The Floating Voter

Politicians should stop objecting to housing developments in their constituency, a Fine Gael minister has said

Junior Finance Minister Michael D’Arcy said it was “wrong” for TDs from all parties to oppose new developments in the middle of housing crisis.

Speaking on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr D’Arcy said: “Public representatives need to stop objecting to housing estates and housing schemes. I think it’s wrong. They shouldn’t be doing because we need houses and we need housing.”

“Sometimes the development isn’t correct and I know and understand that but I don’t think a public representative should object to housing today because by God we need housing,” he added.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy also asked TDs to stop objecting to new developments during a Dáil debate on housing.

Mr D’Arcy also said he believed all social welfare payment should be increased in next Tuesday’s Budget. And he said the Government was working towards increasing the entry point for the top rate of tax to €40,000.

The minister also discussed the measures he is taking to reduce the cost of car insurance. This includes introducing a publicly available list of all motoring claims and pay outs.

Former Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has suggested she was a victim of “fake news” and was not given due process before she was forced to resign last year.

Speaking about Garda whistleblower controversy which led to he downfall for the first-time, Ms Fitzgerald said her resignation was “inevitable” because of a “media and political frenzy”.

“We talk a lot about fake news and other countries and fake news but the whole thing developed into such a frenzy,” she told Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast.

Ms Fitzgerald handed in her resignation to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last November following a week of controversy surrounding her knowledge of an alleged Garda legal strategy to discredit whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

Fianna Fáil threatened to support a motion of no confidence in the then Tánaiste if she did not resign. After days of political uncertainty, Ms Fitzgerald dramatically decided to resign hours before the Dáil motion was to be debated.

She said she took decision because she believed a general election was not in “the interest of Fine Gael or in the interest of the country”.

She accused Opposition politicians of looking for a “head on a plate” and said both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin did not afford her “due process” during the scandal which was subsequently investigated by Justice Peter Charleston’s Disclosures Tribunal.

“Obviously it was the most difficult period I’ve ever had in politics. And I think it was a very difficult situation and decision for Leo as well – politically and personally. It was a very big call by him and by me and for the party at that time,” she added.

The former Justice Minister said the Taoiseach was “very loyal” to her throughout the scandal which saw Fianna Fáil publicly state they had no confidence in Ms Fitzgerald.

“He (Mr Varadkar) was always into due process and Fine Gael was always into due process. Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail didn’t on that occasion but there we go that’s politics,” she said.

“I will absolutely wait for the Charleton Report some time in October before I make any comment about that but the one thing I will say there was certainly due process down there and I think due process is always what I have wanted to see and it is the way I have treated other people and it is the way the Fine Gael party has always believe people should be treated,” she added.

Ms Fitzgerald was taking part in a special live recording of the Floating Voter podcast where she discussed the recently published biography on the Fine Gael leader: ‘Leo Varadkar – A Very Modern Taoiseach’.

Former Independent Newspaper political correspondent and current government adviser Niall O’Connor returned to the podcast to discuss the biography he co-author with Independent Newspaper deputy political editor Philip Ryan.

A Fianna Fáil frontbench TD has said he is open to extending the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael for another year.

County Limerick TD Niall Collins said the agreement underpinning the Fine Gael minority government has “worked well for the country” and he believes Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin should extend the deal for another year.

“I would say you would be looking at reviewing it for a year,” Mr Collins told Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast.

Mr Collins said the arrangement has been “difficult” for his party and admitted “sometimes the lines are blurred” on Fianna Fáil’s position on Government policy.

“But we took the decision in the national interest and the public interest (and) the public recognise that we are getting some credit for that,” he added.

He said his local support base is split on whether the deal with Fine Gael has worked.

Mr Collins also discussed his party’s decision to support a Seanad bill calling on for a boycott on the importation of goods from Israeli settlements.

He also discussed the British government’s recently published white paper on Brexit.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has rounded on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar claiming he sides with “Silicon Valley over Irish Media”.

In a scathing attack on the Taoiseach, Mr Ryan claimed Mr Varadkar is happy to watch the Irish media come under financial pressure as he prefers to communicate through social media.

The Green Party leader said the Taoiseach he would be “happy enough if RTE was withered and the Independent and Irish Times were weakened” as he “still has Twitter and Facebook”.

Mr Ryan was responding to Mr Varadkar’s criticism of the Irish media while at a behind closed doors function in the US last week.

