Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Since I have been elected as a Deputy I have found myself on occasion supporting motions tabled by Sinn Féin and the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit. On this occasion, however, I do not support them as I think this is the lowest type of politics. As I sat in my office preparing for tomorrow and waiting for my turn tonight, I found myself listening in agreement to some of the comments made by Deputy Anne Rabbitte. I have spent an incredible amount of time in this Chamber since I was elected, partly because I am a new Deputy and partly because I have been watching and listening, but I find this level of politics, of split and divide, despicable. I will support Sinn Féin and the groups on the Left on other motions but not on this one. I was absolutely disgusted two weeks ago when Sinn Féin and the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit supported Deputy Micheál Martin when he decided that we should not take last week off. If one really thought about the staff in this Chamber and in the building, this was a golden opportunity for Sinn Féin and the AAA-PBP to show some bottle and stand up for them. They could have stood by what the Business Committee had agreed and brought back some honesty into politics rather than playing to the lowest common denominator in which politicians are lazy and have continuous holidays.

Like most Deputies my day started today a little later than usual at 8 a.m. It is now 9 p.m. and I will continue to work until 11 p.m. I make no apologies for that and I do not seek any sympathy in that regard. I made a choice to change career and to seek election to the Dáil to represent people. It is disingenuous, if not dishonest, to say that I cannot represent working class people, middle class people and upper class people if I do not have a working wage of the type referred to by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. I think that is an insult and I do not think people want that type of politics. We are here to do a job. We promised a new type of politics and to stand up and be counted. I receive a salary for which I make no apology. I can adopt the high moral ground, although I do not wish to do so, because as I made known prior to the tabling of this Sinn Féin motion, I will not be taking the increase. One is not here to adopt the high moral ground; one is here to hold the system to account for a fairer country. We should be working to provide employment, housing and health services for all of our citizens. From the day I was elected to this House and until the day I leave, that is the voice I have been and will be in this Chamber.

I believe there are solutions. I also believe that this discussion tonight is beyond contempt. I rarely use such strong language, except in regard to the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties. On this occasion, I find myself in agreement with them that the salary is what it is. Those who do not want it do not have to take it. The Sinn Féin, Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit Deputies take the full salary and they use it as they see fit. Instead of coming in here and taking the high moral ground, they should give it back.

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