Post your questions for Paul Gogarty TD here.

orourkeda · 09-10-2010 10:38pm

goat2 wrote: »

why is the upper house ( senators) not called the failure to be elected by the people house

Not all senators failed to be elected as TD's. Arent a number of senators elected by certain university graduates

thebaldsoprano · 10-10-2010 12:13am

I'd like to know why there hasn't been full disclosure of Anglo's activities? It might be argued that details internal to a private company such as the identity of bondholders aren't normally disclosed, but then when a private company goes broke it normally closes down. It certainly doesn't go running to taxpayers looking for a bailout to the tune of 34 billion (or ~17,000 per taxpayer) and counting. From the POV of an ordinary taxpayer, this looks very much like a snub by a patrician political/financial elite.

Secondly, why haven't bondholders taken some of the pain? Your Government has been supporting a state of affairs where the financial elite get the best of both worlds while shoving the worst on taxpayers. They get to pocket gains from the risks they take while enjoying the benefits of anonymity, and taxpayers suffer the losses while being kept in the dark. An ordinary citizen making an investment has to read the small-print that usually includes "the value of your investment may go down as well as up" - this hasn't applied to those you've been protecting at our expense.

This leads to my last question - I'd like to know how you regard your Government as having acted primarily in the interests of the Irish people, rather than the financial elite? I suspect the amount spent on green and other initiatives from your party is easily dwarfed by the bailout of a single bank, suggesting the latter, and making these initiatives look like a few token gestures.

Scofflaw · 10-10-2010 12:47am

orourkeda wrote: »

Not all senators failed to be elected as TD's. Arent a number of senators elected by certain university graduates

Bunreacht:

Seanad Éireann shall be composed of sixty members, of whom eleven shall be nominated members and forty-nine shall be elected members.

4. 1° The elected members of Seanad Éireann shall be elected as follows:—

i Three shall be elected by the National University of Ireland.

ii Three shall be elected by the University of Dublin.

iii Forty-three shall be elected from panels of candidates constituted as hereinafter provided.

7. 1° Before each general election of the members of Seanad Éireann to be elected from panels of candidates, five panels of candidates shall be formed in the manner provided by law containing respectively the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely:–

i National Language and Culture, Literature, Art, Education and such professional interests as may be defined by law for the purpose of this panel;

ii Agriculture and allied interests, and Fisheries;

iii Labour, whether organised or unorganised;

iv Industry and Commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering and architecture;

v Public Administration and social services, including voluntary social activities.

2° Not more than eleven and, subject to the provisions of Article 19 hereof, not less than five members of Seanad Éireann shall be elected from any one panel.

cordially,
Scofflaw

jimmycrackcorm · 10-10-2010 1:07am

maynooth_rules wrote: »

Not an issue that directly relates to Paul Gogarty, but as a member of the Green party he is involved in bringing in this amendment. How does he feel about the Department of Education bringing in an amendment to allow completely unqualified teachers to teach in a classroom at a time where there are simply hundreds of unemployed teachers. Link

Bill Gates dropped out of college. No one would get a job in Microsoft without a degree so does that mean that companies should also not support people without formal qualifications?

Laminations · 10-10-2010 1:08am

My questions below, and whoever is delivering it would need to do so in parts so as to use his answers to trap him (although I'm aware PG is reading this thread and so he'll be prepared).

Was it right to let Roddy Molloy go from FAS and Patrick Neary go as financial regulator? Why?

Do you think they were incompetent and mismanaged their responsibilities?

Should they have been given full pensions plus golden handshake? And why hasn't the state taken a civil case against them for mismanagement and incompetence? Do you think it's right and fair they get rewarded for their failures?

So now can you apply the same reasoning to the current government? Why should you all remain in the job to finish out your contract? For gods sake the current Taoiseach was the minister for finance that fuelled the bubble! Do you think Cowen did a good job as minister for finance? Do you think it's right he's getting rewarded for it? Job promotion and pay rise, state car and driver for life?

Do you have any concept of accountability?

RATM · 10-10-2010 1:49am

Do you not feel that the problem of global yet warming is more likely to be solved by a scientific and technological break through rather than the lurch towards renewable energy's like wind and waves?

And what about nuclear fusion and helium 3? Do you not feel that these are more likely to be the main source of energy in the next 20-30 years? If so why are we going down the road of spending on alternative energy's that have yet to prove themselves financially?

gandalf · 10-10-2010 12:06pm

Are you as a member of the Green Party afraid that having thrown your hat in the ring of a Fianna Fail led Government that the Green Party are going to go into the wilderness like the previous "soldiers of destiny" prop the Progressive Democrats?

