Richard O'Donoghue Presses Taoiseach on 'Ghost Candidate' Cost
Richard O'Donoghue addressed fundraising by vintage clubs and pressed the Taoiseach on whether taxpayers would have to reimburse the state if a withdrawn presidential candidate reached 12.5% of the vote. He criticised the budget's impact on working people and demanded clarity on whether the public would pay for what he called a 'ghost candidate'.
Vintage clubs and fundraising
He highlighted the Greybridge Classic Club's 15 years of activity, noting members including Louise Crowley, the youngest IFA chairperson, and outgoing Marklin Affirma president Niamh Houlton. He said the club and other vintage groups raise funds for charities such as the Cleona Foundation and Melford Hospice and cited the Cleona Foundation's reported €300,000 raised since its inception. He described an upcoming Christmas light run on 30 December in Nimerick as part of those fundraising efforts.
Question to the Taoiseach on election reimbursement
O'Donoghue asked the Taoiseach whether the government would be refunded if a candidate who had withdrawn from the presidential race still secured 12.5% of the vote, noting that members of the Taoiseach's own party had raised the concern. He framed the question in terms of taxpayer liability and accountability for running a candidate who later withdrew.
Budget and cost-of-living criticism
The speaker criticised the budget, saying it "gave nothing back to the working person" and had increased their tax burden amid the cost-of-living crisis. He repeatedly returned to the impact on vulnerable people and the expectations of club members and local communities who contribute to charity fundraising.
Response from the Taoiseach and closing exchange
The Taoiseach welcomed vintage clubs' community work, thanked them for fundraising, and outlined government measures addressing cost-of-living pressures, including increases in child support payments (€16 for a child over 12, €8 for a child under 12), extending the fuel allowance to the working family payment (covering about 26% of families), the free book scheme, hot school meals, a 9% VAT on electricity and gas, and increased capitation grants (€50 primary, €20 post-primary per pupil). The Taoiseach said public expenditure was prioritised for disability, child poverty and infrastructure, and noted legal rules on deposits and that the government could not comment on the Presidency. The exchange closed with O'Donoghue calling the Taoiseach's answer vague and reiterating his concern that taxpayers would ultimately pay.
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Today I have some great friends with me. I have been involved in the Greybridge Classic Club myself for the last 15 years and there are members in that. The youngest member that joined us is actually up there and she is actually the IFA chairperson and the youngest chairperson in the organisation at the moment, Louise Crowley, she is here with us as well. She has been involved in the Greybridge Club since we started out as a young person and is now secretary of our club as well. We also have the Marklin Affirma president and the outgoing president, Niamh Houlton, is here as well in the crowd here today. These people have been working around the area raising money for charities, for people in need. Cleona Foundation is one of the main beneficiaries of the Greybridge Classic Club. They have 300,000 raised since their existence. Every time they go out doing a run, we have a run on the 30th of December in Nimerick, a Christmas light run to raise money again for vulnerable people and the Cleona Foundation as well. Melford Hospice, all these, Cleona Foundation, Cleona Foundation, for raising money for them, for the help them in the efforts that they are doing. And they raise money and no matter who we ask when we are going around the county and all vintage clubs across the country are doing it. No matter when we ask, they put out, even if they have a few bob themselves, they come up with it and they support people that are vulnerable. At the time of cost of living, and this is a question for yourself, Taoiseach, we have the election of the President, and I am not going to mention any names. We have a candidate that has withdrawn from the race, and this is coming from members of your own party that are asking me this, and I need to ask you the question. If that candidate that has withdrawn gets 12.5% of the vote, the government, get reimbursed for the money they have spent to date, and the taxpayer of this country will end up having to pay for that. It comes out of the purse which is actually raised by taxpayers. Is that correct? They want to know that if he makes a certain percentage, even though he is not running for the presidency, does the taxpayer of Ireland pay for the mistake that was made running him in the first place, at the time of a cost of living, at the time of a budget that gave nothing back to the working person, actually increase their tax hold. This is the question that the members are asking, and your own members are asking at the time of a cost of living. They want to know, will you get refunded for putting up a ghost candidate? