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THE FIRST TIME I interviewed Fianna Fáil’s Thomas Byrne was about 10 years ago for a college newspaper.
The article was on the youngest people in the Dáil Eireann, and at the time, Byrne was 30.
“I’m still here, a lot have come and gone since then” Byrne says jokingly, as he grabs a bottle of water and says he is not a coffee drinker.
It’s Thursday in Leinster House and it’s a particularly busy day.
The LH2000 building (the modern building which holds the committee rooms and Sinn Féin offices) on the Kildare Street complex is filled with more suits than usual.
Nama officials are in the building – ready to defend themselves before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
With all the hullabaloo around the PAC, the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills, which Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne sits on, has gone under the radar.
Richard Bruton and the ASTI
“The minister [Richard Bruton] could not guarantee that Junior Cert students would not lose the 10% in their English exams,” says Byrne.
He’s referring to school children being at risk of being penalised by losing 10% of their overall English result over a dispute between the department and ASTI trade union about the curriculum.
Since the Meath East TD was appointed the party’s spokesperson on education, he has been going after his government counterparts, calling them out on what he thinks they are doing wrong – which isn’t unusual. Fianna Fáil is in opposition, right?
In this new political landscape, with confidence and supply agreements littering the floor of the Dáil, it can be difficult to know who is pulling the strings.
Take water charges for example. This week Fianna Fáil has been called out for “flip-flopping” on the water issue, with Sinn Féin going so far as saying the party had more positions than the Kama Sutra on the issue.
Scrapping water charges
So, if Fianna Fáil want to abolish water charges (something the party claims it always wanted to do) why didn’t it vote in favour of Sinn Féin’s motion to scrap the charges once and for all?
The reason we have done it the way we’ve done it, is it is the only way. You cannot abolish a charge or create a charge actually, unless the government sponsors it, Sinn Féin know this…
I am not sure what the purpose of the motion was? A motion is like Ballymagash town council – it has no effect whatsoever.
Byrne says the public can see the bills have stopped and this, he says, is thanks to Fianna Fáil.
We have done what we said we would do before the election… the bills stopped a few months after what we did… [entering the supply and confidence agreement].
But what exactly did the party promise before the election?
During the election, the party supported both abolishing and suspending water charges. The party also supported abolishing Irish Water. It now supports keeping Irish Water.
When put to him that his party’s policy on water has been inconsistent, Byrne follow’s Micheál Martin’s lead, denying this is the case.
I don’t accept that. At times it may not have been as clear as possible, but I don’t accept that there has been any change.
Byrne says all the flaws relating to Irish Water were identified last year by his colleague Barry Cowen when the legislation was going through the Dáil.
“Don’t forget this, Micheál Martin led a walkout in the Dáil as the water charges legislation was going through – all the opposition came with him, in fact, he was criticised because he was photographed with Sinn Féin at the time… we have had a consistent position on this.
“I have never looked for water charges to come in and I voted against them in the Seanad when I was there, so I don’t accept that,” he says.
The Meath East TD is fairly certain about one thing – water charges are not coming back.
The bills won’t be coming back…water is gone.
We are going to look at the commission when it comes out, but I can’t see Fianna Fáil supporting them in this government, they won’t be back.
Why is Fianna Fáil supporting the government’s commission on water charges?
Byrne says it was part of the supply and confidence agreement they signed up to. In order for the party to see some of its policies implemented, this was the agreement.
In the driving seat
Fine Gael “are in the driving seat” on the water issue, he says. However, it appears the whole process is a farce.
It’s rigmarole. As someone said, there are a lot of different ways to skin a cat and you need a lot of ways to skin a cat when you have a Dáil the way it is. You have 50 Fine Gael, 43 Fianna Fáil, 20-odd Sinn Féin, independents and other parties.
To get consensus you might have to be creative in the way you do things so that different people can save face. The bottom line is the bills have stopped, I don’t think they will come back.
Byrne says setting up the commission was most likely a way for Fine Gael to save face on the issue.