As a member of the national Parliament do you feel you or your colleagues are impeded by the expectations of your local constituents and are dragged into the realms and responsibilities of councillors? What changes do you feel are necessary so we can ensure our National Representatives are allowed to concentrate on facing national issues and planning for the future even when it may be at the detriment of their local constituents but in the overall national good?

At the last election a lot of the electorate had the expectation given the noises coming from the then leader that the party would not enter into power with Fianna Fail. This was obviously untrue and a lot of us felt we were deliberately mislead. Can you understand this and how would you counter this?

As a motorist I feel particularly let down by this Government given its Green Party component. All that seems to have happened is that taxes have gone up without any way to encourage people to change their behaviour. Do you agree with the view that the Green Party is now perceived as one that condones the raising of taxes without any alternatives specifically in the area of motoring?

Laminations · 10-10-2010 12:17pm

Do you think FF will sell you out before the next election and attempt to lay the lions share of the blame at the Greens feet, painting you as the party that love to tax and penalise. Willie O Dea already has it in for you

flutered · 10-10-2010 12:28pm

you claim to be doing patriotic work, you went to the garda about cahelly, would you not complain to the revenue people about the ahernes non compliance, and being in recipt of state payments while so.

bleg · 10-10-2010 1:59pm

In a world where population is increasing almost exponentially, is the Green Party stance on GMO sustainable?

Do you have a problem with inserting bits of code from one organism to another?

Is your stance on GMO based on the actual science involved in genetic modification or is it more to do with concern about companies owning life? If the patent law could be amended would you continue to oppose GMO?

timbel · 10-10-2010 2:37pm

Do you think that sitting TDs should be able to claim pensions?

Should TDs be able to claim multiple pensions (ministerial, etc) at the same time?

When is the government going to bring in real reform of the political system (not the half baked "reform" of expenses last budget)?

By this I mean,
- reducing the ratio of TDs to population
- fully vouched expenses
- 1 pension per TD which can only be claimed at retirement (this mean proper retirement, not finishing in the Dail and going back to work in the private sector, eg. as a non executive director of some board, etc)

southsiderosie · 10-10-2010 6:52pm

EU officials have raised the issue of Ireland's low corporate tax rate as an area that should be under review in the government's attempt to raise revenue. The US Chamber of Commerce immediately protested. On the tax issue, do you think revising it upwards is something that should be considered - if so, why and to what level, and if not, why?

More broadly, this is the first serious test of the EU and the euro since their creation. Yet historically Ireland has had much closer ties to the US and the UK, both of which have a more free-market laissez-faire approach to political economy, banking, business regulation and taxation in particular. Given that Ireland has deep historical and economic ties with the UK and the US, but today has close political and economic ties to Continental Europe, how do you see its relationships with its partners evolving over the next ten years?

Bonus Question: Speaking of Continental Europe, the Economist just ran an article on the German Green Party, highlighting their strong political position today. Yet the Irish Green Party appears to be for all intents and purposes on life support. Do you think that there is political "space" for a Green Party (or a future iteration) in Ireland, especially given its historical lack of a strong political left (as compared to the rest of Europe)?

Dempo1 · 10-10-2010 7:32pm

My Question is simple enough.

What are deputy Gogerty's career plans after the next election?

yoganmahew · 10-10-2010 8:12pm

- Is it still Green Party policy that NAMA is the only show in town?
- That it will improve liquidity in the banks?
- That it will pursue borrowers (and their wives where assets have been transferred) to their fullest ability to pay?
- That assets will not be sold back at a discount to the current holders of the loans? (With the difference written off).
- That NAMA will make a profit for the taxpayer?

- How much general government debt is manageable?
- 80% of GDP? 100%? 120%?

- Is it Green Party policy that the National Pensions Reserve Fund should be used to buy further equity stakes in the banks?

- What should bear the brunt of the budget balancing?
- Increased taxation or decreased spending?

etcetc · 10-10-2010 10:17pm

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).

to add to this

why is every important issue passed on to a firm of external consultants for their solution??
does this not render the civil service redundant or should we garner from this that the government has no confidence in the abilities of its own civil service department to deal with the issue
if this is so what are we paying them for?
how many qualified economists work in the civil service?

waster81 · 11-10-2010 11:04am

Why have the accountancy firms not been held to account , they signed off on Anglo , AIb accounts, yet no accountability.

Will still continue to hire the same accountancy firms to go into these banks, there is too cosy a link between them and the banks, they depend on the banks for their money so how independent are they.

Those developers, bankers etc who transferred assets to their wives will they be pursued for their debts and can their actions be reversed?

We realise that Social Welfare, Health and education make up majority of spending by government.

