Mark Hackett (Green Party), Edenderry

We sent a questionnaire to all 10 candidates running in the Edenderry Electoral Area in the forthcoming Offaly County Council election. The responses were published in print in the Offaly Independent last Friday.

NAME: Mark Hackett

ADDRESS: Geashill, Tullamore.

PARTY: Green Party

SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST:

Protection of our natural environment, and moving towards a sustainable future that still provides a good quality of life for everybody in Offaly.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING IN THIS ELECTION?

We know that the main political parties will be represented when the new council forms.

I want to make sure that someone is there to echo the Green ideals of protecting nature and thinking 10, 20 and 30 years ahead, rather than in election cycles.

WHAT ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ISSUES IN YOUR AREA?

What I'm hearing on the doorsteps now is no different to what I've been hearing since long before I was a county councillor.

Of the issues that are in the remit of Offaly County Council, speed on our roads and water quality are the ones where people feel we should put a lot of our energy. I introduced a successful motion that brought speed ramps into the suite of safety measures that are in use in Offaly, and there are more measures I'd like to see introduced, both in this area and with regard to our water supply.

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?

I'm very lucky to be married to my wife, Pippa, who aside from being a fantastic mother to my children, is honourable, honest, diligent and passionate in her own political work.

So I don't need to look too far!

TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU:

I enjoy training sheepdogs, and had a great time training Bella, who's a central part of our family now.