Paul Murphy on 'stroke politics' and Lowry-O'Brien scandal
Paul Murphy criticised the government for 'stroke politics' and accused Michael Lowry of acting as a kingmaker backed by Dennis O'Brien. He argued the government now serves wealthy interests and said that is worsening the housing and health crises.
Parliamentary confrontation
Murphy said an attempt by the government to effectively steal time from the opposition was blocked yesterday and thanked colleagues in the Dáil for opposing what he called 'stroke politics'.
Expansion of ministerial posts and expenses
He highlighted the creation of three extra junior ministers and an additional super junior minister, noting roughly €30,000 extra in expenses for each of them. Murphy said discussions around the programme for government appeared focused on how many 'snouts' could be fit at the public trough.
Allegations concerning Lowry and O'Brien
Murphy accused Michael Lowry of being the Dáil's 'kingmaker' and said Lowry was brought into a position of considerable power by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. He alleged that while Lowry was Minister for Communications he received £447,000 from Dennis O'Brien and in return ensured O'Brien won the competition for a mobile phone licence, which O'Brien later sold for £300 million.
Consequences for housing and health
Murphy argued the government will run the country in the interests of the O'Briens, the Michael O'Leary's, and other billionaires and multimillionaires. He linked that influence to a worsening housing crisis and a worsening health crisis, saying the government represents those who profit from these problems rather than those who suffer from them.
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If you're curious about the pressing questions shaping Ireland today, this is the video for you. Yesterday, stroke politics met robust opposition and the outrageous attempt to effectively steal time from the opposition by the government was blocked. Thank you Deputy, please. But that's not the only stroke of this government. We have the three extra junior ministers, we have an extra super junior minister, and we have about 30,000 euros extra in expenses for each of them. It has become clear that the focus of the discussions on the programme for government were really more focused in on how many snouts could be fit at the public trough. These strokes are engineered for and organised by the so-called kingmaker of the Dáil of the government, Michael Lowry. A politician brought into a position of considerable power by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. A politician who is profoundly corrupt. When Lowry was a Fine Gael Minister for Communications, he received £447,000 from Dennis O'Brien. In return, Lowry made sure that O'Brien won the competition for a mobile phone licence. When O'Brien later sold it, he made £300 million. Does this matter? Absolutely. Because while Lowry is the kingmaker, O'Brien is the puppet master. This government will run the country in the interests of the O'Briens, the Michael O'Leary's, and the other billionaires and multimillionaires. When people ask, why is the housing crisis getting worse? Why is the health crisis getting worse? It's because the government represents those who profit from these crises, not those who suffer from them. Thank you, Deputy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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