Gary Gannon has said he would like to be a minister in the Department of Justice if the Social Democrats ever enter Government. 

In the last installment of Henry’s Front Bench for The Hard Shoulder, the Social Democrats candidate in Dublin Central sat down for a chat about what motivates him in politics. 

Deputy Gannon and Henry met in a park off Mountjoy Street, which he described as a “beautifully historic part of Dublin”. 

When asked if he wants to be a minister, Deputy Gannon was clear he does. 

“I want to be in Government, the Social Democrats want to be in Government,” he said. 

“It used to be education, I actually think justice now given the constituency I’m in. 

“Arts, sports - I think there’s a range of them I’d like to do.” 

'Onions should not exist' Social Democrats TD @GaryGannonTD talks family, doing better, and his hatred for onions, on the latest episode of Henry's Front Bench, with @HenryMcKean pic.twitter.com/i1ws4SF25c

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) November 28, 2024

As a relatively new party, the Social Democrats have never been part of a Government - but Deputy Gannon is confident they could make a difference if they were. 

“Positive change is possible,” he said. 

“The housing crisis is not inevitable - all of the crises of this city, a wealthy city, are not inevitable. 

“I just think I’d do a better job; I think my colleagues in the Soc Dems would too.” 

Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon on the plinth outside Leinster House. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

First elected a TD in 2020 just before lockdown, Deputy Gannon said his time in the Dáil has been the “craziest experience of my life” and he is eager for a second term. 

“If I don’t keep going, then someone else will do it differently and do it worse,” he said. 

“I’m someone who just loves to stand up and actually have a bit of a fight for something - that’s what got me into politics in 2014. 

“It was a period of austerity and I was looking around at the community I grew up in, it was being hit hard and I said I want to get involved in politics.” 

Gary Gannon speaks to media at Leinster House in Dublin. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

The Dublin Central constituency is a four seater and has several high profile candidates standing in it. 

As well as Deputy Gannon, there is Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, Fine Gael Minister Paschal Donohoe, Neasa Hourigan of the Greens, former Dublin MEP Clare Daly and Gerry Hutch. 

When asked if he had a message for Hutch, Deputy Gannon said he was running a “really positive, ideas based campaign”. 

“No message for him at all - nor any other candidate,” he said.  

Polling stations open at 7am on Friday and will close at 10pm.

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Main image: Gary Gannon. Picture by: Henry McKean.