Paul Murphy Blasts 'Kingmaker' Lowry for Government Influence
Paul Murphy criticised the government for 'stroke politics' and accused Michael Lowry of acting as a 'kingmaker' who, together with businessmen Denis O'Brien and Michael O'Leary, shapes government decisions to benefit wealthy interests. He condemned new ministerial appointments and additional expenses as evidence that patronage is prioritised over public need.
Murphy said an attempt by the government to effectively 'steal time' from the opposition was blocked, calling the tactic 'stroke politics' that met robust opposition from other deputies.
He listed three extra junior ministers, an extra super junior minister, and about 30,000 euros in extra expenses for each, arguing the programme for government was focused on appointments and payouts rather than public services.
Murphy named Michael Lowry as the 'kingmaker' and described him as 'profoundly corrupt'. He stated that when Lowry was a Fine Gael minister for communications he received £447,000 from Denis O'Brien, secured O'Brien the mobile phone licence competition, and that O'Brien later made £300 million when he sold it.
Murphy argued that while Lowry is the kingmaker, O'Brien is the 'puppet master', and that the government will run the country in the interests of the O'Briens, Michael O'Leary, and other billionaires and multi-millionaires. He tied this influence to worsening housing and health crises, saying the government represents those who profit from crises rather than those who suffer from them.
Murphy also stated that Lowry was brought into a position of considerable power by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, framing the appointments and alleged deals as part of an established political arrangement.
Opposition action
Murphy said an attempt by the government to effectively 'steal time' from the opposition was blocked, calling the tactic 'stroke politics' that met robust opposition from other deputies.
New ministerial posts and expenses
He listed three extra junior ministers, an extra super junior minister, and about 30,000 euros in extra expenses for each, arguing the programme for government was focused on appointments and payouts rather than public services.
Allegations of corruption and influence
Murphy named Michael Lowry as the 'kingmaker' and described him as 'profoundly corrupt'. He stated that when Lowry was a Fine Gael minister for communications he received £447,000 from Denis O'Brien, secured O'Brien the mobile phone licence competition, and that O'Brien later made £300 million when he sold it.
Wealthy interests and policy consequences
Murphy argued that while Lowry is the kingmaker, O'Brien is the 'puppet master', and that the government will run the country in the interests of the O'Briens, Michael O'Leary, and other billionaires and multi-millionaires. He tied this influence to worsening housing and health crises, saying the government represents those who profit from crises rather than those who suffer from them.
Political origins of influence
Murphy also stated that Lowry was brought into a position of considerable power by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, framing the appointments and alleged deals as part of an established political arrangement.
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Transcript
Yesterday, stroke politics met robust opposition, and the outrageous attempt to effectively steal time from the opposition by the government was blocked. But that is 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 and the programme for government were really more focused in on how many snouts could be fit at the public trough. And these strokes are engineered for and organised by the so-called kingmaker of the doll 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 Denis O'Brien. In return, Lowry made sure that O'Brien won the competition for a mobile phone licence, and 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 multi-millionaires. When people ask why is the housing crisis getting worse, why is the health crisis getting worse, it is because the government represents those who profit from these crises, not those who suffer from them. Thank you, Deputy.