GE2024... Supporting climate action during school days spurred young Green on to get into politics

A YOUNG General candidate for Meath East has told of how taking part in a climate movement during his time in school inspired him to become involved in politics.

23-year-old Ruadhain Bonham (Green Party) was one of the many students around the world that got involved in #FridaysForFuture a youth-led and -organised movement that began in 2018, after a then 15-year-old Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis.

"After doing the protests and seeing that the Greens got elected I realised that the only real tangible solution to climate action was getting politically involved and from there I immediately started looking into the different parties, thankfully a lot of the parties do have policies but I thought that the Greens were the strongest," explains Bonham.

The Green party candidate who holds a BA degree in Economics, Politics, and Law at Dublin City University and is currently working as a Business analyst in Dublin says transport is a major issue for the area and he wants to make Meath better connected.

"Even though Meath is a commuter county, we are not as well connected as counties like Wicklow or Kildare," says Bonham.

"Dunboyne is blessed with that train station but in a lot of towns like Ashbourne and Ratoath, Trim and Navan a lot of people find it so frustrating trying to get a bus that may not even come." he added.

The young candidate is currently representing Meath on the Shared Island Youth Forum discussing collaboration between North and South for a better future on the Island of Ireland.

He says housing is a huge issue for this generation with many students struggling to get accommodation.

"I like many am still living at home with my parents," said Bonham.

"I think that it is unconscionable to object to any kind of housing developments," he added.

"We just need to build and build and ensure that we connect any kind of new builds to proper schooling, proper facilities and things like playgrounds so they are all put in place."

Providing adequate childcare facilities will also be a top priority issue for the aspiring politician as he explains:

"Childcare has been on the portfolio of the Green Party with Roderic O'Gorman who has thankfully reduced the costs significantly but I think accessibility is another big issue where there are not enough spaces.

"I see in Clonee, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin there are brand new childcare facilities but the providers are having issues with planning permission and hiring staff because the rate of pay should be way more."

Bonham says while things like housing are critical issues climate change also needs to taken seriously.

"On the doorsteps I have made the case that we are going to push for houses but there is no point building houses if the Ireland of island is ten feet under in 2050.

"At the beginning of this month it was the hottest November on record and now we are facing into a snow storm. I remember last year we went to our Green convention in Cork and the entire town of Mallow was destroyed and we have Valencia now this month with a flooding crisis.

"We need to protect nature and biodiversity, not only to tackle climate change but also to protect farming and our food supply. The entire ecosystem lives and breathes with our actions. - We need to reduce our impact on nature to live sustainable and peaceful lives."

Bonham says he wants to make a plea to young people to get involved in politics.

"What really bothered me in the local elections that there was only a 34% turn out of young people for voting. In particular with the European elections, things come from that that affect us. if you go to your fridge now and take out a bottle you will see there is a bottle cap that was done European wide. A lot of rules are followed through the European parliament elections.

"Use your voice and have your say."