Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá an Rialtas ag magadh faoi na ndaoine, ag cruthú scannal i ndiaidh scannail agus ag cur ár gcuid airgid amú. The sense of anger and frustration felt by people is palpable but the disillusionment and apathy is more worrying as they see their hard-earned money and public money going down the drain. Despite the promises made at election time, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the rural Independent TDs have shown no intention of reversing the culture of waste and incompetence. Despite expressing horror and outrage at the cost of the bike sheds and having serious questions about the millions of euro spent on mobile phone pouches and the Arts Council money, these same TDs have now gone very quiet as more and more scandals arise.

I wonder whether the outrageous waste of public money is one of the reasons the Government-supporting rural Independent TDs remain so steadfastly determined to keep up the charade of being in opposition in order that they can wash their hands of these public scandals. The list of scandalous wastes of money is as long as your arm yet nobody, not a single person, has been held to account. Where are the checks and balances? Unsurprisingly, the Government has repeatedly attempted to shirk responsibility and blame somebody else, but the responsibility lies squarely with the Government. It is about much more than a waste of taxpayer’s money.

It is about all the projects not progressed because there was not enough money in the pot. Think of all the schools that could have been built or the Garda stations that could have been kept open. Think, for example, of the money needed for the refurbishment of the courthouse in Tralee, which is vital for the town centre. In University Hospital Kerry, elective surgeries have not taken place since 19 December because the emergency room is overwhelmed and there are not enough beds in the hospital. The hospital needs another modular day unit and a minor injuries clinic. Instead, the Government would rather focus on purchasing scanners that lie idle while sick people are left on waiting lists for months and sometimes years.

Unlike the Government, Sinn Féin has a plan and the political will to get to grips with the issue. We would urgently conduct a waste audit of all Departments and State bodies. People deserve to know how their money is being spent or how it is being squandered. Sinn Féin would reform and expand the Freedom of Information Act so the public could more easily track how the Government is directing taxpayers' money. We have called for new legislation for transparency and procurement and to regulate tenders to stop massive cost overruns in capital projects. The scandalous waste of public money must stop. I therefore urge the Government to support and adopt Sinn Féin's proposals. I thank the Independent Group for tabling the motion.

See this speech in context