Fine Gael probably needed to save face in some respects…
I suppose they wanted to be able to say to their supporters that they had done their part, they have accepted the position will go before a vote of the Dáil and the Dáil is not going to vote for it.
Fianna Fáil makeover
Fianna Fáil had the best election result of any by more than doubling its number of TDs, with 44 elected this year.
As it did in the 2014 local elections, the party outperformed the opinion polls by achieving 24% of the vote compared to many pre-election polls that had it at round 20%.
Byrne was one of the TDs who lost his seats in 2011. He also lost out in the 2013 Meath by-election to Helen McEntee.
Fianna Fáil has tried to change its persona of the ‘Galway tent’ party of the boom times – but has the makeover worked?
“We have a long way to go and we cannot take for granted the success that we had. It certainly felt good on election day, there is no denying that,” says Byrne.
We certainly moved from the Galway tent to the ploughing tent because we had a tent at the championships and it was attended by tens of thousands of people who we were delighted with.
Since 2011, those that remained (many of them younger deputies) have worked to reorient party policies, says the deputy.
We had lost a huge amount of seats… We had great candidates, but we were a bit of a laughing-stock with no female deputies the last time.
Byrne says Martin worked to get more women on board – something Byrne says is vital for the party’s survival.
Repeal the eighth
However, the lack of policy on women’s issues within the Fianna Fáil party has recently been noted by pro-choice campaigners.
Fianna Fáil is the only party without a specific policy on the issue of repealing the eighth amendment in the constitution.
Byrne says it is party policy that it is a matter for each individual member to decide, but he says there are quite a number within Fianna Fáil who support repealing the eighth amendment.
He says his party would have preferred a judge-led commission to examine the issues and report to the Dáil, but the government opted for the Citizens’ Assembly.
“We think Dáil Eireann is a Citizens’ Assembly, but sure look – we sort of let that happen. They had the votes for that, so that has happened. That will work, come back to the Dáil and presumably there will be a referendum at some point and that will be a process outside these four walls,” says Byrne.
However, he concedes that the Fianna Fáil majority is pro-life.
There will be some members actively campaigning in favour of repealing the eighth and there will be other members actively campaigning against it. I’d say on the whole, probably the majority are pro-life in Fianna Fáil, I think that is fair to say, but there are certainly voices there, strong voices, to repeal the eighth amendment.
Biding their time?
With the Budget approaching there is much speculation about how easily it will sail through.
Byrne says his colleagues Dara Calleary and Michael McGrath are meeting with the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe to discuss what Fianna Fáil can get in the Budget.
Despite recent statements from Fine Gael ministers that Fianna Fáil is simply biding its time before it pulls the government down, Byrne says this is not the case.
At the party’s think-in Micheál Martin says Fine Gael ministers making those statements need to “cop on”.
“We are not biding our time… we’re giving it three years, we are not going to pull out of this over that three-year period. Now what they do amongst themselves is their own business. They need to keep it together themselves – if they can’t keep it together and it collapses it will be nothing to do with us,” says Byrne.
Since taking over the education brief, Byrne has come to loggerheads with Minister of State for Training and Skills over school bus places.
“It was causing my constituents and the people of Ireland a lot of problems. He has made up for it since then trying to work with us to try to come up with a solution to the bus transport crisis,” says the father of three.
My view was the government was missing in action on this issue. My anger stemmed from Minister Halligan quite openly and blatantly giving me a guarantee that no one would lose their seat on the bus – he probably knew he couldn’t fulfill that – that annoyed me, you can’t just go into the Dáil and say something like that and not mean it.
Byrne, who attended the US Democratic Convention this year, says he is an avid follower of American politics.
While he says Fianna Fáil does not have a position on who should win the election, he says personally he has always had a “soft spot” for the Democrats.
While at the convention, Byrne says he met interesting people and got some new ideas about politics.
In this era of “new politics” where it is all about collective consultation, perhaps Byrne will have some pointers to offer.
