Results 2,461-2,480 of 2,725 for speaker:Paul Gogarty

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I do not know whether to start with the bit I agree with or the bit with which I disagree. I will start with the latter. Given the attempt by Deputy Burton's party leader to grab the rural vote by doing a U-turn on the stag hunting legislation and now his attempt to try to grab the women's vote by claiming the legislation is an attack on them, I cannot take everything the Labour Party says...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I have looked through some figures. SIPTU donated €23,000 to the Labour Party in 2007. Deputies Burton, Gilmore and Higgins each received €2,500. I could go on. My old friend Deputy Stagg received €2,500. These are just the personal-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am making a point about the credibility of their arguments. SIPTU has engaged in a campaign on the minimum wage. The Labour Party's paymaster is SIPTU. QED. I rest my case.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: There is a valid argument to be made on whether reducing the minimum wage is a good idea. Notwithstanding the motivations of various parties and those who fund them, any reduction in the minimum wage must be considered carefully. I discussed this matter in some detail yesterday evening. Before elaborating, I will discuss the substance of the amendment. Deputy Burton asked whether the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I support it. However, if there is to be a vote, I will vote against it because of the way the system operates.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shatter talks about credibility and political principle. It is not credible for Fine Gael to talk about tax decreases and for the Labour Party to talk about having no welfare cuts.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: They will have to face this conundrum in a couple of months.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shatter is being entirely disingenuous.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am merely pointing out the fact that going into Government-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I know Deputy Shatter is being facetious. I take his point and share the joke but realise that when one goes into Government and must negotiate a programme for Government, there are some things one will not necessarily like but with which one must go along.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I support this amendment but if the Whip is applied I, as a member of a Government party that supports having the budget passed in the national interest, will vote with the Government.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Shortall refers to principles. If one is morally in turmoil over one aspect-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: -----and morally in turmoil over passing the budget in the interest of all citizens so social welfare and wages can be paid, one must choose the lesser of two evils. One will be morally compromised one way or the other so I am prepared to be morally compromised for the benefit of our society.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I have made a point. The Deputy should at least accept that I take on board what she is saying about her amendment.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: It is not about courage.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: The Deputy knows the petty way this will continue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: One cannot have a debate on a specific amendment and then-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: In the most unparliamentary language possible, Deputy Shortall, bless you. Bless you for your kind words.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: I am trying to get to the substance of the issue.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2010)

Paul Gogarty: With regard to the argument being made, I have had correspondence from members of the various unions.