The Floating Voter

A second Brexit referendum could lead to riots on the streets of Britain, a Fianna Fáil TD has said.

Mayo TD Lisa Chambers also said the British parliament is currently “not a nice work place” due to tension and divisions caused by Brexit.

Speaking on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Ms Chamber said: “The possibility of a second referendum has increased…you could see riots, you could see very angry crowds on both sides if that happened.”

Ms Chamber insisted she was “reluctant to dictate to British MPs” but said she does believe a second vote on Brexit may be needed.

“They did have a democratic referendum at the first outing and we have to acknowledge that but if parliament is deadlocked and there isn’t a majority which appears to be the case you could see it put back to the people,” she added.

Ms Chambers said even if the country voted to Leave for a second time it would allow the politicians “get on with” exiting the EU.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond also told the podcast Brexit was already impacting on the dairy industry.

“Our level of cheddar cheese export has declined because we are getting the dairy sector to diversify into evaporated milk rather than cheddar cheese because they all go to the UK,” Mr Richmond said.

The Government needs to target Big Oil and tax profits on fossil fuel companies before any attempt is made to hike the carbon tax, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has said.

Speaking on the Floating Voter podcast on independent.ie, she also said hikes in public transport fares – she claimed cash fares have risen by 87pc since 2011 – was forcing people to remain in their cars, resulting in higher transport emissions.

“That’s not serious about dealing with climate change. That’s taking people out of public transport, into their cars or onto their motorbikes,” she said.

The Dublin South Central TD also said that hiking the carbon tax on motoring and home heating fuels from €20 per tonne at present would not achieve the deep emission cuts required to avoid catastrophic climate change.

She said “massive” intervention was needed at a “systemic” level including investment in renewable energy, expanding the public transport system and reducing fares, and retrofitting homes.

Imposing a carbon tax hike was “putting the cart before the horse”.

“I’m absolutely for a carbon tax on the profits of the oil and gas industry, not on the ordinary average worker and consumer,” she said.

“The economists will tell you we can’t tax the oil and gas industry at the rate which it needs to be done, it has to be done at a Europe-wide level. Europe might be willing to discuss it, but we’re not willing to discuss it in this country.

“We don’t want to tax profits. We have created a tax haven. The oil and gas industry make an absolute fortune, and if we tax them we will reduce their addiction to carbon.

“I do think you put the cart before the horse if you say carbon tax but don’t talk about retrofitting homes.”

A Fine Gael Senator who was accused of making a misogynistic remark in the Seanad has said he would have said the same thing to a male colleague.

Jerry Buttimer, the leader of the Seanad, was accused of using gendered language during an exchange while the Order of Business was being discussed.

“I know Senator Clifford-Lee is trying to assert herself her... it is important though to listen as well,” he said during the debate.

Fianna Fáil Senator Ms Clifford Lee, who was recently appointed deputy leader for the party in the Seanad, took exception to the remark which she termed “very gendered” and “misogynistic” language.

“There is the political to-ing and fro-ing and the political gamesmanship that is within the arena that is the chamber,” Mr Buttimer told Independent.ie’s political podcast The Floating Voter.

“I wasn’t in anyway trying to be derogatory,” he said.

Mr Buttimer said he is very pro-equality and was supportive of quotas and getting women and young people involved in politics.

He said he “absolutely” would have directed the same comment to a man.

“If you look at the Order of Business in the Seanad... or any debate in a similar situation be it in a radio studio... there is that back and forth, you defend your position.

“I don’t look at it as a man or a woman I look at it as a politician or a political party,” he said.

“I have the hugest of respect for everybody who is involved in politics because we are there on behalf of the people but we also put forward our own point of view.

“I think it is important that we all take cognizance of what we say and do actually does matter.”

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness has said there is “no support” among the party’s membership for a renewal of the confidence and supply agreement

Mr McGuinness said it would be “absolutely wrong” for Fianna Fail to extend the agreement which underpins the Fine Gael led Government as they currently cannot act as a “true opposition party”. He said Fianna Fáil “pretend” it can influence government policy under the arrangement.

In a wide-ranging interview on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, the Carlow Kilkenny TD also said he would put his name forward for the Fianna Fáil leadership once Micheál Martin’s tenure comes to an end.

“I am interested in the leadership of Fianna Fáil I make no bones about that,” he said. “Everybody else in politics at any level strives to be better and tries to get positions where they are more influential for the people they represent,” he added.