“He doesn’t think we should a have a well funded media,” he told Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast.

“If you don't have an indigenous, free stable balanced media who's going to be covering Irish politics in 20 years time,” he said.

Mr Ryan said the media in Ireland is “clearly in crisis” due to a lack of funding.

“It’s not the heyday of media in terms of money,” he added.

He said the current television licence fee is out of date and should be replaced by a household charge.

Mr Ryan said the Taoiseach is “very far right” and does not have a “green bone in his body”. However, he insisted there is no personal animosity between them despite a number of heated exchanges in the Dail.

“When he doesn’t know the answer he goes on the personal attack,” he said.

The Dublin Bay South TD said his party would consider entering government with any party after the next general election.

Mr Ryan also revealed that the Green Party is considering backing a candidate in the presidential election.

School children are taking ‘up-skirting’ photographs of their teachers and posting them on social media, an Independent senator has claimed.

Gerard Craughwell said smart phone can be a “lethal device” in the hands of child and said they should be banned from secondary and primary schools.

This week he introduced legislation into the Seanad which would see phones banned from schools

Speaking to Indpendent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr Craughwell said teachers are being photographed and videoed during classes by pupils.

“The latest is the up-skirting of teachers. I’m a little too old to know what that means but the title is straight forward,” he said.

He also said young women are being photographed in “intimate place” by male students while in school.

He described Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin as “pitiful” for announcing that his party would not oppose Michael D Higgins in a presidential election or nominate another candidate.

“Is there a council seat in this country that Michael Martin would not send every backbencher and frontbencher he has down to the constituency to fight for that seat?” he said.

“This is an outrageous attempt to us PR (public relations) to save Fianna Fail money in an election campaign,” he added.

Mr Craughwell called for a debate on the side effects of the HPV vaccine but insisted he was not an anti-vaccer.

Children are banned from running and kicking footballs in school yards due the soaring cost of insurance, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell said it is “obscene” and “madness” that children are being banned from exercising in some schools due to high insurance premiums.

Mr Farrell, who is chair of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee, said rising insurance costs faced by schools need to be urgently addressed to ensure children can exercise.

Speaking on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr Farrell said: “They will not allow the children run or kick a ball above waist height…because you might hit a kid in the head, scratch their head and the parent will sue.”

“You can’t stop a child from exercising and I just think it’s wrong,” he added.

Mr Farrell also said he wants vending machines filled with chocolate bars and fizzy drinks banned from school as part of the Government’s strategy to tackle childhood obesity.

“Vending machines in schools is just wrong unless its healthy eating, water and fruit, but the kids won’t eat that,” he said.

Mr Farrell said he hopes his committee recommends this action when it publishes its report on childhood obesity later this year.

The Fine Gael TD also discussed the ongoing row over the introduction of new Dublin bus lanes which will see homeowners compensated for their land being targeted by compulsory purchase orders.

He also addressed on-going speculation over when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will call the next election.

Mr Farrell said he would be willing to go to the polls during the summer but suggested it is more likely the election will be held later this year.

A Sinn Féin TD who criticised RTÉ for broadcasting the Royal wedding said he would welcome the newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex to his constituency for their honeymoon.

Wicklow TD John Brady said he would happily greet and shake hands with Harry and Meghan should they decide to visit his hometown of Bray when they visit Ireland next month.

During last month’s Royal Wedding, Mr Brady was criticised when he publicly attacked RTÉ for airing the event.

“‪As an Irish Republican living in a so called ‘Republic’ I totally oppose RTÉ using my TV license money to broadcast the wedding of a privileged English monarch,” he posted on Twitter.

Speaking to Independent.ie’s 'Floating Voter' podcast, Mr Brady stood over his criticism of RTÉ but said he would have “absolutely no difficulty” with the Royal couple visiting Bray

“I would love to see them come to Bray,” he said. “I would shake their hands as equals, I would have no problem with that,” he added.

Mr Brady also revealed that Sinn Fein would insist on a referendum on Irish unity as a pre-condition on entering government with either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.

“We want a see a referendum take place for Irish unity and I think that will be one of our core demands,” he said.

He also discussed the murder of a father of three Bobby Messett and the injuring of boxing coach Pete Taylor during a shock gun attack on Tuesday.

A Senior Fianna Fáil TD has insisted Micheal Martin will not apply a party whip on the forthcoming abortion legislation.