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy Chief. Could I first of all say, Deputy, I want to welcome all those who've come from Limerick and the Greybridge Vintage Club, and to vintage clubs all over the country who do a lot for charity. And we all have experienced that, summer festivals or whatever, and they bring a bit of excitement, colour and novelty to events, and then in the process, raise significant funding as well. And we thank you for that, and for the work that you're doing. I will not be able to join the run in Limerick closer to Christmas, but I'll do a swim on New Year's Day. That's my commitment. I'm not going to drive into the ocean with the tractor. But anyway, but I think it's wonderful, and it reflects the very strong value we have in the country of community, and I want to acknowledge that. Now, in the context of the cost of living, the government have taken a lot of measures, which I've outlined in response to an earlier question. In terms of particularly supporting families, and increasing the child support payment by €16 for a child over 12, and €8 for a child under 12. Extending the fuel allowance to the working family payment, which no means about 26% of families are covered by the fuel allowance. Continuing with the free book scheme, which is, I think, a huge savings for families. The hot school meals have been very effective for many, many families. And then we've kept a VAT on electricity and gas prices down to 9%. So we have done a lot in respect to the cost of living, but we've targeted it on this occasion. And we've allowed schools, for example, the highest ever capitation grants, which is €50 for primary, €20 for post-primary, which will help schools to meet the cost. That's per pupil now. We'll meet, I'm coming to it, don't worry, because you did mention the cost of living, and you mentioned the child. I'm going to deal it? No. Just as you've dealt with the question, I will reply to you in like fashion. And to say that what we did in the budget for raising public expenditure was to invest in services that matter to people. So we prioritised disability, we prioritised child poverty, we prioritised infrastructure for more roads, more rail, more buses, schools, healthcare facilities across the board, which matters to people. Okay? Now, in fairness to you, you left Fianna Fáil a long time ago. You're now an independent. Your concern for our members is touching. But I respectfully suggest we will deal with that within our party in terms of the issues. The law is the law in respect of, you know, deposits in return and all that. And the people will decide, and I know we can't comment. You're out of time. We can't comment either on the Presidency. Now, you're out of time, and I'd ask you to respond if you can come back in, Taoiseach. Yeah, I can come back in again. I mean, it is. Thank you Taoiseach for your vague answer. So bottom line is the taxpayer will pay regardless of the fund. The vintage clubs are very, very close to me for one reason. The vintage clubs are very important to me for one reason, as well as the men's sheds and everyone else, and the women's sheds. So what they do is, while they're, the vintage clubs look after our ancestors and our past, and use it for the present to raise funds. That's what they do. You're right Taoiseach, I did leave Fianna Fáil a good number of years ago, and I'm no independent Ireland, a political party for the people of Ireland, which gives me a voice which I hadn't within the party, and I keep using that voice. But the question I've asked you, and I want a clear answer. Will the taxpayers of Ireland have to pay for the tendency that's not running? With the laws that are in place, is it the taxpayers that pay? Thank you, Taoiseach to respond. You just answered it, with the laws that are in place. The law is the law. That's it. I admire your commitment to vintage clubs and men's sheds, and women's sheds as well. I've had a spin in Jack Lynch's car myself. We've enjoyed all of that. But the juxtaposition of vintage men's sheds and women's sheds with the presidency and the rules that apply is perplexing me, I have to say. But it's a very novel way to come around the subject matter. But the law is the law, Deputy. And people are entitled to vote in whatever way they want to vote. And if that means deposits are saved or whatever return, so be it. That's it. But people I don't think vote on that basis. People don't vote on that basis. It's not normal for me to comment, but I too would like to endorse vintage clubs. I attended a charity vintage run on Sunday. There were 638 vehicles. That's a huge offering of a charitable contribution to any community. So well done, and particularly to my clubs in Wexford. I now move to the spirits that are not the liquor crowd, people. I am trying to open up coasts if you can't believe me. But my club is a big place that is a 노력 in my country for the community. And that's what I do now. I was going to say. I was going to say. So I do know what I mean for you. And I don't have to do too much here. I live in my life. So you've got to just form a relationship in the light in your city. I'm going to say. So , you know what I do now. I were looking for this. I've got to say. Well, I'm going to say. I've got to be the right to say. So, I'm going to say. So I don't suit you.
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