Latest news with #CianOCallaghan
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Opposition parties continue to boycott pairing arrangements for absent Ministers
Opposition parties have continued to boycott the pairing arrangement with Government Ministers, almost five months after a bitter row erupted in the Oireachtas over speaking rights for Independent TDs who supported the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Coalition. Whips from Opposition parties confirmed this week the protest is continuing. 'Pairs have not been reinstated,' said Sinn Féin whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn . 'We still feel very strongly about what happened and the way the [Michael] Lowry group was supported by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. 'We are not co-operating with pairs, and don't intend to reinstate a pairing arrangement anytime soon,' Mr Mac Lochlainn said. Facilitating pairs is a long-standing custom in the Dáil. They are most commonly used when a Minister travels abroad on official business, or when a Government TD is sick or incapacitated. READ MORE In an arrangement brokered between the Government Chief Whip and the whips from the main Opposition parties, a TD from the Opposition benches agrees to absent themselves from the chamber for the vote, essentially cancelling out each other's vote. The Labour Party also confirmed separately it is not offering support for pairs at the moment. 'We have not given any pairs yet,' said Duncan Smith of the Labour Party . Other Labour sources said the party may review that stance in the future. The Social Democrats has not given any pairs in this Dáil but acting leader Cian O'Callaghan said its policy had not changed and it did offer pairs in 'rare and exceptional circumstances'. 'If there was a bereavement or illness for example, we would facilitate. The last time we had a pair (arrangement) was when (then minister for climate change) Eamon Ryan went to the COP conference and Jennifer Whitmore offered a pair,' Mr O'Callaghan said. [ Is it time for the Social Democrats to end Eoin Hayes's purgatory? Opens in new window ] He said that with party leader Holly Cairns on maternity leave until September, the party is effectively offering a pair. 'We are already down one vote and we are not keen to reduce our Dáil representation any further,' Mr O'Callaghan said. The Government's working majority in the 174-seat Dáil is such that the boycott of pairing arrangements has not yet impacted on any votes when significant divisions have been called. It has a majority of 20 and would need to lose the support of nine TDs to lose a vote in the House. When Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, two Independent TDs who support the Government, voted with the Opposition in May on a Sinn Féin Bill in support of Palestine , the Government still comfortably won the vote by a margin of 87 to 75. A spokesman for Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said she was managing the scenario in a situation where Government Ministers were constantly travelling to Brussels and elsewhere on Government business. The Chief Whip has asked for pairs at the business committee but none have yet been offered by the Opposition. There was an automatic pairing arrangement in the Dáil whenever a Minister attended a session of Seanad Éireann but that is no longer operating. 'We have asked for the reinstatement of that pairing arrangement,' said the spokesman. 'Seanad business has had to be suspended in recent weeks because of the unavailability of a pair. That is suboptimal.' Withdrawing from pairing arrangements is one of the few procedural tactics an Opposition party can use to put pressure on a Government, thereby threatening its Dáil majority. Pairing arrangements become essential when a government has a very small majority, or is in a minority position. In late 1982, the minority government of Charles Haughey was facing a confidence vote. The Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Bill Loughnane, died suddenly and the Carlow-Kilkenny TD Jim Gibbons – a bitter opponent of Haughey within the party – was seriously ill in hospital. In the absence of a pair, Fianna Fáil considered the possibility of taking the very ill Mr Gibbons from hospital by ambulance to vote in the Dáil. It did not happen and the vote was lost, precipitating the fall of the government. 'Daddy' Trump meets Nato, while defence, trade and Gaza dominate EU summit Listen | 44:28
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Chicken up €6 in three years: ‘Crazy' inflation outlined to Dáil
