Ken O'Flynn: Government Has Left Ordinary People Behind
Ken O'Flynn accuses the government of abandoning farmers, taxi drivers, hauliers, contractors, fishermen and ordinary people, and rejects ministers who blame Donald Trump for domestic policy failures. He calls on those with backbone to join Deputy Healy-Rae in voting against the government and to force an election.
Ken O'Flynn lays out a sharp critique of the government's record, saying it has 'left down' multiple groups the administration claims to represent. He directly names farmers, taxi drivers, hauliers, contractors and fishermen among those he says have been neglected.
O'Flynn rejects what he calls the government's habit of blaming external figures like Donald Trump for local problems, and challenges specific ministerial statements - citing Sean Canney's advice to 'go out and walk or go out and cycle' and an unnamed minister's suggestion to use the army against citizens.
He praises Deputy Healy-Rae for showing backbone and urges colleagues and protesters, including those from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to join in voting against the government. O'Flynn frames a vote of no confidence as the route to force a general election.
The address is confrontational and aimed at mobilising colleagues and citizens dissatisfied with housing and waiting-list issues referenced in the speech. O'Flynn's language is pointed, naming ministers and controversial remarks to underline his charge that the government serves itself, not ordinary people.
Accusations against the government
Ken O'Flynn lays out a sharp critique of the government's record, saying it has 'left down' multiple groups the administration claims to represent. He directly names farmers, taxi drivers, hauliers, contractors and fishermen among those he says have been neglected.
Criticism of ministers' responses
O'Flynn rejects what he calls the government's habit of blaming external figures like Donald Trump for local problems, and challenges specific ministerial statements - citing Sean Canney's advice to 'go out and walk or go out and cycle' and an unnamed minister's suggestion to use the army against citizens.
Political consequences and call to action
He praises Deputy Healy-Rae for showing backbone and urges colleagues and protesters, including those from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to join in voting against the government. O'Flynn frames a vote of no confidence as the route to force a general election.
Context and tone
The address is confrontational and aimed at mobilising colleagues and citizens dissatisfied with housing and waiting-list issues referenced in the speech. O'Flynn's language is pointed, naming ministers and controversial remarks to underline his charge that the government serves itself, not ordinary people.
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Transcript
This government has left down those in Plantar, it has left down those farmers, it has left down taxi drivers, it has left down the hauliers, it has left down contractors and fishermen, and it has left down the ordinary people, the ordinary people that this government say they represent and that they say they live amongst. The reality is they've blamed Trump for absolutely everything. We've heard government get up and stand about Trump. Donald Trump isn't in charge of Nora, he's not in charge of the carbon tax in this country, he's not in charge of that in this country, and he's not in charge of excise. What did Sean Canney do? He said go out and walk or go out and cycle. What did big Jim James Bond himself go out and do? He said we'll turn the army on our own citizens, which is reminiscent of something that you would hear in South America. It is reminiscent of a Pyrrhonist. And then we have the man that turned away from the woman in Kenturk not so long ago during this election and we didn't want to hear. And all of a sudden he's gaslighting the country saying he's concerned. He's concerned about the 900,000 people on waiting lists all of a sudden. He's concerned about the 60,000 people on housing lists. He's concerned about the 116,000 people that are waiting for HAP. That's what this government is concerned about. You're concerned about nothing, only serving yourselves. And I applaud Deputy Healey Ray and I say well done to him for having a bit of backbone. And if those that turned up at the protests down in Whitegate or anywhere else in the country, in Fianna Fáil, in Fine Gael, that turned up there and said we're witchy lads and we're going to get rid of Michal in a couple of weeks. If any of you have any bit of backbone, join with Healey Ray and vote against this government and let's call the election. Thank you.