Dáil debates
Thursday, 23 January 2025
Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed)
3:25 am
Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source
I wish Deputy Martin and his family well on his nomination as Taoiseach. As the general secretary and deputy leader of Independent Ireland, I believe it is now time for people to lead. When Deputy Martin is appointing people to ministerial positions, I remind him of the one thing I have always said to him, which is that they should be spread out throughout the country to represent Ireland as a whole. A lot of the Ministries should be taken out of Dublin so they can reflect areas around the country where infrastructure is badly needed. A Dublin-based Cabinet has not worked. On health and infrastructure, we have seen failure. We have also seen failure in the number of houses delivered because of the lack of infrastructure. If there were any sports games on today, all the field positions would be covered. Ireland should be looked at in that way. The Ministers Deputy Martin will appoint should reflect that and come from around the country rather than the Cabinet being Dublin-based. A team effort is the answer to addressing infrastructure and representation for all counties.
On the 9% VAT rate that we and many others on the Opposition benches looked for, the Government has said that it will adopt this measure but it still has not fulfilled that. Businesses that employ people are closing as we are here today. Hospitality businesses and small SMEs are failing to remain open. The Government gave grants for new businesses, which only last for two years before stopping, but it has not looked after the existing businesses and helped to keep them going.
Let us look at the carbon tax, which was a red line issue for us, and at the transport network across this country. Again, there has been a failure. A lot of infrastructure in this area needs fuel. We do not have the infrastructure in place yet.
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