On the confidence and supply agreement, he said the majority of Fianna Fail TDs “understand full well that it’s over”.

“What we are looking at here now is the final waltz of the evening where the two parties either go together or go different ways and quite frankly there is no support for another confidence and supply arrangement,”

“We are in opposition but we can’t be an opposition. We are not in government but we pretend to influence government and their policies and we are getting the blame for everything and the government is getting the credit for the aspects which are positive,” he added.

He said his relationship with Micheál Martin is “politically not what it should be” but he insisted he is happy with his role in the party and what he has achieved during his career.

Mr McGuinness also discusses his work on vulture funds in the Finance Committee and his relationship with Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

In the final episode of the Floating Voter EY economy series, this week we’re talking all things Brexit.

What are the political and economic implications for Theresa May's possible deal and are the Irish politicians and business owners ready for what lies ahead?

Joining INM's Political Editor, Kevin Doyle, was Deputy Political Editor, Philip Ryan, as well as Professor Neil Gibson, EY’s Chief Economist, and Anne Heraty, CEO of CPL Resources.

"There are challenges ahead," admitted Gibson. "With GDP and employment strong, there is firepower there to help deal with it, but Ireland is not fully ready."

Despite the focus on Brexit, the real question concerning businesses on a daily basis is on talent and being able to attract the necessary talent to Ireland. Yes Brexit is an issue but it's not the over-riding one.

"The labour market has tightened up considerably," says Anne Heraty. "But quality of life is very important when attracting talent to Ireland on aspects such as transparency and a safe and secure environment."

So, while the political and economic fall-out from Brexit continues to garner most of the headlines, the focus, it seems, still needs to be on the workforce and providing adequate infrastructure for society's needs.

Brexit storm clouds are looming but other issues are important too.

For more from the Floating Voter, go to www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-floating-voter/

The Floating Voter Economy Series is in association with EY.

Health Minister Simon Harris has been criticised for opening a playground in his constituency at the height of budget negotiations on the massive overspend in his department.

Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly said he was “very annoyed” when he learned the minister was opening a new playground as the Government grappled with the €700m black hole in the health budget.

Speaking on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr Donnelly said it “really bothered” him that Mr Harris attended the event in the constituency of Wicklow which they both share.

“The Budget was on the Tuesday (and) on the Monday the Health budget was still in play. DPER (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) were still trying to find out how it was going to be accounted for,” he said.

“Fianna Fail’s team was still trying to negotiate….and it turns out the minister was opening a playground in Greystones and then went for lunch with everybody.

“When the system is so bad I was very annoyed when someone was coming into to announce €700m or €800m overrun that they would be opening playgrounds the day before. This is all hands on deck,” he added.

Mr Donnelly also said the last three Fine Gael health ministers “made an absolute bags” of the health service. “They were not on top of the detail, I don’t believe the current Health Minister is on top of the detail,” he added.

THE entry of three Dragons’ Den investors into the presidential race has helped Michael D Higgins secure his landslide lead, Gavin Duffy believes.

In his most frank comments on the “bizarre” decision by himself, Sean Gallagher and Peter Casey to contest the election, Mr Duffy admitted it is “very hard to explain”.

And speaking on Independent.ie’s ‘The Floating Voter’ podcast, he said the coincidence has only served to hurt all of their chances.

Responding to suggestions they are working together, Mr Duffy said: “No they are not, I can confirm that. In fact, it’s dividing and diluting the vote.

“I think it caused people to give a pause for thought. I think the winner from it is the incumbent.”

The businessman said he inquired whether Sean Gallagher, who finished second in 2011, would run again and was assured it wasn’t on his agenda.

Asked he is held off putting his name forward if Mr Gallagher had publicly shown an interesting, Mr Duffy said: “But if you are told 1000pc ‘they are not running’, well then you’re in a situation where you take that on board and you make the decision.”

On the podcast, Mr Duffy also talks about why he doesn’t drink alcohol, his passion for hunting and being lucky enough to enjoy the “finer things” in life.

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Peter Casey has claimed Travellers should not be recognised as a ethnic minority because they are “basically people camping in someone else’s land”.

The businessman launched a lengthy attack on the community, arguing: “They are not paying their fair share of taxes in society.”

There were celebrations in Leinster House last year when the Dáil gave formal recognition to Travellers as a distinct ethic group within the State.