When asked about his own political aspirations and if he would one day like to lead Fianna Fáil, he laughs and says:
“We have the most popular leader in the country, so anyone that discusses the Fianna Fáil leadership is off the wall. I am not going to go there,” he laughs.
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I’d be interested in the number of cars being brought in from outside the State. With the current level of Sterling and the cost of cars here I would suspect many people are importing their cars. Even with the VRT a significant saving can be made.
VRT is a disgrace
Aren’t all cars brought in from outside the State? Of course the SIMI would have you think they are inferior making import a dirty word for cars.
I did. Bought a 2013 Mazda from U.K. For a lot less than one here. Bought an SEL NAV with 50,000 for £9600 (13500) at the time, 18 – €19,000 here. Complete inflated. Goes with our insurance and car tax I suppose.
Motor industry lobby the government over reg plates. They forced the government to bring in the reg plates we have now. The year forces people to have the latest car. Your registration should be given with your licence and should be for life no matter what the car. If two people drive the same car or each others car than you can share a regular number. Also government should get rid of illegal VRT tax as per EU law.
@lez ferguson: VRT is not illegal – http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/faqs-vrt.html#question2
To be honest I think a practical solution to the problem of uninsured drivers would be to link car tax and insurance to the number plate. No insurance, no number plate, no tax paid, no number plate. In Denmark where I live they use this system and if you dont pay your car tax or insurance the police take your number plate. As its also illegal to have an unregistered vehicle if you’re not a car dealer you have to get rid of the car or pay up or they seize the car as well. Insurance for first time drivers here is about €1000 highest for comprehensive falling to €300 after 5 years.
@lez ferguson:
Please explain how the number on the plate “forces” people to buy a new car?
I have a sore tooth, can I blame the government for that as well?
No one is holding a gun to peoples heads when they are singing purchase agreements.
Regarding. Your link says the oppsite
@Mick Jordan: Is English your first language?
@P.J. Nolan:
“singing purchase agreements”??
I’m a mean barotone myself
Enjoyed reading the convoluted alternative plate systems. But I can’t think of a dafter reason to choose a car. Unless by horoscope ;-)
If at all possible walk cycle or use public transport. Get rid of the car and get rid of insurance, motor tax and maintenance.
And fuel costs.
How would the Government be able to raise revenue then? If the takings from tax on Fuel, insurance, car purchases etc were abolished.
The air we breathe…
@Niallers: That’s fine for single people, not a hope for most others though. Only city dwellers can get away with that.
@Mr Snuffleupagus: Era the dutch manage it, I’ve seen them fit 5 people on a bike!
There’s the electric cars for those of us with families too… Check on the low tax, no fuel, still stuck with the pesky insurance mind. 2 outta 3 is still better though! :)
@Jane Bresnan: The Dutch have a very good existing transport system, and very few hills! When you have t0 cycle up Patrick’s Hill in Cork (almost vertical), or have to cycle a 10 mile round trip to travel no more than 2 miles as the RSA don;t allow cyclists on dual carriageways or through the Jack Lynch tunnel connecting the northside and southside, you begin to realise cycling in Cork is for students.
I’ve saved about 1,500 cycling to and from work every day. It’s about 8k each way, not ideal at the start or when it’s raining but invest in a decent rain jacket, bike and headphones and you’ll never look back. If I leave during rush hour it’s often quicker to get in and home, plus the government aren’t taxing the hole off you.
Headphones, why would you cycle with one of your key senses impaired. Enrages me when i see senseless cyclists do that. Idiot
Try living outside a city where the closest bus service is over 25km away…
@Mr Snuffleupagus: We manage with one car between the two of us. I get the bus to work. We have a car available for when one is needed. I would imagine it is actually harder for a single person because there are some things you can’t do in this country without a car (especially if you live outside Dublin), so you almost always need access to one at least.
@Fargo Boyle: When cycling there’s nothing to Hear! In urban areas all you can hear is traffic. if its raining all you can hear is traffic, tyre roar, air brakes etc. In rural areas all you can here is the wind, cars approaching etc. (yes you can still hear ambient noise while wearing earbuds)
Listening to music while cycling is no different to watching a movie with a musical soundtrack..it adds to the enjoyment.
