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MARY LOU MCDONALD had a robust exchange with a man describing himself as a “concerned citizen” on Grafton Street in Dublin today.
The gentleman, a small business owner who declined to give his name and said he would probably vote Fine Gael, took issue with Sinn Féin’s plan to reduce private pension tax reliefs and other measures.
Opposition parties have claimed the pension tax relief changes would impact middle-income workers who would lose hundreds of euro annually under Sinn Féin’s plans.
At the launch of a Sinn Féin poster committing to abolishing water charges this morning, McDonald was asked about Gerry Adams’s two interviews with RTÉ yesterday in which he appeared to struggle on economic matters.
McDonald said she only heard “snatches” of the interviews which she described as “combative”. She added:
The policy is set out as it is and, I’ll be honest with you, anybody can fumble a figure in an interview… The issue around the third tax band, I think it’s very clear what Sinn Féin’s position on it is.
It was this point that the man interrupted proceedings and claimed Sinn Féin are going to “kill pensions for middle income people”.
This was the exchange that followed:
Mary Lou McDonald: No we won’t.
Concerned Citizen: So have you seen the figures or can your leader do the maths?
MLMcD: Sorry, who are you?
CC: Who am I? I’m a concerned citizen.
MLMcD: Okay, so we have done the maths, to answer your question. Sorry, I just wasn’t sure if you were a journalist, I didn’t recognise you.
CC: No, no, I’m not a journalist. I’m apolitical but I won’t be voting for Sinn Féin.
MLMcD: That’s fine, that’s your prerogative.
Asked by a journalist why not, the man claimed that Sinn Féin are going to “strip the poor people of this country, middle income people”.
McDonald insisted this would not be the case and the exchange continued:
CC: My children don’t want to aspire to €69,000-a-year, where you bring in this USC. I think it’s appalling.
MLMcD: Okay, well just to answer you, and you are of course entitled to cast your vote in your own way, I absolutely respect that. But I would say to you that half of the workforce in this State earn €28,500 or less. So our package, it’s not about punishing anybody and it’s certainly not about stripping [people].
The man claimed that young people are going to be “taxed out of existence” under Sinn Féin’s plans and put it to McDonald that her party wants to “punish” people who work hard and try to make a life in Ireland. It continued:
MLMcD: No I don’t.
CC: You certainly do.
MLMcD: How?
CC: When the State loses more when someone’s unemployed than the person loses there’s something wrong there. You know, where you pay 59% tax?
MLMcD: Listen, listen, all I can…
CC: I am listening.
MLMcD: Yes, well what I can say to this… what I am saying to you is that you have to look at the proposals in the round. I understand that not all of our proposals will be universally popular.
It’s not universally popular to say that you want a third tax band, an additional €7 in every cent over €100,000 for people who earn that. Not everybody welcomes that, I accept that.
But I am being honest with you and I am saying that if we wish to balance the books, if we wish to protect society, protect services, to protect low and middle income families, then this is the formula to do it.
CC: The best way to do it, Mary Lou, is to generate wealth.
MLMcD: Yes.
CC: And increasing the public service, increasing taxes… you know, the cost of living in this country is pushed up by the high taxes we have and pushing taxes higher. Why are the Luas workers on strike? For 53% pay rises.
MLMcD: Well that’s a pay issue between them and their employer.
The man then contended that Sinn Féin are going to “lamp” people who earn €69,000 before criticising Gerry Adams:
CC: What about their pensions? Have you looked at their numbers? I don’t think your party leader has, because he didn’t seem to know what was going on yesterday… I don’t support any political party.
MLMcD: Really?
CC: Yeah, really, really. No political party and I’ll chat with you anytime you want, Mary Lou.
MLMcD: Absolutely yeah. Okay, that’s fine. We can do that.
CC: Yeah, no political party, but I probably will be voting Fine Gael this time, probably, because they have USC at the highest level.
