Our first year in review
* BRENDAN GRIFFIN (Kerry South)
Q. How would you describe the Government’s first year?
A. I think overall it was a reasonably good year, but the reality is we have almost 450,000 on the Live Register and that’s a gauge of the problems that we face. In the context of the huge mess that we inherited, I think that we have done very well, but it’s like arriving at base camp at Everest — there’s a still a hell of a long way to go.
Q. Highlight of your own first year?
A. In a way, for me, it was the great camaraderie you build up with your colleagues... which makes the job much easier. That and the general attitude of the people in the constituency. People are amazing, despite everything — despite the austerity and the difficulties we face.
Q. Greatest disappointment?
A. The fact that the unemployment figures are remaining stubbornly high is probably the ultimate disappointment. Now, there are measures being taken to tackle that issue, but I feel that we need to put more focus on stimulating the domestic economy. It’s very difficult in a situation where you’re trying to reduce the Government deficit... but we need perhaps to be a bit more imaginative in how we approach that issue.
Q. How would you describe the Government’s handling of the household charge?
A. Any time a new tax needs to be introduced, it’s going to be very, very difficult. And perhaps there were mistakes made along the way, but at the same time, I think we’re moving close to the half mark now for registration. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who are not happy about the tax, they can’t afford the tax at the moment, but they will pay it.
Q. The minister you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I would have to say Simon Coveney.
Q. The Opposition figure you’ve been most impressed with?
A. Ed Miliband [laughs].
Q. Who’ll be the first minister overboard if there’s a Cabinet reshuffle?
A. They’re all doing an excellent job so I don’t envisage any rough waters any time soon!
* PAUDIE COFFEY (Waterford)
Q. How would you describe the Government’s first year?
A. In the overall scheme of things, I think the Government is doing quite well. It’s all about the hard yards now, and certainly we are taking positive steps forward, but we realise still that we’ve a mountain to climb.
Q. Highlight of your own first year?
A. I tell you, I’ve had a lot of disappointment. I’ll be honest about it: the first realisation of the scale of this problem hit me badly when the Talk Talk closure happened in Waterford. I was conscious of the drip-drip unemployment all along — we’ve had issues in our own family business — but I think when large-scale unemployment happens, it really undermines confidence... [But] I am pleased the Programme for Government is being enacted as quickly as possible — there is progress being made in some of those areas.
Q. Greatest disappointment?
A. See above.
Q. How would you describe the Government’s handling of the household charge?
A. There were difficulties at the start around the communication of it, not all entirely the Government’s fault. We had issues with the printers, we had issues with the distributors... It was in our manifesto that Fine Gael would introduce a property tax and water charges. It’s an unpopular tax and I recognise that, but I was a councillor for a number of years and our local authorities and local services were totally reliant on commercial rates and development levies — totally unsustainable.
Q. The minister you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I’m very impressed with Simon Coveney and how he has put agriculture to the top of his agenda... I am also impressed — even though he’s the ogre at the moment — with Phil Hogan. He has a very difficult story to tell and a very difficult policy to implement, and if it was me in the morning, I’m sure people would hate me as much as they hate Phil Hogan. But I’m standing by Phil Hogan and his decisions, and I’m impressed that he has stayed determined and focused.
Q. The Opposition figure you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I think Michael McGrath is a good guy.
Q. Who’ll be the first minister overboard if there’s a Cabinet reshuffle?
A. Oh God, I couldn’t comment on that!
* REGINA DOHERTY (Meath East)
Q. How would you describe the Government’s first year?
A. I’m very proud of what they have achieved so far, but it’s part one of a five-year plan. We are only at the start of fixing a very large mess, and it ain’t going to happen overnight.
Q. Highlight of your own first year?
A. Years ago my mother would always say to me that I had ants in my pants — I would never stay doing anything for long because I would get bored very easily unless I’m challenged. Well, this is an extremely challenging job... But it’s also very rewarding.
Q. Greatest disappointment?
A. It’s not really a criticism... [But] there have been some mistakes made obviously over the last year, and I would genuinely like to see a fresher approach to saying: “I’m not perfect, I did make a hames of something, I’ve really learned from it, and I will move on.”
