Oisin Ó hAlmhain (pronounced hol-oon (like baloon))

I was born in the Coombe Hospital in 1972 and grew up on the Templeogue Road in Terenure. I went to primary school in Scoil Lorcáin in Monkstown, Co. Dublin, a Gaelscoil, which was founded by my grandfather, Diarmuid Ó hAlmhain and others in 1952.

I attended Rockbrook Park School in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 for secondary school, completing the leaving certificate in 1991. While at Rockbrook, completed 5 projects for the Aer Lingus Young Scientists Exhibitions from 1987 to 1991. One of these projects concerned lead pollution levels in the city centre compared to the foothills. Another traced underground rivers in the South City. The final project in 1991, which won an award, concerned population levels.

I studied pharmacy in Trinity College Dublin from 1991 to 1996 and at that time joined the Trinity Greens and the Trinity Environmental Society, as well as some involvement in student politics. My B.Sc. (Pharm) and M.A. were awarded in respect of this degree course.

I completed my pre-registration training as a pharmacist in Letterkenny General Hospital, (website) Donegal from 1996-97, which allowed me to register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland in 1997. I continued working there as a pharmacist for 2 years, while studying for a postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy, through the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

In late 1999 I started 18 months of voluntary work in Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda through a scheme organised by the now defunct Irish Government Agency for Personal Services Overseas (APSO). This was the culmination of an interest in Africa and development issues which started with hearing stories of my mother's work as a teacher in Zambia in the 1960s.While a college student I also attended a workcamp in the Cajamarca region of Peru in 1992 where we installed a drinking water supply system in a mountain village. While in Africa, and beforehand through the the IPSF, I developed links, in a personal capacity, with colleagues in the Tanzania FDA

My experience in Africa gave me an understanding of development issues and in 2001-2002 having spent some time working in community pharmacies in Ireland, I organised the Bazungu FC Project which raised over €40,000 for Kitovu Hospital in Africa, where I had worked. This money was used to purchase a 4 wheel drive ambulance for the hospital.

While fundraising for Bazungu FC, I found that the supporters of St. Patrick's Athletic FC in Inchicore were generous in their sponsorship, and the club was very accommodating.When I was asked to join the 500 Club I signed up right away, and have been a season ticket holder for the last 8 years.

I have been working in the frontline of the health service as a pharmacist in Midland Regional Hospital, in Tullamore, County Offaly since 2002. My current role in organising clinical pharmacy in the hospital is concerned with making sure that the patients drug therapy is optimised and safe, rather than the traditional pharmacists role in just supplying medicines. Previously, under my initiative we managed to reduce the value of medications held in the hospital by over €250,000. I also managed computerisation of our ordering and stock control and the move from an old pharmacy to a new one. I have a track record of organising changes which are good for patients and save the health services money.

I worked with Martin Hogan on his unsuccessful campaign for a City Council seat in the South West Inner City ward in the 2009 local elections.

I have been privileged to be involved in the Inchicore on Track Campaign since April 2009. This has been run by residents of the Inchicore Works Housing Estate. This is a fantastic project for a green Party member to be involved in, because one of the aims of the group is to achieve a proper planning framework and a real and meaningful consultation process in relation to the DART Underground Project, in particular in Inchicore. This is fundamentally about more accountability and democracy, (see Next Generation Democracy) which is essential for a green economy.

I was proud to run as the Green Party/ Comhaontas Glas candidate in Dublin South Central for the 2011 General Election, and am very grateful to the 1,015 people who gave me a first preference vote.