Laughs but plenty of tough questions as civil war candidates do battle in Glasnevin

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Fianna Fáil’s John Stephens and Fine Gael’s Ray McAdamFianna Fáil/Rollingnews

Dublin Central

Laughs but plenty of tough questions as civil war candidates do battle in Glasnevin

We joined Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam and Fianna’s Fáil’s John Stephens on the streets of Glasnevin this week.

12.06am, 2 May 2026

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IN ONE OF Dublin Central’s leafiest areas, Glasnevin, two candidates from the civil war parties were pounding the pavements this week.

The geography of the constituency takes in East Wall, the city centre, Cabra and Grangegorman, with Phibsborough and Glasnevin classed as the more suburban areas.

Just three weeks out from the by-election, Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam and Fianna’s Fáil’s John Stephens were enjoying the sunshine, knocking on doors, where local issues like parking, bins, seagulls and high-rise developments were raised with them.

However, the level of engagement on national issues was notable.

A number of constituents directly challenged the two men on their parties’ record in government.

Issues such as the cost-of-living, special education classes and the government’s reaction to the fuel protest all featured.

When The Journal joined McAdam and his large team of canvassers on Thursday afternoon at Violet Hill, he seemed optimistic about his chances at taking a seat in the by-election.

He said he has been underestimated in the past, noting that in 2019, he faced down “the Green [Party] onslaught” and increased his vote. Asked if he felt he is being underestimated again in this by-election, McAdam replied mid-sprint while running to another house:

“I’m in it to win it.”

Flight costs controversy

His campaign didn’t get off to the best start, with McAdam, along with Dublin City Council, coming in for criticism for the cost of hotel stays and business class flights for official trips last month.

Details of the cost of some of the trips, which were released under Freedom of Information, were published in the Sunday Independent last weekend.

McAdam flew business class to California with the cost of the flight coming in at €5,900.

Asked about the matter and whether it has damaged his campaign, he defended his position, stating that the trips were about job opportunities and getting companies to invest in Dublin.

Asked if he understood the pushback over the business class flights, McAdam responded:

Look, I would have been happy to sit on any seat on the plane.

McAdam pointed out that other lord mayors before him have made trips to the likes of the US to “continue to build on that relationship”.

“That’s what I’ve tried to do. So as I said, I would have been happy to sit on any seat on that plane. I had a job to do, an integral part is fighting for investment in Dublin,” he said.

Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam out on the campaign trail in Glasnevin.Christina Finn

Christina Finn

Aside from answering questions about controversies, there were robust questions for McAdam on the doorsteps of the picturesque housing estate.

One elderly gentleman said there was “nothing for pensioners” in the last budget, highlighting worries he had about the local property tax.

Others had concerns about the plans for a major residential development, Royal Oak apartments, on the Finglas Road.

One passerby stopped the lord mayor to voice her objection of the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process, which was introduced in 2017 with the aim of speeding up planning decisions.

Under the process, large developments comprising more than 100 homes or over 200 units of student accommodation could bypass local planning authorities and go straight to the planning commission for a decision.

The application process, which officially ended in 2022, was subject to a significant number of judicial reviews in the courts that led to delays rather than faster delivery.

‘Capitulating to developers’

The woman, who said she was an engineer, called it a “very bad piece of legislation”, and called out developments in the area which she said were designed with no facilities for residents.

“They’re going to be all on top of each other,” she said.

The constituent said that the Royal Oak apartment development was subject to objections, not because people don’t want housing built there, but because of the design.

The development has been granted planning permission.

She accused the government of capitulating to the developers, stating “all the developers tell you they won’t build unless you reduce the planning standards, and you just capitulate to that. And it has real consequences for people living there”.

The engineer went on to tell McAdam that she disagreed with developments with no parking, stating that while she cycles to work, she disagrees with the idea of granting planning permission for apartments with the view that everybody living there is going to cycle.

“It’s just ridiculous,” she told McAdam.

