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Post your questions for Paul Gogarty TD here.

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    #92
    seaniedearg
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32 ✭seaniedearg


    Paul Gogarty, would you agree with david mcwilliams' view in todays independant

    that some international debt forgiveness is essential for Ireland so that Ireland can survive:

    http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/david-mcwilliams/david-mcwilliams-debt-forgiveness-is-our-only-chance-of-recovery-2376124.html


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    #93
    Johnny Utah
    Registered Users Posts: 2,157 ✭✭✭Johnny Utah


    Do you think it's laughable that some Green ministers cycle to work with the State car driving right behind them?


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    #94
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 8,816 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    I hope I'm posting in the right place to request this. Could those fielding the questions to Deputy Gogarty link back to the question where it was originally asked. i.e. post link?

    Am I also in the right place to provide feedback on questions being put? For example bijapos posted a long question with this as part of it:-
    2. Look at the damage the green party has done to two areas in which they had an influence :
    (B) The silly subsidised "cycle to work" scheme, where high income people can effectively get their cycling hobby subsidised. I was talking to one cycle shop owner recently, and he said the bulk of people who availed of this scheme were health board workers, school + college staff etc ie public sector workers. Often they spent 600 to 1000 euro , but the interesting thing he said was that they use the bicycles for triathlons / recreation / weekend trips etc, not cycling to work. Why should the taxpayer subsidise this sport ?

    Surely questions based on a conversation with a bloke who knows a bloke should not be asked.


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    #95
    Sparks
    Registered Users Posts: 40,055 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    For the NAMA thread:

    There is a growing number of people who feel an enormous amount of anger at what has happened in the Irish economy in the last few years, from the Government's pooh-poohing of accurate analysis of the problem by economic experts two to four years ago, to the controversial and decried decision of the Government to bail out a private bank with public funds, to the austerity measures this policy decision requires. At what point do you think that that anger will manifest in civil protests or otherwise, and what, if anything, do you think will be the response?


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    #96
    FoxT
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,204 ✭✭✭FoxT


    Hi, I am married with children, living in Cork, aged in my forties.

    I believe the Green party has done a poor job in Government. It will be remembered for

    - Ban on stag hunting & mink farming
    - Irrational road tax regime
    - Gormley's outburst regarding vehicles with commercial tax discs
    - Poolbeg incinerator situation is out of control. Ireland needs an incinerator ( & I would have welcomed one at Ringaskiddy) - but NOT in a location where every truck load of rubbish has to be carted to it via Dublin city centre.

    I want the GP to be successful - so that as a voter I have more choice. So far I am very disappointed.

    My question is - How do you think the Green party can recover from this, to be seen as a viable party for which to vote?

    regards,

    - FoxT


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    #97
    kevteljeur
    Registered Users Posts: 1,287 ✭✭✭kevteljeur


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Thats a silly anti lisbon question.No one and no country that has to borrow money in circumstances where banks don't want to lend it for fear of not getting it back, has economic sovereignty.
    Thats always been the way since the dinosaurs.

    Economic sovereignity in that case has been ceded by the eejits spending what they don't have.
    I would suggest not wasting this opportunity with superfluous makey uppy anti lisbon,anti EU nonsense like that.
    Questions like why Neary's pension is more than Ben Bernanke's salary are way more pertinent and how do the greens stand over it.


    [mind you does anyone seriously expect kenny or gilmore to shave taoiseachs and ministers salaries when they get into power... hypocrites].

    Sorry for getting back to this so late (didn't have the chance to get back sooner) but I can't let this pass without a response:

    Black Briar, I can assure you that I'm very much of a pro-Europe, pro-intervention stance; my question is a challenge on the notion of TDs continuously flinging about the words 'sovereignty' and 'patrotism' as if we have this complete independence which we may lose if we don't keep the status quo, and then pass the budget. I would like to understand better Paul's statements on this, and the TD mindset since I had always credited the Green Party with a slightly more grounded approach to it.

    I would like to see them call a spade a spade, and either say that we no longer have true economic sovereignty, or explain why he can't say it (which is probably the best I can hope for). I full accept the nature of the budget and the necessity of passing it. Just not the hysteria.

    I'm definitely not of the 'tin-foil hat', 'Let's leave the EU and get rich on our oil/gas-reserves' colour, I'm actually slightly horrified if the phrasing of my question puts me in that light.



    k


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    #98
    Dublindave2
    Registered Users Posts: 24 ✭Dublindave2


    Given our precarious economic position, and NAMA's instruction to Johnny Ronan to stop making charity donations from his business to maximise the amount of money it recovers on the loans which it has acquired. Or maybe they should have said, stop giving away money that isn’t yours, that we are having to borrow, do you think Ireland should continue to contribute €950m each year to overseas aid, even though we will have to borrow every cent.