In relation to education where does Mr Gogarty and the green party believe cuts should be made? Some specifics .

seaniedearg · 11-10-2010 4:39pm

Laminations wrote: »

Do you think FF will sell you out before the next election and attempt to lay the lions share of the blame at the Greens feet, painting you as the party that love to tax and penalise. Willie O Dea already has it in for you

sounds like a good question alright

faceman · 11-10-2010 9:33pm

Deputy Gogarty, why does the government not insist that materials used in state building contracts be from from CERTIFIED sustainable sources?

Overheal · 12-10-2010 12:35am

faceman wrote: »

Deputy Gogarty, why does the government not insist that materials used in state building contracts be from from CERTIFIED sustainable sources?

I for one have been involved bidding on one or two projects where everything that went into them had to be certified made in the USA; all employees on the site had to have full insurance and tax documentation; etc.

thebman · 12-10-2010 1:07am

Overheal wrote: »

I for one have been involved bidding on one or two projects where everything that went into them had to be certified made in the USA; all employees on the site had to have full insurance and tax documentation; etc.

As far as I know, similar restrictions apply but its at EU level so we have to compete with other EU countries and that is where Ireland is falling down.

If we can't even compete with people using the same currency as us when they have to import everything or partner with local business to do the job then what hope have we have even winning our own contracts?

Poly · 12-10-2010 9:57am

Just listening to Paul on Tubridy, not good Paul.
Why didn't you pick Tubs up on his blatant FF bias towards you?

bijapos · 12-10-2010 6:49pm

http://www.greenparty.ie/en/government/renewed_programme_for_government

We will put in place the legal mechanisms to restrict direct political donations to
political parties or candidates to individual Irish citizens and residents only and
facilitate a system where donations from private bodies, including businesses and
corporations, can be made to a political fund which will be distributed to political
parties in accordance with their electoral performance in the previous Dáil election.

The above is on P. 32 of your PfG of Oct 2009. I understand that at last years convention a motion was passed by your members that this legislation must be passed by Jan 31 2011 (open to correction on this).

1. Donations by irish citizens only. My opinion is that so far this has been the problem, I am not aware of donations being received from foreign donors being a major problem here. It sounds to me like no real change. What do you think?

2.Corporations will still be allowed to give money to political parties, it will not ban them just spread the money around a bit. As a lot of corporations tend to give money to most of the leading parties anyway how will this actually change anything?

3. On the same note how comfortable would you feel when the Greens start to accept money from corporations that you morally oppose say for example an armaments firm or one involved in genetic engineering?

4. If the legislation is not passed by Jan 31 2011 what do you envisage will happen at your next convention (March 2011?). It will be obvious that FF will have no interest in proceeding with the legislation. Would you then support a move by your members to leave Government?

5. I find the proposal in the PfG weak. Seeing that at the time it was made the Greens had the balance of power do you not think you could have looked for more in this very vital piece of legislation.

andrew cross · 12-10-2010 9:33pm

my questions to paul gogarty td (1) whats it like to be part of the most unpolilar (hated)goverment ever (2) why is the funding for mental health been cut year after year by h.s.e. thanks:mad::mad:

meditraitor · 12-10-2010 10:32pm

Nuclear Energy, Yay or nay?

Sir Oxman · 12-10-2010 10:37pm

Has their been any legislation enacted by your govt to block huge pension pots, golden handshakes etc to people involved in anyway with the Disaster since everything came tumbling down? I'm not talking about retrospectively but from two years ago.
Also, how come people like Sean Fitzpatrick could transfer assets to his spouse when it was obvious they would do this to escape their responsibilities?

Sizzler · 12-10-2010 10:37pm

The Greens are practically obilterated as a political force, the next election will merely confiirm it so with so many fundamental things wrong with the economy,government policy & leadership why don't the green's exit stage left with some dignity and pull the pin?

If Im allowed a 2nd question - Why don't the greens ever get involved with the unions? They are the only party who don't seem to EVER form any sort of view on how unions should be "managed".

bleg · 13-10-2010 1:15am

Is being a TD as powerless as it seems?

Liam Byrne · 13-10-2010 10:01am

What is the Green's true position on their former "polluter pays" principle ?

For example, why isn't the "polluter pays" principle applied to the proposed inspection scheme for septic tanks ?

People who have ALREADY had to pay to have them installed, serviced and emptied are now faced with an additional charge, despite not polluting.

Why not have a system of inspection that - if someone is found to be polluting - fines those polluters twice as much in order to pay for the inspection scheme ?

If the amount of pollution is indeed as much as is claimed, it should pay for itself a number of times over.

Seth Brundle · 13-10-2010 10:07am

Liam Byrne wrote: »

What is the Green's true position on their former "polluter pays" principle ?

When John Gormley rearranged the motor tax rates he showed exactly what he thinks of the polluter pays principle!!!
A wasted opportunity!

bleg · 13-10-2010 10:18am

Do you still believe in astrology?

Post your questions for Paul Gogarty TD here.

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