Richard Boyd Barrett criticises new Dáil as a 'farce'
Richard Boyd Barrett criticised the start of the new Dáil as a farce and accused certain independents of propping up Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael while undermining opposition scrutiny. He demanded debate and questions on the Programme for Government, saying there was no reason not to address it next week.
Richard Boyd Barrett opened by saying the new Dáil had got off to a "farcical start" and that recent contributions summed up the problem. He argued the current arrangement meant "effectively we've had no Dáil for three months" while urgent public issues await government action.
He listed pressing concerns he said were being neglected - housing, disability, and widespread unrest in health services. He referenced hundreds of thousands of health workers who have balloted for industrial action because of understaffing, and section 39 workers balloting due to unfair and unequal treatment.
He accused people "pretending to be independents" of in fact propping up Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and described them as "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise." He said these figures had supported and helped write the Programme for Government while posing as opposition members, undermining the right of the public to a strong opposition.
He challenged why the Dáil was not taking questions on the Programme for Government and said there was no reason it could not be discussed the following week, noting it had been negotiated for weeks. He concluded by condemning what he called "more stroke politics from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise as independents."
Opening criticism
Richard Boyd Barrett opened by saying the new Dáil had got off to a "farcical start" and that recent contributions summed up the problem. He argued the current arrangement meant "effectively we've had no Dáil for three months" while urgent public issues await government action.
Issues left unaddressed
He listed pressing concerns he said were being neglected - housing, disability, and widespread unrest in health services. He referenced hundreds of thousands of health workers who have balloted for industrial action because of understaffing, and section 39 workers balloting due to unfair and unequal treatment.
Allegations about independents
He accused people "pretending to be independents" of in fact propping up Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and described them as "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise." He said these figures had supported and helped write the Programme for Government while posing as opposition members, undermining the right of the public to a strong opposition.
Demand for Programme for Government debate
He challenged why the Dáil was not taking questions on the Programme for Government and said there was no reason it could not be discussed the following week, noting it had been negotiated for weeks. He concluded by condemning what he called "more stroke politics from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise as independents."
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Transcript
Well, we're off to a farcical start on the new Dáil, and the last contribution, to my mind, really sums it up. In a technical group with people who are actually in the government and have undoubtedly gone along with this charade, which is going to mean that effectively we've had no Dáil for three months, when there are hundreds of thousands of people out there who need answers, who need action from the government to address their housing situation, issues like disability, hundreds of thousands of health workers who've balloted for industrial action because the understaffing of the health service, section 39 workers, balloting for industrial action because they are being treated so unfairly and so unequally, and you want more time off. Why aren't we discussing the Programme for Government next week? There's no reason you couldn't answer questions on the Programme for Government that you've been negotiating for weeks. And then we have taken the art of speaking out of two sides of your mouth to a new and higher level, with people pretending to be independents but actually propping up Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise, in reality, and want to be in the government, supporting the government, endorsing the Programme for Government, writers of the Programme for Government and then pretending to be in opposition. And who they are undermining is not just the opposition but the right of the people of this country to have a strong opposition and to hold this government to account. More stroke politics from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in disguise as independents. Thank you Deputy Michael Collins.