BREAKING: Drama as independent McDonnell lands Newbridge seat on Kildare County Council
He has called for women to be given incentives to have children and to work
Newbridge resident and independent politician Tom McDonnell has claimed a seat to represent the Newbridge area on Kildare County Council.
He claimed the lion's share of transfers from eliminated Aontú runner Melissa Byrne. This put him ahead of James Stokes (SF).
He was elected alongside Noel Heavey and Rob Power (FF), who seemed certain of retaining their seats from some way out.
McDonnell said his next step will be to seek a seat in Dáil Éireann.
He also critised the level of immigration into Ireland, saying that 1.1m Irish people have left and "we've brought in between 1.4 and 1.5 million."
He asked why "our youngest and brightest" are leaving and added he has three children aboard.
He also said women should be given tax breaks to allow them to have children and work and he claimed that incentives are given to people from Africa and Asia to come here and there is "no incentive to bring in our own."
He said Irish women are "only breeding 1.6 to 1.9 childfren and added "if we don't have more women breeding we wll die out as a race."
He also said that people in the Newbridge area are complaining about a lack of school places in the town and this needs to be addressed.
"There is no point in bringing half the world here if there are no scheols for them."
He stressed that he had no objection to immigration provided that those entering Ireland are vetted.