48 Facts About Holly Cairns

Holly Cairns has been a Teachta Dala for Cork South-West since the 2020 general election.

Holly Cairns was a member of Cork County Council for the Bantry local electoral area from 2019 to 2020.

Holly Cairns has a first class honours MSc in Organic Horticulture from University College Cork.

Holly Cairns attended Lisheen National School and lives in Turk Head, Aughadown.

Holly Cairns first entered politics as an activist interested in LGBT rights, canvassing on behalf of David Norris during the 2011 Irish presidential election.

Holly Cairns was one of the founding members of the West Cork branch of the party.

Holly Cairns ran on a platform opposing the establishment of a plastics factory in Skibbereen.

Holly Cairns later revealed that Council staff had expressed concerns about the motion's tone.

Holly Cairns was a member of the executive committee of Carbery Housing Association until her election to the Dail.

Holly Cairns contested the 2020 general election as a candidate in the Cork South West constituency.

Holly Cairns was listed by The Irish Mirror as the youngest Social Democrats candidate, being 30 years old.

Holly Cairns was reported by The Guardian to be running against her then boyfriend, Christopher O'Sullivan of the Fianna Fail party, and as saying "I feel a bit like I'm in a badly written rom-com".

Holly Cairns was elected, taking the third and final seat, receiving 4,696 first preference votes, the fifth highest amount overall.

Holly Cairns was the only female TD elected in all of Cork City and county.

Holly Cairns then became the Social Democrat Spokesperson for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Further and Higher Education; and Disability.

Holly Cairns replied that as farmers, herself and Ms Calnan had more in common than they had to differ on.

Holly Cairns said she was "begging" the Minister to personally intervene in the matter.

Holly Cairns called on the government to remedy this, while her Social Democrats colleague Gary Gannon tabled a motion to ensure that funds already allocated for treating eating disorders are ring-fenced for that purpose and not siphoned off to other areas.

Holly Cairns pointed out that in a previous exchange in the Dail, Martin had told Holly Cairns it was inappropriate for government members to intervene in planning issues when she suggested a development on the site of the mother and baby home at Bessborough, County Cork.

In October 2020, Holly Cairns criticised the Commission of Investigation Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 proposed by the government.

Holly Cairns raised the issues with the sealing of the archive in the Dail.

Holly Cairns was especially critical of the Government's unwillingness to take on any of the amendments from the oppositions, especially as the minister had not engaged with the Collaborative Forum for Survivors.

In November 2020, Holly Cairns opposed a parliamentary motion to allocate state funding to the greyhound racing industry.

Holly Cairns announced on 26 February 2023, that she would run for leader of Social Democrats.

Holly Cairns took over leadership of the party on 1 March 2023.

Holly Cairns was the only woman elected in any Cork constituency at that election.

Holly Cairns is a proponent of Slaintecare, aiming for an "Irish NHS" to address the failures of the current healthcare system.

Holly Cairns has called housing in Ireland a "national crisis" and supports policies such as a significant hike in Vacant House Tax to address the housing shortage.

Holly Cairns is critical of Direct Provision, acknowledging the necessity of adjusting the system due to the influx of refugees, but urging the government to set clear new targets.

Holly Cairns has equated Direct Provision with Magdalene laundries, stressing the urgent need for reform.

When discussing protests against refugees, Holly Cairns has acknowledged the rise of far-right sentiments in Ireland.

Holly Cairns has stated that she supports the decriminalisation of drugs, emphasising the need for a compassionate approach to addiction.

Holly Cairns is a proponent of gender quotas in politics, believing women face structural barriers when entering political office.

Holly Cairns believes in inclusive politics, engaging with marginalised communities, including Travellers and disabled people, and has stressed the importance of ensuring that politics is accessible to all.

Holly Cairns believes in maintaining Ireland's neutrality but has called for better investment in the defence forces, particularly for peacekeeping missions.

Holly Cairns has called for improved pay and conditions for the Irish military to better support their work.

Holly Cairns has expressed support for Palestine, accusing Israel of committing war crimes and encouraging Western leaders to call for a ceasefire.

Holly Cairns called the European Union's response to the war "despicable" and has accused the Irish government of being complicit in genocide by allowing military aircraft carrying bombs to pass through Irish airspace and maintaining normal diplomatic and trade relations with Israel.

Holly Cairns has criticised the government's refusal to call Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide and its failure to take stronger actions, such as imposing sanctions.

Holly Cairns believes Ireland should not facilitate violence and must adopt, in her view, a more principled stance in line with its neutrality and moral obligations.

Holly Cairns made the disclosure after a number of other Irish women in politics such as Jennifer Carroll MacNeill stated that they had been harassed for being women in the public eye, including being stalked in person as well.

Holly Cairns later stated that she had been unaware of the issues her brother was dealing with.

Holly Cairns was in a relationship with fellow Cork TD Christopher O'Sullivan of Fianna Fail but the couple ended their relationship in 2020.

Holly Cairns stated that social media pressure for Cairns and O'Sullivan to answer for each other's political decisions had affected their relationship.

Holly Cairns stated that she was "overjoyed", having had two miscarriages the previous year.

Holly Cairns announced that the Social Democrats' deputy leader, Cian O'Callaghan, would lead the party during her maternity leave.

Holly Cairns criticised the lack of formal arrangements for TDs to take maternity leave.

Holly Cairns gave birth to a girl on Friday 29 November 2024, the day of voting in the 2024 Irish general election.