Sligo-Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry said he believed the Fianna Fáil leader will continue to allow party members to vote with their conscience on new abortion laws.

Mr MacSharry voted against repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution but insisted he will personally vote in favour of legislation which will allow abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

At a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, the party’s public expenditure spokesman Barry Cowen insisted members should offer to sign up to a party whip on abortion laws.

Speaking to Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr MacSharry said: “I don’t think it’s going to arise.”

“Micheál Martin didn’t say that. One member made a contribution, they made that suggestion it was a personal view but I don’t think it will be necessary and I don’t think it will be done.

“I don’t see a need for a whip in the first-instance. I know some will choose to abstain, I myself will be supporting,” he added.

Mr MacSharry said he does not believe the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael should be continued for “a period” after the budget but not for another two year.

He said once the current agreement has expired every issue should be examined on a “case by case basis”.

He said the confidence and supply agreement has “served system not the people”.

Mr MacSharry also said party leaders should not rule out coalitions with rival parties before the next general election.

Last debate on the 8th: Young men could rebel against the rise of global feminism by voting to retain the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, a prominent Yes campaigner has warned.

Fine Gael senator and chair of the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment Catherine Noone said she is concerned young men, who feel threatened by feminist movements such as the #metoo campaign, will use the referendum to hit back.

Speaking on a special referendum debate on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Ms Noone said: “It’s something I am concerned about even in my own party there are young men who seem to be somehow aggrieved with women because we are exerting our position in the world a bit more nowadays and that somehow that’s anti-men.”

“It’s not, it’s just about equality and you know I think it has permeated this debate and it will inform a lot of younger men,” she added.

Ms Noone said she was also encouraged by the “huge proportion” of young men voting Yes to support the “women who they love”.

The Fine Gael senator went head-to-head with Savethe8th communications director John McGuirk in the final debate of the referendum campaign published exclusively on Independent.ie

Mr McGuirk said he has encountered older voters who will vote to Repeal the Eighth Amendment as a “screw you” to the Catholic Church.

However, he believes his campaign to retain the Eighth Amendment will be a success if older people vote in large numbers.

“I believe the vast majority of older voters will tomorrow vote No. Whether they vote in large enough numbers to help us win the referendum is an open question,” he said.

Mr McGuirk also revealed that his opposition to abortion stems back to an incident in college when a woman he was close to was forced by her parents to have a pregnancy terminated.

He also said he would discourage a family member from having an abortion if they became pregnant as a result of rape.

“I wouldn’t condemn them if they did. I have a friend who was born as a result of a rape and I can’t look him in the eye and tell him he shouldn’t be here,” Mr McGuirk said.

Mr McGuirk also called for Google to be brought before an Oireachtas Committee to be questioned on the tech firm’s decision to ban referendum advertising.

Google took the decision as part of its global strategy to protect “election integrity”.

Mr McGuirk said this was the “single biggest act of corporate interference” in Ireland’s election history and said it suggested “our electoral system is being compromised”.

“In any other western democracy that would be a major story and politicians would want to know what was the risk to the electoral process. In Ireland there was a collective shrug and a ‘whoop-de-doo isn’t this great for the Yes campaign,’” he said.

Ms Noone said she would have “no difficulty” in calling Google before the Oireachtas to force the company to explain its decision. However, she said she had not given it a lot of thought as she is focused on the referendum campaign.

Women who decide to end the life of their babies in the womb are not “murderers or sociopaths”, Sunday Independent journalist Niamh Horan has said.

Ms Horan also said women who terminate pregnancies do not do it “on a whim” or for the “hell of it”.

Speaking on Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, the journalist also criticised the arguments being put forward by prominent No campaigner Maria Steen.

Ms Steen is campaigning to retain the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution because she believes it is the only State protection afforded to unborn children.

“There are 200,000 women out there since 1983 who decided to take the life of the baby they are carrying. Do you think we are all surrounded by sociopaths or do you think those women were terrified or traumatised or were suicidal,” Ms Horan said.

“They are all facing personal situations where they feel like there is nothing else they can do

You wouldn’t go through something so traumatic that would take years to get over if you didn’t feel there was no other way out,” she added.

The podcast hosted by Independent Newspapers Group Political Editor Kevin Doyle also discussed the Sunday Independent’s Political Rich List.