Councillor Liam Sinclair has resigned from South Dublin County Council.
Sinclair, initially elected as a member of the Green Party in 2019, switched affiliations to the An Rabharta Glas – Green Left in 2021, voicing displeasure at the stance of the Greens.
Sinclair said that the timing of his resignation was not ideal but “circumstances have dictated that this change is coming slightly earlier than I had hoped for.”
He added that he had taken up a new role that was “not compatible” with being an elected representative.
“I have been very honest about the difficulties faced being an elected representative, particularly when you’re one that brings an alternative point of view. Still, this has not been an easy decision.
“Ultimately, I have to put the needs of my family first and it’s with them front of mind that I have made this decision,” he said.
Speaking to Southside People, Sinclair said that representing his community was a “privilege and an honour” but conceded that even in the event he was re-elected next May, he would have only carried on for one more term.
“I think I knew from the start this was not going to be a long-term thing for me,” he said.
He also said that his new job was not compatible with serving as an elected representative.
Sinclair’s seat will be co-opted by South Dublin County Council in this particular instance but said that his party would remain a presence in Irish politics.
The party is now down to one elected representative, with party leader Lorna Brogue remaining on Cork City Council, but Sincair was optimistic that the party would put up a good showing at next year’s local elections.
Initially elected as a member of the Green Party in 2019 amid a strong performance for the party that foreshadowed their best-ever performance at a general election in 2020, Sinclair said that the much-mooted wipeout of the Greens would not come to pass.
Sinclair noted he won his seat in 2019 with 7% of the vote, and said that there was still an appetite in Irish society for a party that takes climate change and Ireland’s neutrality seriously.
“That is the one good thing about the Irish system, people with alternative voices and who are willing to put themselves out there are usually met with a respondent electorate.”
However, Sinclair pointed to his frustrations with the political system as a factor in his stepping down.
“It gets a bit overwhelming in the chamber sometimes, and more often than not, councillors come to meetings without having done the appropriate reading or research beforehand,” he said.
Elaborating on this, Sinclair believes that certain politicians value anecdotal evidence over research-driven analysis.
“I have been in so many debates in my time as an elected representative where I get the impression that people are not debating in good faith, and deliberately misrepresent the issue at hand.”
“What is it? Follow the data-driven analysis, or go by your own anecdotal experiences?”
Sinclair also cited social media as a major barrier to political engagement in Ireland.
While most politicians have praised the likes of Twitter and Instagram for allowing more agency and being able to reach voters directly, Sinclair believes that those who pay money to have their views amplified are more successful in getting their message across and as such, it is merely the loudest voice that gets heard as opposed to the most thoughtful.
For a member of a smaller party like Sinclair, this represents a barrier to effective politics and communication.
“Establishment politicians have failed us and their only solutions are to keep doing what they’re doing, but harder,” he remarked.
“Being honest, the whole thing would shake your faith in local politics. Being a politician is a frustrating thing because oftentimes you are surrounded by people with no imagination.”
Sinclair said that he did not regret stepping forward for election, and stressed that politics needs people with conviction and courage.
“In this instance, you need people on the ground, people who are really willing to go out there and engage with people, and listen to what they have to say.”
“We need people with fresh perspectives and fresh ideas. We need people who have never envisioned themselves as politicians to recognise that they are exactly what’s needed, that not fitting the model is exactly what qualifies them.”