Indian-born chemist to run for Greens in Kildare South
Monaa K Sood, the pharmacist from Caragh who will be standing for the Green Party in Kildare South in the forthcoming General Election
THE constituency of Kildare South is beginning to shape up pretty nicely now, with Caragh pharmacist Monaa K Sood being the latest to throw her hat in the ring as a candidate for the Green Party.
The Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman was guest of honour recently at the formal launch of his party’s two candidates for Kildare, Monaa and Vincent P Martin for Kildare North, at an event in the Stores of 33 Main Street, Naas.
"I was born in India, raised in Kenya and proud to be a long-time resident of county Kildare for more than 20 years,” said Monaa.
“I am a pharmacist by profession working in the pharmaceutical industry for 19 plus years, am married to Dr Deepak Kumar, a specialist audiologist, and also am the mother of two young children (11 and five),” she revealed.
The first asked why is she going in the deep end, when the council elections were only four months ago.
“To be honest, I was approached to run in the local election as well, but at the time I didn’t think I was ready,” she said.
“It was not an easy decision, so when it came time for the general election I said you know what, I’m going to give this a go myself,” she declared.
“Ireland has changed so much in the last 20 year, it’s so much more cosmopolitan, but I didn’t see the political system change, and that became my motivation.
“As Gandhi said, If we don’t becomes the change we want to see, what can change?
“You need to become part of the system, and until you become part of it you can’t change it from the outside, only scream at it.
“That is my motivation for getting into politics.
“I am committed to addressing the key challenges we face today, while also working to ensure a brighter future for all.
"As your representative, my priorities would include improving housing, strengthening healthcare, supporting small businesses, promoting education reform, and tackling unlawful immigration.
“I believe these issues are central to building a stronger, more resilient Kildare South, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
“My campaign will focus on working closely with local residents, listening to their concerns, and advocating for solutions that reflect the needs of our diverse community.
“I will also prioritize transparency, accessibility, and accountability, ensuring that the voices of Kildare South are always heard in Government.
"In the coming weeks, I look forward to engaging with voters across the constituency through public meetings, events, and online forums, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss my platform and hear directly from the people about the issues that matter most to them,” she concluded.
