Dáil debates
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed)
3:15 am
Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source
I wish Micheál Martin well today. It is a very proud day for him and his family, especially now that his family are able to join him today having not been in the convention centre during the pandemic.
While we wish the incoming Taoiseach and Government well in their terms of office, the Social Democrats will not be supporting any of the nominations today. As a country, we face huge challenges, most acutely in housing, healthcare, the cost of living, childcare, disability services and climate change. We cannot face these challenges and increase investment in public services on the scale that is necessary while at the same time eroding the tax base. This view is a fundamental difference between the Social Democrats and the three largest parties in this Dáil.
The rationale for the deal between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Michael Lowry marks a new low in Irish politics. Last Sunday, Micheál Martin defended negotiating a programme for Government with Michael Lowry even though the Moriarty tribunal found his actions to be profoundly corrupt. Attempting to justify this, the Tánaiste said Deputy Lowry would "not be in government to do any corruption." This is an astonishing remark to make about a negotiating partner and it makes a complete mockery of any claims that this new Government will champion ethical standards in public life.
The programme for Government is devoid of new ideas or radical measures. The transformation that we need is nowhere to be seen. This is particularly stark for housing. During the election campaign, I met family after family who were personally affected by the housing crisis. We all did. Every day, I met adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and older still living at home in their childhood bedrooms. I met parents with tears in their eyes as they spoke about their adult children forced to emigrate to find somewhere affordable to live. I met a mother who broke down in tears when speaking about her son who worked so hard to get a decent education and a decent job, and yet is back living at home in his 40s. The level of anxiety and despair this is causing is unprecedented.
More than 15,000 people are now living in homeless emergency accommodation and 4,658 children are growing up without a home. Where is the urgency in the programme for Government to tackle this? During the election campaign, we were told by the Government that 40,000 homes would be built last year. When the Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris, was asked what his source for this information was, he said it was the housing Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. The CSO today confirmed that only 30,000 homes were built last year.
Disabled people are forced to fight tooth and nail for what most of us are able to take for granted, including the chance to go to a local school, have jobs, live independently and access public services. Disabled people and their families must battle from the day they are born. It is shameful that their biggest battle is often with the State to try to get basic services like an assessment of need, essential therapies or a school place. Previous Governments have repeatedly said that disability services were a priority. If that were true, it would be reflected in the make-up of the Cabinet. There should be a stand-alone, senior Minister for disability, someone with real political power who can focus solely on disability with the resources needed to ensure that disabled people can participate fully in society as equals.
On climate, we have no real idea of how this Government intends to meet its targets and avoid up to €20 billion in EU fines by 2030. We need to invest now in renewable energy, public transport and a fair transition, rather than wasting billions in fines in five years' time. We need to see a retrofitting revolution with grant reforms that make it accessible for those on low and middle incomes. Climate action is often presented as a negative. However, investment will result in a clean environment, cheaper energy and smaller bills. For years, the previous Government used one-off payment to address the cost-of-living crisis. It never worked because it did not address the underlying issue. The best way to bring costs down is to invest in quality public services and climate action. Investment in healthcare, education, childcare, public transport and clean energy would drive costs down and pay dividends in the future.
We cannot allow threats, implied or otherwise, from other countries to influence our foreign policy or stop us from standing up for human rights and international law and against genocide. The ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are very welcome. However, there must be accountability for genocide and crimes against humanity. In addition, the incoming Government cannot be allowed to renege on commitments to enact the occupied territories Bill. There was cross-party consensus during the election that we needed to enact this crucial legislation. Now the Government is talking about progressing new, weaker legislation. It is totally unjust for Palestinian families to be evicted from their homes and farms to make way for illegal Israeli settlements. We need to enact strong legislation that shows Ireland stands firmly for the application of international law and the principles of justice and peace.
The Social Democrats, with an increased mandate and enlarged parliamentary party, will play an important role in this new Dáil. Our role will be constructive, robustly holding the Government to account while also proposing solutions. We will work and co-operate with other Opposition parties, particularly those on the left. However, when parties that claim to be on the left put forward policies to erode the tax base and undermine funding for public services, we will not be silent about it.
The Government has not even been formed yet and it is already mired in controversy. The early days have been chaotic, dominated by stroke politics, jobs for the boys, a lack of ambition and vague commitments. It is not too late to change course.
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