Paul Murphy Demands Clarity on Government Support Agreements
Paul Murphy questioned which groupings are party to the Government and what formal agreements exist with them, asking whether references to "others who support the Government" referred to the Lowry Group and the Healy‑Ray Group. He pressed for clarity on whether non‑Minister members are obliged to vote with the Government or will do so on a case‑by‑case basis.
Paul Murphy asked which groupings are party to the Government and what specific agreements exist with them. He raised the possibility that the Lowry Group and the Healy‑Ray Group are the groupings referred to and queried who is meant by references to "others who support the Government".
He criticised the practice of referring to independent TDs by another person's surname as insulting, insisting they are independently elected representatives deserving individual recognition. He highlighted the presence of ministers and deputies sitting with the Cabinet and urged respect for the distinct mandates of regional independents.
He said there are no side deals beyond the Programme for Government, noting the programme is published on Gov.ie and asserting it will be implemented in full over the course of five years. He rejected the suggestion of additional undisclosed agreements and emphasised advancing the published programme.
He sought answers on whether members of those groupings who are not Ministers are expected to vote with the Government throughout the term or will do so on a case‑by‑case basis. He also asked whether there are any other aspects of agreement or arrangements relating to Government support that the House should be made aware of.
Main question
Paul Murphy asked which groupings are party to the Government and what specific agreements exist with them. He raised the possibility that the Lowry Group and the Healy‑Ray Group are the groupings referred to and queried who is meant by references to "others who support the Government".
Defence of independents
He criticised the practice of referring to independent TDs by another person's surname as insulting, insisting they are independently elected representatives deserving individual recognition. He highlighted the presence of ministers and deputies sitting with the Cabinet and urged respect for the distinct mandates of regional independents.
Position on the Programme for Government
He said there are no side deals beyond the Programme for Government, noting the programme is published on Gov.ie and asserting it will be implemented in full over the course of five years. He rejected the suggestion of additional undisclosed agreements and emphasised advancing the published programme.
Outstanding procedural points
He sought answers on whether members of those groupings who are not Ministers are expected to vote with the Government throughout the term or will do so on a case‑by‑case basis. He also asked whether there are any other aspects of agreement or arrangements relating to Government support that the House should be made aware of.
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Transcript
The programme for Government refers to all parties and groupings party to the Government. My question is very simple, which groupings are party to the Government and what agreements exist with them? Elsewhere, the programme refers to support resources being made available to quote others who support the Government, who is being referred to there. Am I right in assuming that the groupings referred to are the Lowry Group and the Healy-Ray Group and the others being referred to are those members of those groups who are not Ministers in the Government? What agreements exist? Is there an agreement that those members who are not in the Government will vote with the Government throughout the course of the term or is it that they will vote on a case-by-case basis? Are there any other aspects to this agreement that the House should be aware of and are there any other agreements in relation to Government support? Thank you, Deputy. It's honest. Firstly, I think it must be highly insulting to independent TDs who are independent TDs, democratically elected, just like you, in their own right, to be referred to by somebody else's surname. I think you should really stop that, Sergeant Carrier. No, no, sorry. Sorry, you don't need to back and forth. Last time I checked, they were called the regional independents. Minister Sean Canney here sits with us in Cabinet, Mr Greenish as well. I see Deputy Toole up there, so Deputy Heena and earlier Minister Boxer-Moore and soon-to-be Minister Harkin and the two Deputy Healy-Rate. You could actually recognise them as individuals in their own right and might actually respect the mandate of their constituents. Sorry, did you get one question or just to barrage me? So thank you. The next thing is this. There are no deals, if you want to call it the deals, called the Programme for Government. It's published on Gov.ie. It will be implemented in full over the course of five years. There are no other deals and we look forward to advancing it. Thank you. Sorry, Deputy. Regional group. The regional independent group. Excuse me. Sorry. Groupings are for you, actually. We've moved on the independent group. Deputy Padlet O'B. So be in place. Bermita Monk, at tarnche to... I have another... Tarnche to...