Marie O'Halloran reports on the rest of the independents running in the general election
Carlow/Kilkenny: Eddie Collins-Hughes (42), from Paulstown, is director and a founding member of the Carers' Association, which now has 22 centres around the State. He is campaigning for the reform of the health services. He is married with four children.
Billy Nolan (53) is married with six children, a farmer and former publican. A member of Fine Gael for 23 years, he stood as an independent in 1999, when he failed to get a party nomination at the last general election.
Cavan/Monaghan: Paudge Connolly (48), a psychiatric nurse, is a single-issue candidate. Married with four children, he was asked to stand "by consultants and GPs in Monaghan town" where he says the hospital "has been losing services since the early 1970s".
Joe Brennan (40), chairman of Castleblayney town council, wants to "give the opportunity to people to move away from the major parties". Married with three children, he first got involved in politics through the campaign to conserve Lough Muckno.
Vincent P. Martin (33), from Carrickmacross, is a barrister and an independent town councillor. A former student union president at Maynooth, he is standing to "make a difference, to add variety of choice". He is campaigning on school conditions, health and the "neglect of Monaghan General Hospital".
Clare: James Breen (55), who has served as an independent county councillor for 16 years, wants Ennis General Hospital upgraded to an acute medical and surgical hospital. He also wants more staff for the county's nursing homes. He is married with four children.
Cork North Central: Joe O'Callaghan (53), a SIPTU branch secretary from Blarney, came to national prominence when he called for reforms in the policy on asylum-seekers and a cut-off in the numbers entering the State. A former lord mayor and councillor, he is married with four children.
Cork South Central: Con O'Connell (59), from Ballyphehane, is a council alderman, retired carpenter and community worker. "I reckon I can do a better job," he says.
Ted Neville (44) is standing for the Immigration Control Platform with Áine Ní Chonaill. An industrial chemist from the Douglas area, he wants reform of immigration and asylum policy and to have decisions made under Irish control, rather than through EU decisions. He is married with four children.
Theresa Heaney is contesting her second general election. In 1997, she ran for Nora Bennis's National Party, which campaigned for Christian family values and she polled 1,792 first preference votes.
Christy O'Sullivan (52), from Clonakilty, is a Cork county councillor and cattle dealer. He is married with seven children. "West Cork needs a change. We have had the same representation for 25 years."
Donegal South West: Joe Kelly (30), from Falcarragh, is a member of Independent Fianna Fáil and part of the "Blaney team". A secondary school teacher, he says: "I feel that Donegal has been voiceless. It is the unemployment capital of Ireland and that is just not good enough."
Thomas Pringle (34), from Killybegs, is a councillor and water inspector with Donegal County Council. Married with three children, he says: "You can achieve quite a bit at council level but they are so dependent on national government, it is important to have a voice at national level."
Dublin Central: Patrick Noel O'Donnell, from Glasnevin, is a businessman who runs his own retail shop.
Tom Prendeville, from Phibsboro, a news reporter, is campaigning on local issues including health, drugs and refugees. He says he has a "passing interest in politics" and is an optimist with a sense of humour.
Dublin Mid West: Cllr Colm McGrath, from Clondalkin, is a company director. An independent councillor, he was previously a Fianna Fáil member. He is under investigation by the Flood tribunal over alleged payments to him in connection with rezoning decisions in north Co Dublin. He proposed the rezoning of land at Quarryvale in 1991, which was to become the Liffey Valley shopping centre. He was described as "Mr Insatiable" by PR executive Frank Dunlop at the tribunal.
Dublin North: Éamon Quinn, a hackney cab driver from Skerries, is standing for the rights of unmarried and separated fathers. Part of a lobby group, Unmarried Fathers of Ireland, he is campaigning for greater rights for fathers in the family law courts.
Dublin North East: Thomas Jenkinson is a sales representative from Kilbarrack.
Dublin North West: Bill Tormey (51), a consultant chemical pathologist at Beaumont Hospital, believes that what is going on in the health service is "outrageous". At least 500 extra acute beds are needed in north side hospitals and he believes consultants should appear before Dáil committees on a three-yearly rota to account for what happens to patients.
Dublin South Central: Vincent "Ballyfermot" Jackson (36) changed his name by deed poll for his first election 11 years ago to encourage constituents to vote for a local candidate. A Dublin city councillor and a youth worker, he has been battling for a community that has "changed very little in the past 20 years. There is a very low level of participation and attainment in schools." Health and traffic are big issues as well, he says.
Áine Ni Chonaill is standing for the Immigration Control Platform. She lives in Rosscarbery, Co Cork, but has chosen to stand in a constituency with a large immigrant population. She wants reform of asylum policy and legislation and to control the numbers of immigrants entering the country.
Dublin South East: Norman Gray (46), an auctioneer and business consultant in Ranelagh, is angry "about two things mainly - homelessness and traffic". He says Ireland should follow Germany's example by introducing a scheme of personalised car number plates, the proceeds from which would be used to fund initiatives for the homeless.
Dublin South West: Ray Kelly (37), a single parent with three children, is a founder member of Unmarried Fathers of Ireland. Living in Tallaght, he is standing to highlight the difficulties for single parents and injustice in the family law courts. He is also concerned about male suicide.
Dún Laoghaire: Vincent McDowell, a retired engineer and marketing manager, stood for the Green Party before, but is running as an independent after the party selected Cllr Ciarán Cuffe. Mr McDowell wants Dún Laoghaire baths reopened and reform of the Dún Laoghaire harbour board. His daughter is the Green Party MEP Nuala Ahern.
Denis O'Buachalla, a trade and marketing consultant and former European Commission official, opposed the siting of the European Food and Veterinary Office in Grange, Co Meath, because he said it was in breach of planning and fire-safety regulations. He is campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket and opposes "dynasty" family politics.
Patrick O'Keefe from Loughlinstown, Dún Laoghaire, is a businessman.
