Danny Healy-Rae backs Sinn Féin motion, urges 'give them 100%'
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil in support of a motion brought by Sinn Féin, urging the government and the minister to "give them 100%" and deliver full redress to affected people. He warned that partial payments and demands for costly engineers' reports would leave victims unable to obtain justice or assistance.
Motion supported and crowd reaction
Healy-Rae thanked Sinn Féin for bringing the motion and described a large, orderly crowd whose anguish was plain to see. He recalled a teacher's question about why people did not pursue quarries or other entities and emphasised the urgency of government action.
Demand for full payment and concern about loopholes
Healy-Rae told the government and the minister to "give them 100%", arguing that offering 90% was a sham that would allow loopholes and ultimately see victims paid only 40% or 50%. He urged a clear, uncompromised commitment to full redress for those affected.
Objections to engineers' reports and legal costs
He stressed that requiring an engineers' report would impose heavy upfront costs that many people cannot afford, and that ordinary citizens lack the means to take legal action or secure redress. He called on the minister to recognise the financial barriers facing victims.
Comparison with national responses and local risk
Healy-Rae contrasted local need with rapid national responses to crises in Dublin, saying leaders have been quick to act elsewhere while local communities struggle for flood relief. He warned that homes in places like Donegal face real danger and appealed for ministers to act decisively.
Cultural reference to local communities
Invoking songs by Bridie Gallagher and a long-remembered local singer, he framed the plea as a defence of communities and homes with deep cultural roots. He closed with an appeal to ministers to "play your part" in protecting those homes and securing redress.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Thank you very much. I too want to support this motion and thank Sinn Fein for bringing it before us here this evening. This is very important. Look, there were a very orderly crowd and such a large crowd, but the anguish in their faces taught it all. Look, the teacher spoke here this morning and he said that why didn't people go after quarries, why didn't they go after other entities. But I'm saying to the government and the minister and the Taoiseach here this evening, look, give them 100% because these people haven't the way of it all to even take anyone to court or to get redress. But if the government feel that there's someone escaping the net and should be playing a role, let the government go after them. But in the first place, the government must give 100%. Giving 90% was all a cardium because they would finish up paying 40% or 50% once there was a loophole at all. And then in the first place, suggesting that they should get an engineer's report. We are dealing with engineers every day of the week and we know what they charge and they'd have to charge a hefty bill for the start out. Those people haven't that kind of money, minister. And you must realize that. And when anything happens in Dublin, you see Arthur right away. It made one show of rain here a few years back and Bertie put on his Wellingtons and windows and he sorted out the thing. We could be flooded out. He could be flowing in the front door and out the back door and no one would look at us. And we'd have to fight flat on our back to get flood relief and didn't flex or any other where. I'd be allowed to cut a few bushes. He wouldn't let us do it. But I'm appealing to you now. And we all have the songs of Bridie Gallagher evening, Jackie Ray's Pope in Kilgavin 30 or 40 years ago when she sang so eloquently about the homes of Donegal. It's a fright to God if we're going to let the homes of Donegal fall down the ground now around the people. We have to play our part, minister. And he must play your part.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
