Menu
VideoParliament
VideoParliament Irish politics in one place — download the app
Get app
VideoParliament
VideoParliament for Windows Get the desktop app — notifications about new speeches
Get app
Paul Murphy: 'Government of the rich' abandons ordinary people

Paul Murphy: 'Government of the rich' abandons ordinary people

Paul Murphy criticised a new government he said will serve corporate landlords, developers and tax-avoiding corporations while leaving most people behind. He urged the left to rule out coalitions with Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael, advance left-wing eco-socialist policies, and prioritise housing, disability justice and sanctions via the Occupied Territories Bill.

Main critique


Paul Murphy said corporate landlords, big developers and tax-avoiding corporations will benefit from the new government while ordinary people suffer. He highlighted thousands queuing for food parcels, those spending Christmas in emergency accommodation, families waiting for necessary therapies for their children, and workers struggling to get by.

People in public services


He drew attention to nurses and medical scientists who felt compelled to vote for industrial action and called for the health crisis to be blamed at the top rather than at the bottom. The speaker warned against scapegoating asylum seekers or trans people for systemic problems.

Strategy for the left


Murphy urged the left to rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael and to put forward clear left-wing policies. He called for building mass movements outside of the stall to make a real difference and for political cooperation to prioritise the interests of ordinary people.

Policy priorities called for


He advocated a left government that implements eco-socialist policies to avert catastrophic climate change while improving people’s lives, and named disability justice and housing as immediate priorities. He also urged immediate implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill as a step toward comprehensive sanctions on Israel.

Closing tone


The speech closed with a defiant pledge that People before profit will oppose what he called a government of the rich every step of the way, followed by multilingual and reiterated parting words. The final lines included brief, non-sequential remarks before the address ended.

We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.

Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →

Transcript
Today the corporate landlords, the big developers, the tax avoiding corporations can breathe a sigh of relief. They are going to have a government that will serve their interests. But most people are being left behind. The thousands queuing for food parcels, those spending Christmas in emergency accommodation. The families waiting for necessary therapies for their children. The nurses and medical scientists who felt compelled to vote for industrial action. The ordinary workers who are struggling to get by. They are the people that I am here to represent. People before profit will fight against this government of the rich every single step of the way. What we need is a left government, one that represents the interests of the many instead of the wealthy few. One that implements eco-socialist policies to avert catastrophic climate change while improving people's lives. We will not get that today. But what should the left do now? Rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael. Put forward left-wing policies. No scapegoating of asylum seekers or trans people. Put the blame for the health crisis at the top, not those at the bottom. Work together to build mass movements outside of the stall that can make a real difference. For disability justice, for housing, to immediately implement the Occupied Territories Bill as a step to comprehensive sanctions on Israel. Gracias. Now again, hope to manage that to amend theoscópinizüses. Peace. Auction Santastics. Itội Cleaners. Peace. Peace. Peace. Peace. Bye. Bye.