Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to speak to the motion which I will support. From the day the so-called strategic communications unit was announced, I have called for its abolition. The sheer arrogance of the Government to treat itself to a €5 million strategic communications unit on budget day last October was appalling. The same budget failed to make any real change in dealing with the ongoing housing and homelessness crises.

The same budget failed to address and make any real change to HSE waiting lists or the trolley crisis. It was €5 million that would not have totally fixed it but would have gone a very long way to improving the ongoing issues that face ordinary Irish people. The use of public funds to pay for party political promotions and general Fine Gael spin is totally unacceptable. I would like to see the finances scrutinised by the Committee of Public Accounts. The Government's ability to pay independent, local and small scale news providers to publish advertisements but have them appear as articles is truly scary. It is a manipulation of the Ireland 2040 plan. It is totally unethical. It is not the fault of the small businesses which accepted such demands. The blame should be put on the Government, which pressured them into doing it. The Government's promotion of its own party colleagues and candidates in regional newspapers was total exploitation and an absolute abuse of power. It is important to acknowledge and commend the journalists who worked to uncover such despicable behaviour. Their promise that the spin unit would be a totally independent, trustworthy and ethical working group has proven to be a lie. It is yet another reason why the ordinary people, who are paying for this propaganda in taxes, are furious with the Government. There are many areas that would have benefitted hugely from a more strategic plan. The €5 million funds could have been put into health, housing, carer's benefit, home help, education, rural roads or reducing small business rates. The list is endless. I hope the Minister and his Government can understand the frustration of the Opposition with the constant spin by the Government. Its obsession with looking popular and relating to the ordinary people is not fooling anyone. There is no justification for the continuation of the Fine Gael spin machine and for those reasons I wholly support today's motion. As I said earlier, the Government went to a new low with the spin around the 2040 plan. I looked through it and no matter how much spin and how much money is spent on spin, there was not one thing for Cork South-West in that plan. If only the €5 million was given to filling potholes in west Cork, it would have done some good for the people of this country.

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