As the dust settles on the 2024 General Election, the political parties are busy laying out their visions for the future, never thought I’d be one for writing a political commentary but here we are…..madness. For those of us in the tech, startup, and sustainability spaces, this election could bring about major changes that impact how we innovate, commute, and embrace technology in our day-to-day lives. Let’s take a deep dive into where each party stands on issues like e-scooters, startup support, consumer technology, sustainability, and other tech-related topics.
Fine Gael
E-Scooters and Travel: Fine Gael has long been an advocate for modernizing Ireland’s transport systems, and e-scooters are a key part of their vision. The party say they support clear and comprehensive regulations to legalize e-scooters, along with infrastructure improvements like more bike and scooter lanes to promote their safe use. Their focus is on ensuring e-scooters are fully integrated into urban mobility plans, reducing traffic and pollution, while this is true, they have also banned them from public transport, so giveth with one hand and taketh with the other.
Minister for Transport Hildegarde Naughton has been vocal about promoting urban mobility initiatives, including e-scooter regulation. She highlighted the need for more sustainable travel options in her recent speech on transport modernization.
Startups: Fine Gael has emphasized a “tech-forward” Ireland, pledging to boost funding for startups, particularly in fintech, medtech, and other emerging technologies. They aim to reduce red tape for startups seeking government support and provide tax incentives for early-stage investors. They are promising grants to support startups in underserved regions, pushing to decentralize the tech economy beyond Dublin, however they are the people in power who recently decided to shut down the ndrc so make of that what you will.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity Fine Gael plans to accelerate broadband rollouts, aiming to provide high-speed connectivity even in rural areas by 2027. They believe that fast, reliable internet is the backbone of a strong tech sector and want to ensure that all households can participate in the digital economy, regardless of location. They also see 5G as crucial for improving IoT adoption and supporting remote work, which has become a norm in Ireland.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: Fine Gael is looking at sustainability from a mobility perspective. They are offering grants to those looking to purchase electric cars, e-bikes, and e-scooters, with a goal of reducing carbon emissions through personal mobility options. They have also talked about installing more EV charging points and making green retrofitting accessible for homeowners.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: Fine Gael is committed to modernizing the economy, including promoting a cashless society. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has talked about incentivizing businesses to adopt digital payment systems by reducing transaction fees and providing grants for small businesses to install contactless payment options.
Digital Education and Upskilling: Fine Gael is pushing for a national upskilling program that focuses on digital skills. They aim to expand partnerships between tech companies and educational institutions to provide accessible digital courses for all ages, ensuring that the workforce remains competitive in the face of rapid technological changes.
Fianna Fáil
E-Scooters and Travel: Fianna Fáil supports legalizing e-scooters but wants a strong focus on safety. They have proposed introducing a “Ride Safe” program, similar to cycle safety training in some European countries. They also advocate for stricter safety standards, including mandatory helmets and visibility measures for riders.
TD James Lawless has been leading discussions on e-scooter regulation, emphasizing safety as a priority while promoting greener modes of transportation.
Startups: Fianna Fáil claims they recognize the importance of startups in driving innovation and creating jobs. They propose increasing the availability of government-backed loans and grants for early-stage companies, again they are in power and despite the fears around MNC’s returning stateside, they have decided the NDRC closure so again its a bit conflicting messaging on this one. Their focus is on fostering entrepreneurship through regional development, ensuring that startup support is not concentrated only in Dublin but reaches all areas of Ireland.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity: Fianna Fáil is keen on expanding the digital infrastructure across the country, specifically focusing on broadband and mobile network upgrades. They support initiatives that enhance digital literacy, ensuring that all citizens—particularly those in rural areas—can make the most of the digital tools available.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: Fianna Fáil’s sustainability plan focuses on public transport and renewable energy adoption. They want to transition Ireland’s bus and train systems to electric models by 2030 and introduce subsidies for renewable home energy solutions, including solar panels. They are also interested in supporting green startups through specific grants to encourage more climate-focused innovation.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: Fianna Fáil supports the modernization of financial transactions and encourages digital payments as a way to streamline commerce. They propose introducing policies that make it easier for small businesses to transition to digital payment systems without incurring significant costs.