The 'crazy' increase in the cost of everyday food items has been raised in the Dáil, as the opposition accused the Government of being inactive on the issue. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that in the past year, butter had become €1 more expensive, a kilo of Irish cheddar was up 57 cents, and two litres of milk was up 27 cents. Advertisement She cited figures in The Irish Times that indicated a kilo of chicken had cost €4.99 in 2022 and now costs €11. 'That's just crazy,' she said, telling the áail that prices were 'out of control'. 'Many households are now paying €3,000 extra a year in the supermarket than they were in 2021.' She accused the Government of having 'failed to exert any real pressure' on retailers, after a junior minister handling the issue was 'unceremoniously ignored'. Advertisement 'Your latest plan, it seems, is to do absolutely nothing, to stick your head in the sand, allow people to be ripped off week in and week out. 'Let me just give you some more CSO data – over five years, sugar is up 54 per cent. 'A filet of cod, up 55 per cent, pork sausages 21 per cent, lamb 48 per cent, spaghetti up 46 per cent. 'Nothing has changed, people are still to the pin of their collar,' she said. Advertisement Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan called for transparency on food prices. 'We all have suspicions that we're being ripped off in this country and being price gouged when it comes to food prices, but there's no way to prove it because we don't have full transparency when it comes to supermarket profits,' he said. 'People are handing over 10 billion euro a year to supermarkets to buy food for their families. Why is there not full transparency about profits here? 'Given that people have to buy food, there's no choice on this, why is this not a requirement for all supermarket retailers and chains?' Advertisement Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Government was 'very, very conscious' of price increases and the cost of living. Micheál Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA He said although inflation had fallen to 1.4 per cent in May, down from 2 per cent in the same month last year, food prices remained 'very high, and basic essentials, milk, butter, pasta and bread, cost more than ever. He added that support introduced across various budgets, including over the pandemic period, had prevented people from being at risk of poverty. Mr Martin also said HRT was made available free of charge from June, free school books will be extended to all students from September, and hot school meals will be available in every school. Advertisement Business Cost of living in Ireland: How quickly are prices... Read More He accused Mr O'Callaghan of having a 'tremendous habit of asserting what I said earlier which, of course, I didn't say at all'. He said Mr O'Callaghan had accused him of 'rattling off figures' in his earlier answer when he had not. 'We're looking, we're looking at every aspect of cost and price with a view to getting prices down.'
Irish Times
30-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Sinn Féin voting against first-stage Bill banning fox hunting ‘deeply troubling', Social Democrats say
A decision by Sinn Féin vote against an Opposition Bill seeking to ban fox hunting was 'deeply troubling' and potentially undemocratic, the acting Social Democrats leader has said. A Private Members' Bill to ban hunting was introduced to the Dáil on Wednesday by People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger. Bills are not normally voted on at that early stage and are given leave to pass to the second stage for a full Dáil debate. However, in an unusual development, a vote was called on the Bill by Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Sinn Féin, Independent Ireland and a handful of rural Independent TDs all voted against it at first stage. READ MORE However, the two Government parties, and the other Opposition parties and TDs, voted to give the Bill leave and it passed to second stage. Acting Social Democrats leader Cian O'Callaghan wrote to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday to express his deep concern at her party's decision to block the Bill. 'While the Social Democrats believe strongly that blood sports are barbaric and cruel, we recognise the democratic right of Sinn Féin to take an opposing view,' he wrote. 'However, the decision by Sinn Féin to vote to prevent a Bill going to the second stage was unprecedented and deeply troubling.' Mr O'Callaghan said allowing the Bill through would not have denoted opposition or assent. 'As far as I am aware a political party has never attempted to block an Opposition TD tabling a piece of legislation. What is really extraordinary about what happened last night is that it was Sinn Féin – an Opposition party – which attempted to block a Bill from another Opposition grouping – People Before Profit/Solidarity – proceeding to the second stage.' He added that if the practice was continued it would be undemocratic and completely undermine the role of the Opposition. A spokesman for Sinn Féin said its vote was 'no big deal'. He said the party voted against the legislation in the knowledge that it was going to the second stage in any instance. 'We have a different position and took the opportunity to set out our opposition to the legislation,' he said.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
No action on High Court assessment of needs disability as last government ‘couldn't agree'
