Charles Ward: 'Absolute disgrace' - Govt ignored Donegal
Charles Ward condemns the absence of the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach and announces he will vote a motion of no confidence over the government's failure to deliver redress for Donegal. He accuses ministers of arrogance and abandoning families affected by defective concrete and long delays.
Absence of leadership: Ward opened by calling the absence of the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach "an absolute disgrace," saying their failure to attend summed up what he called the arrogance and ignorance of government ministers. He argued that ministers are not listening to Donegal.
Redress and human cost: Ward reminded the chamber he was elected 17 months ago on a promise to secure 100% redress for the people of Donegal. He said families have suffered for 14 years, schemes have failed, and that there have been tragic consequences including suicide linked to defective concrete.
Community pressure and anger: Ward said last week was "the final straw" when he accused the government of turning on their own citizens and then issuing what he called propaganda. He described people in Donegal who cannot afford to heat their homes and who feel abandoned.
Political response: Ward concluded by saying he will vote a motion of no confidence in the government and urged independents and the Lowry group to do the same, framing the vote as a response to long-standing failings on redress for Donegal.
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The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach aren't here. It's an absolute disgrace and it just sums up the arrogance and the ignorance of them, particularly the many issues that we've got going on in Donegal. I was elected in here 17 months ago on the mandate of trying to deliver 100% redress for the people of Donegal and I've tried and tried to engage with them but it's like talking to a brick wall, pardon the pun, a brick wall, but they do not want to listen, they do not care about the people of Donegal, they never have. We've seen people die from suicide in Donegal with defective concrete, they don't give a damn about us, they have left us and abandoned us for years and years. 14 years we've waited, we've had two schemes that failed and then we have this. Last week was the final straw when we turned on our own, when the government turned on their own citizens on this street and then put out the propaganda that was certain elements of this. People are fed up, they do not have the money to heat in their houses. We've been left for years abandoned in Donegal and this government now are absolutely at the end of it in Donegal, we've had it. So the people of Donegal voted me in and I today will vote a vote of no confidence in this government and I will tell the independence, the Lowry's group to do the same, do the right thing. you
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