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Averil Power talks getting penalty points, Miriam Lord and booting Enda out

As part of Newstalk's Election Coverage, Seán Moncrieff has been testing some of the candi...
Newstalk
Newstalk

15.19 15 Feb 2016


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Averil Power talks getting pen...

Averil Power talks getting penalty points, Miriam Lord and booting Enda out

Newstalk
Newstalk

15.19 15 Feb 2016


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As part of Newstalk's Election Coverage, Seán Moncrieff has been testing some of the candidates in a series of quick-fire questions that they will likely not be asked anywhere else.

On today's show it was the turn of Independent Senator Averil Power, running in Dublin Bay North.

Do you speak Irish? Not really, not enough - no.

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Do you sleep on a particular side of the bed? I always sleep on the left-hand side, no matter where I am

Have you ever been offered a bribe? No - chocolates or drink?

Eurovision - love or loathe? Loathe

A book that influenced you Probably Rudy Giuliani's book, 'Leadership' - it's about his time as mayor in New York through 9/11 and all of that and his political philosophy. And he has a chapter which I think would be good advice to any politician, particularly the main parties at the minute called 'Underpromise and Overdeliver'

Apart from you, what other four candidates will be elected in Dublin Bay North? I think what all the polls are saying that Richard Bruton and Finian McGrath are safe - the two of them will get elected at the very top. After that I think there's probably four of us according to the Sunday Times article last week: you've Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, myself and Tommy Broughan

If you could press the ejector-seat on one TD in the Dáil, who would it be? Probably Enda himself actually. There'd be other people in Fine Gael I would respect more - people like Leo Varadkar or Frances Fitzgerald, I just think are probably more capable

How did you do in the Leaving Cert? I got 450 points - two As and five Bs

Have you ever broken the law? My penalty points would reveal that I have - I only have two

Are you religious? I'd say I'm spiritual, but I don't go to mass - mainly just cause I've too many problems with Catholic church teaching in relation to women and lesbian and gay people - I do believe in God

When was the last time you cried? I watched the movie 'Philomena' again over Christmas, and just balled through it - obviously that's a personal issue to me

Have you read the Constitution? Yes, I studied law in the Kings Inn so I kind of had to!

Your favourite political journalist Miriam Lord, without doubt - because she's funny and there's not enough humour in my line of work

What did you want to be when you grew up? A vet, until I realised you'd also have to put dogs down

Would you consider supporting a government with Fianna Fáil? The only party that I wouldn't support in government is Sinn Féin

What posters did you have on your wall as a teenager? Madonna

What will you do after politics? Hopefully that's not anytime soon!

How much money raised for your campaign? It's going to cost €30,000, I've raised about 18 - so I've taken a loan for the rest

When was the last time you got drunk? About a month ago, I haven't really been out during the campaign

A politician from another Irish political party you admire Probably Richard Boyd-Barrett for his work on the fatal foetal abnormalities issue, when he shared his personal experience

Least favourite household chore All of them! Probably hoovering

Have you witnessed sexism in the Dáil? No, no really

Listen to the full interview below:


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