The last government did not act on a High Court decision three years ago on assessments of need for children with disabilities because 'there wasn't agreement' on it, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. In 2022 the High Court ruled that assessments of need should take more than 30 hours, which resulted in the HSE changing its model of assessment. More than 15,000 children have been waiting longer than six months for assessment and 25,000 are expected to be in this situation by the end of the year. Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan said the accelerated procedure 'was struck down for a good reason. It consisted of one hour of observed play time and a 30-minute discussion with a parent. READ MORE 'Children were then diagnosed as having a disability but not told which disability they had. It was a completely inadequate box-ticking exercise. Are you telling us that this is a system that you're going to return to, or is your plan to get rid of assessment and need altogether?' he asked Taoiseach Micheál Martin. [ Government 'all talk but no action' on disability assessment backlog, says activist Opens in new window ] Mr Martin said, 'I have no intention of going back on the standing operating procedures' that applied before the High Court ruling. But he said, 'I believe when the High Court makes a decision it is clinicians that should ultimately decide in terms of the nature and type of provision on therapy, medicine or anything. 'The last government did not follow through for different reason. There wasn't agreement in respect of it after the High Court decision.' The Taoiseach said, 'an assessment of evaluation is not a static thing, nor should it be. As a child develops, the child needs ongoing review' and the Government had decided to have a national 'in-school therapy service', a 'red-line' issue for this Government. Mr O'Callaghan said 'that is an astonishing answer'. 'When 15,000 children are waiting for needs assessments 'you haven't got your act together in this because the previous government couldn't agree on what to do'. Mr O'Callaghan said: 'You've been talking around changing the law, hiring more people. But when are you actually going to stop breaking the law?' [ Government to change law in bid to speed up autism and disability assessments Opens in new window ] Accusing Mr O'Callaghan of 'deliberate distortion', the Taoiseach said this Government will deal with the court decision but the previous government had dealt with a lot of other related issues, including a 30 per cent increase in assessments in 2023 and a 65 per cent increase in the first three months of this year compared to last. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Taoiseach had met Cara Darmody on Wednesday morning and 'you gave no commitments'. Mr Martin confirmed he met the teenager on Wednesday morning and 'we discussed all the issues involved and I outlined what the Government is going to do'.
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Practicality rather than divisions behind front-bench reshuffle, Social Democrats say
The Social Democrats have dismissed suggestions that a mini reshuffle among its front bench spokespeople was done for anything other than practical reasons. Acting party leader Cian O'Callaghan announced that Dublin Rathdown TD Sinéad Gibney was moving from the foreign affairs brief to media, tourism and arts, with Kilkenny-based senator Patricia Stephenson taking on her former role. A party spokeswoman said there was no basis to suggestions about divisions in the party, noting that both portfolios were senior and reflected the experience and expertise of the appointee. There are divided views within the parliamentary party about the status of Eoin Hayes , the Dublin Bay South TD who was suspended by the party over a failure to account fully for the manner in which he disposed of shareholdings in Palantir, a US-based company that has provided military technology to Israel. Some members of the parliamentary party are understood to want to bring his suspension to an end. READ MORE The spokeswoman said the decision to reshuffle spokespeople was taken in order to align them with their Oireachtas committee responsibilities. Ms Stephenson had not previously been a party spokesperson and there was uncertainty over which committee she would be appointed to. When it became known she had been selected to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, the logical thing was for her to become spokesperson in that area, the party said. The same applied to Ms Gibney, who is a member of the Committee on Media, Tourism and Arts. Mr O'Callaghan said Ms Stephenson is 'a former EU diplomat, having worked for the EU delegation to Uganda in the governance and human rights department' and is also one of the Irish delegates to the Council of Europe. Ms Gibney, the former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, is one of the party's most high-profile TDs. She has experience of the media and communications sector, having spent eight years working at a senior level for a multinational technology company. Ms Gibney said she had enjoyed working in the 'crucial area' of foreign affairs alongside Ms Stephenson but was 'excited to get stuck into my new portfolio'. She said she was delighted her colleague had secured a committee position and a chance to 'bring her expertise' to the area.