Digital Education and Upskilling: Fianna Fáil plans to increase investment in digital education for schools and adults. They want to establish digital learning hubs in every county to provide training in coding, data analysis, and other digital skills, ensuring Ireland’s workforce remains competitive globally.
Sinn Féin
E-Scooters and Travel: Sinn Féin has expressed cautious support for e-scooters. Their primary focus is on ensuring that regulations are in place to protect both riders and pedestrians. They propose restricting e-scooter use to designated bike lanes and ensuring there are strict penalties for misuse. They are also considering speed limits for e-scooters in urban areas to keep everyone safe.
TD Darren O’Rourke has been particularly vocal on ensuring that e-scooter legislation includes strong safety measures and infrastructure to support safe usage.
Startups: Sinn Féin has made significant pledges to support local businesses and startups. They are advocating for the creation of regional innovation hubs to provide shared workspaces, mentorship, and funding opportunities. Their goal is to make entrepreneurship accessible, regardless of where you live, ensuring that startups in rural areas receive the same level of support as those in Dublin.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity: For Sinn Féin, bridging the digital divide is key. They plan to increase funding for rural broadband initiatives and push for more affordable high-speed internet options. Their focus is on ensuring everyone, particularly those in less-connected areas, has access to reliable digital infrastructure to foster inclusivity.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: Sinn Féin aims to tackle sustainability with a community-first approach. They plan to introduce grants for individuals and small businesses to adopt green technologies, focusing on solutions that reduce carbon emissions at a local level. They also support expanding Ireland’s electric vehicle infrastructure, especially in rural areas where public transport options are limited.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: Sinn Féin is cautious about moving to a fully cashless society. They believe digital payment options should be accessible, but they also emphasize the importance of keeping cash as an option for those who may be financially vulnerable or lack digital access.
Digital Education and Upskilling: Sinn Féin is committed to making digital education accessible to everyone. They propose investing in free or low-cost training programs for adults looking to gain new skills in IT and other tech areas, especially targeting regions with higher unemployment rates.
Green Party
E-Scooters and Travel: No surprises here—the Green Party is fully on board with e-scooters as part of their plan to overhaul urban transport. They want to see e-scooters legalized nationwide, with designated lanes and incentives for users. They also support a subsidy program for purchasing e-scooters to make them more accessible as an eco-friendly transport option.
Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan has been a key advocate for integrating e-scooters into Ireland’s transport strategy, emphasizing their potential to reduce carbon emissions in cities.
Startups: The Green Party has big plans for startups, especially those working in the green tech sector. They propose creating a Green Tech Fund specifically designed to help companies working on renewable energy, climate solutions, and sustainable tech. They also want to encourage collaboration between universities and startups to foster innovation in sustainable technologies.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity: The Green Party believes that tech can play a major role in reducing our carbon footprint. They want to see better integration of smart home technologies across Irish households, promoting energy-saving devices through government subsidies. They also support expanding rural broadband as a way to promote remote work and reduce commuting emissions.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: Sustainability is, unsurprisingly, at the core of everything the Green Party stands for. They are pushing for increased subsidies for electric vehicles, including e-bikes and scooters, and want to see a ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Their broader vision includes making Ireland a leader in renewable energy production and supporting tech that facilitates this transition.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: The Green Party supports digital payments as a means to reduce paper waste and improve efficiency. They advocate for policies that encourage businesses to move to digital payment systems, especially small businesses, while still maintaining an option for cash transactions.
Digital Education and Upskilling: The Green Party is advocating for including sustainability-focused digital skills as part of the national curriculum. They also propose grants for individuals to gain certifications in renewable energy and sustainable tech, making sure the workforce is ready for the green transition.
Labour Party
E-Scooters and Travel: The Labour Party supports the legalization of e-scooters with clear regulations. They emphasize safety measures, including helmet requirements and speed limits, to ensure that both riders and pedestrians can share urban spaces safely. They also propose more investment in infrastructure to create dedicated scooter lanes in major cities.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has been vocal in calling for safer streets for all users, including e-scooters, and better infrastructure to support sustainable urban travel.
