Bríd Smith

Bríd Smith is an Irish People Before Profit Alliance political activist, and a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin South-Central. Before this she sat as a Ballyfermot–Drimnagh representative on Dublin City Council, and was a candidate for the European Parliament.^[1][2]

Smith regularly participates in campaigns and protests. In 2001 she was an ATGWU shop steward and Secretary of the Campaign Against Partnership Deals.^[3] She was a spokesperson for the Anti-Bin Tax Campaign.^[4] She has addressed the crowd at demonstrations, such as the visit to Dublin by former British prime minister Tony Blair^[5] and the 2004 protests against the Iraq War.^[6] She has criticised health cuts implemented by the government at Cherry Orchard Hospital and organised a protest against Mary Harney on behalf of the Save Cherry Orchard Hospital Campaign.^[7][8][9] She opposed the Treaty of Lisbon.^[10] She opposes the alcohol industry's sponsorship of sporting events.^[2]

Smith was director of elections for the People Before Profit Alliance at the 2011 general election.^[11] She stood as a candidate in the Dublin constituency at the 2014 European Parliament election, splitting the left vote and being blamed in some quarters for the loss of Paul Murphy's seat.^[12]

Smith was narrowly elected as TD for Dublin South-Central at the 2016 general election. This had been the fourth time she had stood for the Dáil.^[13] On 10 March 2016, at the first sitting of the 32nd Dáil, she seconded the nomination of Richard Boyd Barrett for the role of Taoiseach.^[14]

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