MLMcD: Well they’re abolishing it. It’s €4 billion off the balance sheet. So good luck when you go to your local hospital or… but anyway that’s a difference of views…
CC: Well do you wanna talk about the hospitals?
MLMcD: No, not particularly.
CC: You’re talking to someone who’s had personal experience and I can’t see Sinn Féin sorting that out.
MLMcD: Okay
CC: Okay, best of luck.
The man repeatedly declined to give his name, claiming he had no interest in talking but that “Sinn Féin annoy me with the way they go round”.
“I just felt so incensed about it, I saw you here, and I had to say it,” he added.
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Not shocking anymore. Kind of half expect this sort of stuff now.
What is it with this man and “conflicts of interests” ?
Nothing to see here move along now !!
Ah lads , cronyism in ireland ? NEVER !!
Of course he denies a conflict of interest. When did you ever read, “Minister admits conflict of interest.”
O’Reilly would deny today is Friday. He cant even lay in bed straight at this stage.
From a guy who pushed two primary care sites in his own constituency up the list of potential sites…still waiting on the criteria you used Stroker!
Then what exactly is it then? Walks like a duck…etc
Welcome to Ireland,probably the most corrupt country in Europe
Hands up who is shocked or surprised by this. …….
Richie rodgers
We’ll get there stroke by stroke.
Reilly involved again no surprise there to be honest.
Shattergate mark2 ….Reilly on the inside track…….FG/Lab even more corrupt than FF, there is a scary reality…..Resign James you have your money made…..
How come the 20,000 commission was so low? The going rate for a report like this was 125,000 in 2011 and the Health Partnership is not a charity!
Women of Ireland, come together and let us al put a stop to this madness, I’d like to c a man in the full throws of labour, having to face a 2 hr car journey. On lovely pot-holed roads!!!
If he appointed someone from outside the area, the complaint would be that they didn’t understand the area.
If he appointed someone without the medical knowledge, the complaint would be that someone who didn’t understand medical provision was making the decisions
If he appoints someone from inside the area with the right medical background, the complaint is that there’s a conflict of interest.
I wish people would state who they think should be appointed, because almost every decision can have some line of attack.
Kinda sums up JR. Anyway after the reshuffle it will be someone else’s problem.
How many absolute effin’ outrages are we, as a nation, prepared to put up with? This Minister and his shady pals should be run out of the country, let alone sacked.
And deny being in denial
How come this commission was 6 times less than the going rate for the job? A bargain at 20,000! Such reports cost 125,000 in 2011.
The Journal got it wrong! The Health Partnership predates 2008! in March 2005 the company wrote to the Dept of Finance highlighting their role in private health care ventures in Ireland, UK, Portugal and Germany and suggesting tax incentives for private sector players in e.g. direct service provision, the supply of high tech equipment, patient and staff accommodation, primary care provision, nursing home care, etc. Even hospital traffic management got a look in. Hard to believe no one in the West/North-West hospital group knew of Mr Daly’s involvement with this high profile healthcare company.
Why would anyone be surprised with this ruling class carryon, and they wonder why people voted for the left
The main conflict of interest here is the fact tgat Noel Daly wrote to revenue in 2005 with what could be described as a bluepriting which would see private interests profiting from tge removal of public services. In that letter it mentions how the private sector could provide accomodation for people who due to clousure of public services would have to travek greater distances.
Over 6 years later tgis man is appointed chair of a hospital group. In the space of little over a year his company is given the task of reviewing maternitu in the same region. This report is said to recommend many clousures.
Given all this histiry I cannot see how this review can hold any authority. Or indeed how anyone in this countru could trust its recommendations.
In fact this review ihas been damaged beyond repair. Hiwever it should be made available to the public.
Luje Ming Flaagan spoje about concerns that gospital staff had about how tgis revuew was completed. Perhaps he should come back to this important debate in Irish healthcare before he leaves fir Europe.
Reilly people dont believe a word from your lying mouth!
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