Outburst after Gogarty supports ‘unfair’ cuts
Although his intention was to defend the budget measures as necessary, the Green education spokesman did his party colleagues and coalition partners Fianna Fáil no favours with his two speeches on the issue.
Both were made during the heated debate on the social welfare bill, the legislation which will give effect to cuts for the unemployed, carers, the disabled and other welfare recipients.
In his first contribution on Thursday night, Mr Gogarty admitted the public pay and welfare cuts were unfair, but said they were necessary because the economy was “screwed”.
He also appeared to suggest that hitting the poorest on social welfare was preferable to alternatives such as an even greater public sector pay cut or hitting the middle classes for more taxes.
“The public sector cuts, I believe, are fundamentally unfair but absolutely necessary. That is the problem. It has to be done. Social welfare – taking back something you’ve given to vulnerable people is fundamentally wrong in my view.
“[But] if you don’t take from the third of the entire budget that social welfare makes up – if you don’t take from that sector – you’re going to be putting more pain on the public sector and more pain on those on middle incomes and people are paying a fair whack of money [already]. So as unfair as it may be, it’s absolutely necessary…
“No one likes a bad Santa coming and taking stuff back. That is the reality. So do I like it? I absolutely don’t, but I’m bloody well damn here going to vote for it, because I believe it’s fundamentally the right thing to do.”
His second contribution came yesterday afternoon – and left fellow TDs stunned by the vehemence of his attack on Labour TD Emmet Stagg.
Mr Stagg and other opposition politicians had been urging Mr Gogarty to vote against the cuts if he believed they were unfair. When Mr Stagg suggested the Green TD was not being very sincere about the issue, Mr Gogarty exploded.
“With all due respect, in the most unparliamentary language, fuck you Deputy Stagg. Fuck you,” he shouted.
He immediately apologised to the House, but added: “I am outraged that someone dares question my sincerity on this issue. I don’t like what has to be done, but I’m going to take the responsibility and get it on the chin and get the unpopularity and lose my seat because it is the only thing we can do to get this country out of the state we are in.”
Mr Gogarty returned to the House a short time later and apologised a second time. But Fine Gael argued he should have been suspended from the House because of his behaviour.