Q. How would you describe the Government’s handling of the household charge?
A. If we were to start it again tomorrow, we would do it obviously very, very, very differently. But at the end of the day, I think most people in the country understand why we have to do what we’re doing.
Q. The minister you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I work extremely closely with James Reilly and I would have huge respect for him, just purely because of the passion he has in his belly. And I think Michael Noonan is just a genius, I really do.
Q. The Opposition figure you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I like Dara Calleary, because there’s a sincerity about him, it’s not just about scoring points. And Mary Lou McDonald — I don’t agree with a single word that comes out of her mouth but she is some operator and she impresses me every single time she stands up [to speak].
Q. Who’ll be the first minister overboard if there’s a Cabinet reshuffle?
A. I think the difficulty that you’re going to have... is that some of them may have to be stepped aside, not because they’re not great at their job and don’t have an awful lot to bring to the table, but because there are so many more chomping at the bit behind them!
* MARY MITCHELL O’CONNOR (Dun Laoghaire)
Q. How would you describe the Government’s first year?
A. I think there have been very positive moves. We’re repairing our relationship with the EU and various countries [and] we’re getting the banks back on track. I think and I’m hoping that the people are with us on this. I think the majority know that it’s a difficult job. But what’s defining us as well is that there are 450,000 people unemployed ... We’ve got to keep focused on that.
Q. Highlight of your own first year?
A. I really enjoyed when the Queen came to Ireland [because it showed] that we’ve matured. When she said “A Uachtaráin agus a chairde”, I think it buried a lot of old sentiments that we had towards England.
Q. Greatest disappointment?
A. To still see our young people emigrating.
Q. How would you describe the Government’s handling of the household charge?
A. We’ve made some mistakes and the minister in charge has said that. But we have to pay the household charge. I want to say thank you to the people who’ve paid... And there will be a fairer property tax brought in when the minister gets a chance.
Q. The minister you’ve been most impressed with?
A. The Taoiseach is number one, and I would say Michael Noonan as well. I would say he’s like the grandfather of the Dáil — and I hope he’s not insulted when I say that — but I just think he’s so capable and I have such confidence in him.
Q. The Opposition figure you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I must say I’m impressed by a lot of the women in the Dáil. To be fair, I think everyone that’s selected does their best. I’m not always going to agree with them, but I think the 166 of us work really hard.
Q. Who’ll be the first minister overboard if there’s a Cabinet reshuffle?
A. No idea — absolutely no idea!
* JERRY BUTTIMER(Cork South Central)
Q. How would you describe the Government’s first year?
A. The first year has been difficult from the point of view that it’s about implementing policies a lot of which are unpalatable but which are necessary to get the country back to work... I’m out knocking on doors and meeting people so I understand the difficulties people have balancing their household budgets and their personal finances... But we aren’t the same as the last government. There is a plan and there is I think internationally a recognition that we have a government now who are in charge.
Q. Highlight of your own first year?
A. Being made chairman of the Oireachtas Health Committee last July was a pleasant surprise. From a Government point of view... the Taoiseach himself has been a revelation. He’s a human dynamo, he’s full of enthusiasm, full of commitment to the job, and very people-focused.
Q. Greatest disappointment?
A. Breaching the salary cap for some of the ministerial advisors. Even though we have reduced the number of them and the overall cost [when compared to previous governments], I think we should have stuck to the salary cap.
Q. How would you describe the Government’s handling of the household charge?
A. I think there have been mistakes made on all sides of this argument. But it’s a necessary step to be taken. I would have preferred to have seen the direct debit mandate [payment] system continue, but I think in time people will recognise that we do need to have a property tax to maintain and provide and pay for local services.
Q. The minister you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I would have to say Simon Coveney has been very impressive. I’m working quite closely with James Reilly in health, and I think over the five years of the Government, he will be seen as a minister to have delivered on reform of the health services.
Q. The Opposition figure you’ve been most impressed with?
A. I think Michael McGrath has again shown his ability in the finance area, but I think the challenge for us in Government isn’t to focus on the opposition, it’s to focus on ourselves and communicating our message.
Q. Who’ll be the first minister overboard if there’s a Cabinet reshuffle?
A. It won’t be in this jurisdiction!
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