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    #99
    NullZer0
    Registered Users Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭NullZer0


    maxwell smart wrote: »
    My question for Deputy Gogarty would be:

    Why is the government and the public/civil service not run as a business, with real accountability, where people who make mistakes are reprimanded, where fraud is punished and where performance is measured against strict targets? (Like in the real world).

    What he said.


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    #100
    bijapos
    Registered Users Posts: 3,003 ✭✭✭bijapos


    mewso wrote: »
    Am I also in the right place to provide feedback on questions being put? For example bijapos posted a long question with this as part of it:-



    Surely questions based on a conversation with a bloke who knows a bloke should not be asked.

    I know, but I'm not sure how much editing of the questions I should do.


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    #101
    mewso
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 8,816 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    bijapos wrote: »
    I know, but I'm not sure how much editing of the questions I should do.

    I think you are within your rights to edit a question as you see fit pointing out why.


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    #102
    Eric Cartman
    Registered Users Posts: 26,283 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    On the issue of motor tax , your party's co2 tax band system has created a situation where everyone in Ireland has moved over to buying diesel cars , and in the case of some manufacturers and models petrol variations are no longer for sale . Do you think we will end up like northern Ireland in having diesel more expensive than petrol due to demand . And secondly do you yourself drive a car ? If so which tax band is it in


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    #103
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,693 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    I would like to ask the Deputy why the Green Party have changed their stance on providing Ireland with an Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV)? The lack of an ETV has been highlighted in the past by the Green Party (source)
    The Green Party has repeatedly raised concerns with both the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Marine about their decision not to invest in an ocean going emergency towing vessel.

    This topic has been highlighted by other environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth.

    This is at a time when Minister Killeen announces Government approval to finalise negotiations for the purchase of Two New Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). (source)

    The money is there, but why have the Green Party shirked their responsibility of ensuring Ireland has a means of protecting its coastline, people and environment as was previously their stance?


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    #104
    whatawaster
    Registered Users Posts: 12,906 ✭✭✭✭whatawaster


    On healthcare (though it certainly applies to education and all other areas of the public service also)


    Shouldn’t the government look at bringing salaries and numbers in health sector down, instead of attacking frontline services, closing wards and hurting patients?


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    #105
    ei.sdraob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,376 ✭✭✭ei.sdraob


    my question to the deputy based on his reply
    PaulGogartyTD wrote:
    In a nutshell, we have limited economic sovereignty remaining. If we go to the markets in January for more loans to pay for wages, social welfare and service without having put a credible four year plan in place, along with another tough budget

    Why has it taken 2 years while the country continues to go backwards (while other countries are out of the recession and growing) to realise that we need a credible plan?
    We had other "credible" plans before such as NAMA (promised to get lending again and so on) and this has already proven to be a failure (As predicted by many independent economists). So what will make this plan any more "credible" in front of the people of this country and the world at large from who we need investment.

    And thank you deputy for taking time to interact with the people here on boards :) now if only more TDs embraced the tools of the "knowledge economy" they like to speak so fondly of :).


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    #106
    Yitzhak Rabin
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7,225 ✭✭✭Yitzhak Rabin


    I've posted this in the public NAMA thread, but there doesn't seem to be much traffic there, so I'll just repost it here.

    If someone could put this question to Mr. Gogarty I would appreciate it:

    What is your opinion on the recently exposed practice of major developers involved with Anglo Irish bank, including its former chairman Sean Fitzpatrick, transferring their assets to their spouses, in order to avoid repossession of said assets?

    Given that Anglo Irish Bank, and NAMA, are owned by the taxpayer, do you not agree that all of its transactions should be completely transparent. To that effect, the names, business interests and properties of those involved with the process should be freely available to the media, and the public.

    If you agree with the above, what do you specifically plan to do about it as one of our elected representatives?


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    #107
    ei.sdraob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,376 ✭✭✭ei.sdraob


    yekahs wrote: »
    I've posted this in the public NAMA thread, but there doesn't seem to be much traffic there, so I'll just repost it here.

    If someone could put this question to Mr. Gogarty I would appreciate it:

    What is your opinion on the recently exposed practice of major developers involved with Anglo Irish bank, including its former chairman Sean Fitzpatrick, transferring their assets to their spouses, in order to avoid repossession of said assets?

    Given that Anglo Irish Bank, and NAMA, are owned by the taxpayer, do you not agree that all of its transactions should be completely transparent. To that effect, the names, business interests and properties of those involved with the process should be freely available to the media, and the public.

    If you agree with the above, what do you specifically plan to do about it as one of our elected representatives?

    Yes thank you! That is one very important point being made and discussed here on boards before. Why is there so much secrecy surrounding NAMA?

    Even if it is too late to rollback NAMA, we are where we are :(. It is not too late to make the whole process more open and transparent.