The move was described as historic by then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

However, Mr Casey said: “That’s a load of nonsense. They are not from Romany or whatever.”

In a wide-ranging interview, on Independent.ie’s podcast, ‘The Floating Voter’, the candidate also criticises RTÉ’s handling of Monday’s televised debate and says he will apologise to Michael D Higgins for claiming taxpayers fund his dog-grooming bill if the President can produce receipts.

Mr Casey claims he warned RTÉ about the potential for an audience to interrupt the ‘Claire Byrne Live’ debate as happened on Monday night.

In a statement to Independent.ie, RTÉ disputed this assertion and said all candidates were aware of the selection process for audience members.

RTÉ also denied there was a dispute between management and Mr Casey after the show, saying the all the candidates were thanked for their attendance.

“RTÉ continues to be in communication and liaise with Mr Casey's team today and he is scheduled to do an one to one interview on the RTÉ Six One News live,” a spokesperson said.

When challenged on the podcast about his views on Travellers, Mr Casey doubled down, saying the arrival of Travellers in an area “devastates the prices of the houses”.

“Let’s call a spade a spade. Your house price doesn’t start going through the roof as soon as you get two dozen Travellers moving in down the street from you.”

He cited an ongoing dispute in Tipperary where six new homes are lying empty in a €1.7m development because families living on an unauthorised site nearby are refusing to move in until they get stables for horses.

“I mean how ridiculous have we become as a society where they are turning down beautiful, four-bedroom houses because there’ll blackmailing the county council into giving them stables for their horses.

“I’m sorry, there’s something seriously wrong with society when we’re at that stage,” Mr Casey said.

His comments were last night described by Pavee Point as “informed and grossly insulting and offensive”.

And David Joyce, a member of the Travelling community and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, told the Irish Independent: “He should withdraw from the campaign. He’s shown he’s not fit to represent all the people of Ireland.

“This man is a racist. He is scapegoating my community.”

Mr Joyce, who is also a solicitor, added: “I don’t think any presidential campaign in the past has ever stooped to this level of blatant racism.”

Martin Collins, Co Director, Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre, said: “These comments put his presidential campaign on the same level as a local election where people play the nimby card to gain votes, as we have seen so often in the past.

“This potentially can feed into racist stereotypes and it is both reckless and irresponsible and certainly not befitting anyone standing to be President for all the people of Ireland.”

The interview was described as “very concerning” by Shane O’Curry, director of the European Network Against Racism, which has 87 member organisations in Ireland.

Did this year's budget go far enough for people or maybe not far enough in preparing for the expected downturn?

In simple terms, everyone is getting a fiver a week from it, but the conservative, something-for-everyone-nature of the budget should come as no surprise.

Joining INM's Group Political Editor, Kevin Doyle and Deputy Political Editor, Philip Ryan, to discuss the measures, impact and implications were David McNamara, Director and Economist, EY DKM Economic Advisory and Stephanie Bowe, Tax Director, People Advisory Services, EY Ireland.

"The focus should have been more on income tax than the USC. We’re not competitive compared to our OECD counterparts," said Bowe while McNamara cautioned that the debt pile is still too big, despite the addition of the rainy day fund.

Meanwhile the B-word was the most mentioned word in Paschal Donohoe's speech yesterday.

"It's very difficult to prepare for Brexit when we don’t even know what it will be yet," says David McNamara. "The government needs to run a bigger surplus next year and should be more cautious for any potential impact."

One eye, it seems was on an election, with the Philip Ryan and Kevin Doyle believing a December election could be on the cards.

For more from the show, go to http://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-floating-voter/

The Floating Voter Budget Series is in association with EY.

Over three episodes, the Floating Voter team are looking ahead to what we can expect in this year's budget, what the fall-out will be and discuss some of the longer-term political and economic factors at play.

For an economy that is growing, where should we be spending our money in anticipation of future threats such as recession or Brexit? And what about the potential changes to income tax rates? Will there be more in your pocket to spend or will it disappear through other increases?

INM's Group Political Editor, Kevin Doyle is joined by Philip Ryan, Deputy Political Editor along with Annette Hughes, Economist & Director, EY DKM Economic Advisory and Kevin McLoughlin, Partner & Head of Tax, EY Ireland, to look ahead to Budget 2019.

For more from the Floating Voter go to https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-floating-voter/

The Floating Voter Budget 2019 series is in association with EY.