He responded by saying that under the government’s Climate Action Plan there is an aim to reduce the number of vehicles in the city.

“Do you drive a car?” she asked.

“I do,” replied McAdam.

“Well, there you go. Most people need a car to get around. I drive my car at the minimum possible. As I said, I cycle to work, but it’s not realistic, what you have instead is people parking their cars everywhere.”

Defending government’s housing policy

Defending the government position, McAdam said a suite of policies is being pursued to deal with the housing crisis.

“It’s making sure that where there are significant sites that we have a mix for public housing, affordable purchase, cost-rental, an opportunity for private, where we are making sure there is infrastructure going in as well,” said McAdam, noting figures released this week by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing that compared to 2025, there has been a 33% increase in the number of housing completions across the country.

Before the heated exchange concluded between the constituent and McAdam, she also criticised the approach to drug-taking in the capital, stating: “There’s a smell of weed all over the city.”

Ray McAdam chatting to a constituent on the campaign trail.Christina Finn

Christina Finn

McAdam moved on, eager to get a few more doors knocked on.

By-and-large, he was met warmly by many who said they remembered the constituency’s former TD Paschal Donohoe, whose vacated seat the lord mayor wants to take.

Donohoe, who left Irish politics to take up a job in the World Bank, had McAdam, who has sat on the council for close to 17 years, as the ‘man on the ground’ in his constituency feeding back local concerns to the then finance minister.

Criticism of Harris’ comments

However, one young man who opened his door had criticisms for Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris.

This constituent said he was in the process of buying solar panels for his house but was irked that the Tánaiste made vague comments in a speech last weekend indicating that additional grants and supports could be coming down the line.

“Look he did that speech, and this is the other problem with Simon Harris, he’s the minister for press releases. He puts out a press release and doesn’t take in the policy implications. Like I’m getting solar panels, do I bother putting them up now if I am going to get an incentive in six months time? I don’t know. Do you know what I mean? Like, I just think that’s not how you do policy. It’s not how you do good governance.”

“Message received loud and clear,” McAdam said before bidding the man goodbye.

Fine Gael’s Dublin Central by-election candidate Ray McAdam, his campaign team and TD James Geoghegan, Senator Linda Nelson.Christina Finn

Christina Finn

At this point of the canvas, McAdam had been joined by Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan and Senator Linda Nelson.

Concerns were also raised about the government’s response to the fuel protesters and how it appeared that those “who shouted the loudest” got rewarded. McAdam explained that the government was always going to act to the rising fuel prices, stating that if not done so, the cost of food would be impacted.

Knocking at the door of another this very issue of the rising cost of food was raised. This woman said the supports to date were not good enough.

McAdam said the government had to “reserve some firepower” for the winter months ahead given the uncertainty facing the world right now.

She also questioned him on the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill.

McAdam said this was a commitment in the programme for government, and if elected, he would be “very eager” to see that legislation passed.

At this point a driver passed by, beeped, and shouted: “F*cking traitors”.

It didn’t appear to faze McAdam who sprinted over to the next street.

“Any chance of keeping the Shinners out?” one man tending to his garden said to McAdam.

Moving at pace, with Geoghegan by his side, the Dublin Bay South TD pointed to a newly paved path.

“Look at this level of Fine Gael delivery,” he said with a smile. “You could eat your dinner off it,” said McAdam, joking.

Fianna Fáil’s John Stephens meets constituents on the doorsteps in Glasnevin.Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

When The Journal joined Stephens on the beat near Fairfield Road in Glasnevin on Wednesday evening, it initially looked like a stand-off was happening.

McAdam and his posse were on the same street, just a stone’s throw away from the Fianna Fáil team. Stephens joked that no matter how well you try and plan your route, bumping into your contenders can often happen.

Moving onto Clitonville Road, like McAdam, there was no time to waste. Moving from house-to-house, he made his pitch.

He stated he was a new councillor, having only been elected in 2024, but told constituents he was a man from the area, having only grown up across the road.