    I and others have expressed concerns before that NAMA due to the money and power involved will be rife for waste and corruption (Corruption arises when an entity is entrusted with power/money but has no oversight by the people), and most likely will result in more tribunals decade from now.

    The answer often given is that, NAMA has to respect commercial sensitivities. What about respecting the taxpayers and people of this country in whose names NAMA was implemented and who will have to suffer via increased taxation and reduced services.

    Our public representatives have created an organisation that the public has no insight into and has power and is working with billions of euro. What is wrong with that picture?


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    #108
    google faps
    Closed Accounts Posts: 112 ✭✭google faps


    Question: Do you think there is a point where someone is too grown up to use social networking sites like, say, twiter?


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    #109
    jad2007
    Registered Users Posts: 165 ✭✭jad2007


    What is the Deputys opinion on serial planning objections.. I am from Waterford and I believe that the economic development of the city was blighted by a serial planning objector who was a member of the Green party.


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    #110
    Sparks
    Registered Users Posts: 40,055 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    For the general questions thread:

    Most of the questions asked thus far have been questions with answers which are in the same category as most posts on boards.ie - which is to say, that the only answers you can give as a TD are your opinions on what 165 other TDs should do to resolve the issue, and obviously you cannot hold them to your opinion on what should be done.

    So I would like to ask, in the time remaining in this Government, what your specific goals are for national level (not local level) issues and policies. What legislative changes do you hope to bring forward, which do you intend to oppose, and what is the minimum level of achievement with respect to those goals that you would consider to be success?


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    #111
    Laminations
    Registered Users Posts: 4,693 ✭✭✭Laminations


    The deputy responds to a question on Patrick Nearys salary in comparison to Ben Bernecke's by simply saying 'that was the agreed amount'. This says nothing as to whether he thinks Neary deserved such a salary or now deserves such a large pension, for what was essentially failure to regulate. Neary said on Primetime that all our banks were adequately capitalised and in need of no help!!

    So does the deputy think that something should and could be done to tax the pensions of high paid public servants who screw up so royally?


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    #112
    Anonymous1987
    Closed Accounts Posts: 784 ✭✭✭Anonymous1987


    Just a general green topic question; What is the green party stance on nuclear power in Ireland? Do they see it as a favourable economically viable alternative source of energy or not and why?


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    #113
    Naz_st
    Registered Users Posts: 391 ✭✭Naz_st


    With regard to the the Deputy's reply to the NAMA question:
    Well, let's start off by saying that I think NAMA was entirely necessary. If you accept that the banks needed to bailed out/recapitalised (and some people don't), then NAMA is simply a way of getting loans at a very low interest rate to take debt off the books, along with associated "performing" assets. There is a possibility that NAMA will make a profit over a ten year period. But even if it doesn't, it will still work out cheaper than nationalisation and safer than letting the system collapse in the first place.

    First off, NAMA being "necessary" in the context of "accept[ing] that the banks needed to be bailed out/recapitalised" fails to take into account the other options available to the government at the time. Would Deputy Gogarty like to expand on this in reference to the analysis done on the other options available at the time?

    Second, how exactly is NAMA "simply a way of getting loans at a very low interest rate to take debt off the books" in the context of the taxpayer (given the very high cost of borrowing for sovereign debt)?

    Third, the "possibility" of NAMA making a profit over a ten year period seems, to put it mildly, remote (especially when even the Dept of Finance itself recently issued statements that seem to be softening the public up for the lack of profit potential). Does the deputy genuinely believe that NAMA will make a profit, and is there any current evidence to back this belief up?

    Fourthly, NAMA working out "cheaper than nationalisation" is an interesting assertion - from what data is this assertion being made?

    Finally, the general tone of the Deputy's response was that NAMA was either the only option or the best option for the government to choose, but a number of experts seem to directly contradict this view, including, to name a few: the IMF URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0422/1224245137788.html"]here[/URL], [URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0208/1224263954908.html"]here[/URL, Morgan Kelly URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0522/1224270888132.html"]here[/URL, Karl Whelan URL="http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2009/08/20/indo-op-ed-there-is-no-alternative/"]here[/URL, Constantin Gurdgiev URL="http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2009/08/nama-30-real-alternative.html"]here[/URL and independent banking expert Peter Matthews, both in the Independent recently URL="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/no-minister-nama-can-be-dismantled-2280492.html"]here[/URL, the Irish times URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0909/1224278513715.html"]here[/URL and at the Finance committee recently URL="http://www.thepropertypin.com/viewtopic.php?p=410612&sid=e6f58950f9e99c214809244df56b6415#p410612"]here[/URL. In the face of the wealth of qualified experts disagreeing with the governments NAMA approach to the banking crisis, along with the political backlash that accompanies the public perception of "bailing out the fatcats who got us into this mess" - is the deputy still sure that NAMA was the right approach both economically and politically?


