people and listen to them. Even if it does not come true, this is a message that people want to hear and so they listen to it and take a chance on the person because they know and trust the person and they hope that some things will change.