Dáil debates

Thursday, 23 January 2025

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed)

 

3:25 am

Photo of Paul GogartyPaul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I said before Christmas that it looked like this Government would end up like a cold to lukewarm cup of tea with the bag still in it at a convenience store in Thurles. I had hoped that might happen a little bit later but this is far from a visionary programme for government document. It is an insipid artificial vanilla programme for paralysis that is devoid of any roadmap or tangible targets. Tá sé gan fuinneamh, gan treo, gan dóchas, gan chostálacha agus go mórmhór gan chomhbhá. It shows no compassion. This is no Seamus Heaney moment where "hope and history rhyme". It is more like good old Gilbert O'Sullivan, where nothing rhymes. In fact, Chappell Roan comes to mind painting a picture of what it will be like in five years' time:

And when you think about me all of those years ago

You're standing face to face with "I told you so"

You know I hate to say it, I told you so

It does not have to turn out that way though and if we work constructively, we might have better options.

However, we need to get moving on so many issues: housing and homelessness; our health service - most recently the huge delays in the promised delivery of hormone replacement therapy products; making our streets safer; introducing legislation to ensure real consequences for violent assaults; processing school building projects in rapidly growing areas; tackling overcrowded or non-existent trains and buses; dealing with an asylum system that is clearly not fit for purpose and, similarly, climate targets that have no roadmap. In that regard, we face billions of euro in fines on our taxpayers. Equally important is the energy crisis. We need to be self-sufficient in energy but we are going to face massive imports. I also mention the occupied territories Bill. The list is endless.

On a personal level, in the context of his long, esteemed career, his integrity and the nature of him being a man of substance, I wish Deputy Micheál Martin all the very best. On the basis of this programme and its constituent parts, I cannot vote in conscience for this Government, but I wish it all the best. Good luck, colleagues.

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