Diarmuid Tierney, third year Financial Maths and Economics student at NUI Galway said: "I think it is very important for everyone to vote and have their say. Right now I am undecided [on who to vote for], I haven't been canvassed by many politicians yet, I have had a few brochures but haven't given much thought to who I will vote for.
“A lot of reform needs to be done throughout, I think, in the political system in general. One of the issues is when we elect the parties, people can’t vote – if you are with a political party you have to vote with the party despite your opinion being different to the party or the constituents’ beliefs being different and I think that is a huge issue in politics.”
Heather Robinson, second year BA Connect with Journalism at NUI Galway said: "I don't intend to vote – I didn't register on time. I don't feel like student welfare is very important to our politicians or our government. I feel like a lot of the time we have to fight or scream and shout just get our voice heard or any kind of change or opinion across. I feel we are stuck in this middle ground where no one wants to listen to us but because a lot of us our already adults or entering the adult world, they kind of have no choice but to, I feel a sort of reluctance there.
“Up until this time I haven’t seen anything that has impressed me or made me want to vote. I would like to see more funding and more attention to our health, our diets, the problem of obesity among children and definitely the HSE,” she said.
Seán Guinan, first year Biomedical Science student at NUI Galway said: "I am only just 18 so it is the first opportunity I have to have some control of who passes the laws in the country for the next few years. I would probably vote for independents, Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil.
“I think some politicians care about students and some don’t. I know myself that the head of Fianna Fáil has been campaigning in Tipperary and members of Ógra, which is the youth of Fianna Fáil, weren’t even told about it. The fact that they didn’t even tell their own youth parties that they were coming canvassing really shows the party’s lack of faith in the youth. I would vote for my local Fianna Fáil TD – but I don’t agree with the party overall.”
Hannah Aherne, final year Arts student at NUI Galway said: "I remember one time my mum said it is not about who you want to get in but who you don't want to see in and vote maybe that way.
“I think healthcare is a big one, a lot of people lose out on their medical cards or have children with disabilities or certain issues. Education is as well and the abortion referendum as well – that would be a big thing I would like to see.”
Hannah Carlton, third year Drama Theatre and Performance, said: "Voting is really important, we have the opportunity to actually decide who is going to be in power – it affects us, it affects everybody. I think throwing away your vote is a really dumb thing to do. I haven't decided who I am voting for – I know who I am not voting for. I probably would be leaning towards the Social Democrats or independents. I am definitely not voting Sinn Féin. I think the way that is set up is that political parties try to romanticise themselves to students instead of actually informing us what their agendas are.
“I would like to see people talk about more than the water charges… I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with paying for water if it means we have a reliable and consistent water system. I would like to see people who are interested in solving the homeless crisis, I think that is a big thing we have to address. I would like to see people who want to form relationships in the EU more and I would like to see a political party that is more progressive – so like repealing the eighth amendment and discussing issues like race and gender that are kind of being swept under the rug a lot in our country.”