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    #114
    John Lennon Peace Love and FF
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭John Lennon Peace Love and FF


    Hey man are you going in with FF again next election?


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    #115
    V1llianous
    Registered Users Posts: 845 ✭✭✭V1llianous


    Where does Mr Gogarty and the Green Party stand on the Dept. of Education's bulldozing plan to remove the widely proven beneficial ABA teaching for Autistic children and replace it with an unproven system using non-specialised teachers in an Eclectic programme.


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    #116
    Scofflaw
    Registered Users Posts: 23,283 ✭✭✭✭Scofflaw


    John Lennon Peace Love and FF wrote: »
    Hey man are you going in with FF again next election?

    TrollBGone.

    moderately,
    Scofflaw


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    #117
    johnnyskeleton
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 14,465 Mod ✭✭✭✭johnnyskeleton


    Naz_st wrote: »
    With regard to the the Deputy's reply to the NAMA question:



    First off, NAMA being "necessary" in the context of "accept[ing] that the banks needed to be bailed out/recapitalised" fails to take into account the other options available to the government at the time. Would Deputy Gogarty like to expand on this in reference to the analysis done on the other options available at the time?

    Second, how exactly is NAMA "simply a way of getting loans at a very low interest rate to take debt off the books" in the context of the taxpayer (given the very high cost of borrowing for sovereign debt)?

    Third, the "possibility" of NAMA making a profit over a ten year period seems, to put it mildly, remote (especially when even the Dept of Finance itself recently issued statements that seem to be softening the public up for the lack of profit potential). Does the deputy genuinely believe that NAMA will make a profit, and is there any current evidence to back this belief up?

    Fourthly, NAMA working out "cheaper than nationalisation" is an interesting assertion - from what data is this assertion being made?

    Finally, the general tone of the Deputy's response was that NAMA was either the only option or the best option for the government to choose, but a number of experts seem to directly contradict this view, including, to name a few: the IMF URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0422/1224245137788.html"]here[/URL], [URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0208/1224263954908.html"]here[/URL, Morgan Kelly URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0522/1224270888132.html"]here[/URL, Karl Whelan URL="http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2009/08/20/indo-op-ed-there-is-no-alternative/"]here[/URL, Constantin Gurdgiev URL="http://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2009/08/nama-30-real-alternative.html"]here[/URL and independent banking expert Peter Matthews, both in the Independent recently URL="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/no-minister-nama-can-be-dismantled-2280492.html"]here[/URL, the Irish times URL="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0909/1224278513715.html"]here[/URL and at the Finance committee recently URL="http://www.thepropertypin.com/viewtopic.php?p=410612&sid=e6f58950f9e99c214809244df56b6415#p410612"]here[/URL. In the face of the wealth of qualified experts disagreeing with the governments NAMA approach to the banking crisis, along with the political backlash that accompanies the public perception of "bailing out the fatcats who got us into this mess" - is the deputy still sure that NAMA was the right approach both economically and politically?

    That's bizzare. We both posted almost identical, fairly long posts, covering the exact same issues and with 5 almost idential questions (the last being slightly different) within the space of 2 minutes of each other.


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    #118
    Naz_st
    Registered Users Posts: 391 ✭✭Naz_st


    johnnyskeleton wrote: »
    That's bizzare. We both posted almost identical, fairly long posts, covering the exact same issues and with 5 almost idential questions (the last being slightly different) within the space of 2 minutes of each other.

    :) Yeah, I noticed that as well, just after I posted. I only put the effort in because there wasn't already a direct response on the thread, then I saw yours just after I posted! If I'd waited the half hour or so I spent writing it, I'd not need to have bothered since you have it covered!


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    #119
    BehindTheScenes
    Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭BehindTheScenes


    Hi lads

    I just wanted to propose a question to ask Paul. If the greens were in opposition and FF had legislated exactly as they have to date with another party would Paul have criticised it or supported it?

    If he would have criticised it why is he doing what he is doing, or, if he had supported it what need is there for his party in the Daíl as there would be no credible opposition.

    Thanks.


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    #120
    Slydice
    Registered Users Posts: 10,501 ✭✭✭✭Slydice


    Slydice wrote: »
    Q3: How does he feel about having voted to shackle the Irish people with 100b legacy of debt? URL="http://twitter.com/brianmlucey/statuses/25977679606"]1[/URL URL="http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2010/09/30/banking-statement-by-minister-of-finance/#comment-78337"]2[/URL

    anyone gonna ask him this?


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    #121
    unknown13
    Registered Users Posts: 6,659 ✭✭✭unknown13


    What is the Green Party's view on 3rd level fees?


This discussion has been closed.
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