Startups: Labour is focused on supporting social and community-based startups. They plan to expand funding options for startups that have a positive social impact, particularly in education, healthcare, and green energy. They also want to reduce barriers to entry for underrepresented groups in the startup ecosystem.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity: Labour is advocating for digital equity. They want to ensure that high-speed internet is available to all citizens, regardless of where they live, and that everyone has the skills needed to use digital technologies effectively. They are also interested in supporting public initiatives that provide affordable access to consumer tech for low-income households.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: The Labour Party wants to see a significant push towards renewable energy. They propose increasing investment in green public infrastructure and introducing more incentives for households to adopt renewable energy solutions. They also aim to support sustainable mobility, making public transport greener and more efficient.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: Labour supports digital payments but stresses the need for financial inclusion. They propose measures to make digital payment systems accessible to everyone, including those without traditional banking relationships.
Digital Education and Upskilling: Labour wants to invest in adult education programs focusing on digital skills. They are also pushing for partnerships with tech companies to provide practical training opportunities for young people entering the workforce.
Social Democrats
E-Scooters and Travel: The Social Democrats are in favor of legalizing e-scooters, with an emphasis on making urban areas more accessible through eco-friendly transport options. They advocate for proper regulations and infrastructure investments to support safe usage, including dedicated lanes for scooters.
TD Holly Cairns has been a strong advocate for safer streets and the adoption of sustainable transport options, including e-scooters, to reduce the carbon footprint of urban travel.
Startups: They support fostering a startup culture that emphasizes inclusivity and social impact. Their focus is on making funding and mentorship opportunities available to all, particularly those who are typically underrepresented in the tech sector. They also propose more government-backed grants for startups tackling social and environmental issues.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity: The Social Democrats believe that digital infrastructure is essential for the country’s development. They support initiatives that expand broadband coverage, particularly in rural areas, and promote the use of smart technologies in public services to make them more efficient and accessible.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: Sustainability is a key part of their platform, with a focus on reducing emissions through better urban planning and public transport. They want to introduce incentives for electric vehicle purchases and support startups working on green technologies. They also propose integrating renewable energy into more aspects of public infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: The Social Democrats support moving towards a cashless society but emphasize the importance of making sure everyone has access to the necessary digital tools. They want to see lower fees for digital transactions to encourage small businesses to adopt cashless systems.
Digital Education and Upskilling: They propose increased funding for digital literacy programs, targeting both young people and older citizens. They want to create more opportunities for individuals to learn tech skills that will help them thrive in a modern, digital economy.
Independent Candidates
E-Scooters and Travel: Many independent candidates are also weighing in on the e-scooter debate. Their positions vary, but there is broad support for legalizing e-scooters, provided that safety is prioritized. Independents like Thomas Pringle have voiced concerns about pedestrian safety but believe in their potential as an affordable, eco-friendly transport option if regulated properly.
Startups: Independent candidates are generally supportive of more localized startup support, especially for rural communities. There is a common call for more regional innovation hubs and less bureaucracy when it comes to accessing startup funding. The goal is to make entrepreneurship more accessible to everyone, regardless of geography.
Consumer Tech: The Push for Better Connectivity: Many independents are pushing for stronger broadband infrastructure in rural areas, with a particular focus on ensuring that digital services are accessible to older generations and those with fewer tech skills. The emphasis is on inclusivity—making sure no one is left behind in Ireland’s digital transformation.
The Green Angle: Sustainable Tech and Mobility: Independent candidates are often focused on community-driven sustainability initiatives. They support grants for renewable energy adoption at the household level and are in favor of incentivizing local businesses to adopt greener practices. There is also a push for expanding public transport in rural areas to reduce reliance on personal vehicles.
Digital Payments and Cashless Society: Independents have mixed views on a cashless society. While many see the benefits of digital payments, they are also advocating for measures to ensure that people without access to banking services are not excluded. They want to ensure cash remains an option for those who need it.
Digital Education and Upskilling: Independents often emphasize the importance of localized digital education initiatives. They want to see more government support for community-led digital training programs, which would allow people in rural areas to upskill without needing to relocate to larger cities.
Conclusion: A Tech-Driven Future?
The upcoming Irish General Election offers a wide array of policies that could reshape how we live, work, and innovate. Whether you’re an e-scooter enthusiast, a startup founder, or just someone looking for better broadband, there are reasons to be optimistic. The political landscape is increasingly supportive of tech, sustainability, and innovation—let’s just hope these promises turn into action once the votes are counted. No matter who wins, one thing is clear: tech and sustainability are finally getting the attention they deserve in Irish politics.