“When cycling in Ireland and it’s raining, invest in good head phones…” – brought to you by the Road Safety Authority
Fargo. An enraged individual is more dangerous than a cyclist wearing headphones. Beware of enraged individuals.
Try walking with headphones – the mic often picks up and amplifies sounds. It’s a careless bias. Sirens can be more piercing even with earbuds in. Maybe don’t go by what you see.
Lmao
Alan Kelly,exactly, you need to hear the traffic.
@Paul Whelan very funny lol!!! said nobody…..
@Fargo Boyle: Hear traffic? Why? why do you have to hear traffic?
So you’re aware what’s coming behind you and
From blind spots. Obviously eyes are more critical but countless times some idiot on a bike wearing headphones has swerved out in front of me. Had they had their sense of hearing,I doubt it would of happened. Listening to music in a very personal way i.e headphones is distracting. Your senses can you help you and keep you safe, cycling on a public road with traffic with one critical sense less is foolish and dangerous. I’m not entirely sure but,is it illegal now?
i hate the year on the number plate
makes people think they need a new car which is probably why we have it , does any other EU country do this
@David Cullen: Agreed. Why cant they have month and year , location as the number plate. eg 17 01 D 1234 would tell you, the car is (17) is 2017, month (01) is January, (D) is Dublin and 1234 is the 1234th car registered in that period. Looking at the present system more then 27% of cars are bought in January. This would enhance the second hand value of say November and December cars. (eg 16 12 D 213). They use that system in Portugal. At least it will space out more even cars sales throughout the year. Also help NCT and Motor Taxation queues.
I have an 09 Opel (well Vauxhall its a UK import) its running well and is in good condition. It has over 200k miles on it, mostly put on it by me, but why would I change for a 171 reg when the only real difference between them would be the numbers on the clock, straddle myself with circa €400 a month of a repayment bill to drive basically the same car as I have now, as cars haven’t really changed in the last ten years. Plus a second hand basic spec from the UK has the equivalent spec as the mid to top range spec in Rep of Ireland. The NCT (which is a massive scam) now means that cars are effectively worth nothing after ten years no matter how good of condition they are in. There should be some system where by if a car receives a certain “score” in the NCT test then the cert will last 2 years, between score A & B then the cert lasts a year, between score B & C then the cert lasts 6 months and below score C then it fails. This would actually encourage people to take better care of their older cars.
@Anthony O Reilly: Nct is a scam promoted by the simi and helped by the AA, Working in the trade for over twenty years Ive see stupid fails and some unbelievable passes,
We obviously need to break the registrations down to quarterly or even monthly now to keep the registrations active !
Have to admit that I really taken with the idea of an electric car. I have always been a true petrol head from my first mk1 savage cortina , capri’s , Granada’s and even a Manta 400 right up to our RX7 but I was greatly impressed with a friends Nissan leaf. I think it might very well be my first new car.
@Michael Clinton: but they’re so ugly… can’t wait to see how much Tesla Model III will cost here…
I know Daniel but I never said I would get rid of the RX7 , The “leccy” car would be the daily and the RX7 would be the weekend special. Mind you Completecar.ie have done some super reports on Hybred/electric cars.
@Daniel Dudek Corrigan: You better have a look at the new Hyundai Ioniq, it is certainly not what you call so ugly. No VRT either.
@Dave Green:
Do Hyundai pay their staff well Dave?
@P.J. Nolan Do any car manufactures pay their staff well.
@Dave Green: What about Renault Zoe? How does it compare performance wise? I’m thinking of getting electric car too?
I wonder what the increase in NOx emissions has been since the introduction of the new motor tax system.
Exactly. People got too hung up on the CO2 emissions when the NOX are far more harmful to humans (and far higher in diesel cars)
Yep. There are rumours that Honda plan to ditch diesel engines in the near future.
People were pushed into Diesel cars by the Greens. If you can afford a large BMW saloon car with €190 tax why wouldn’t you buy it.
As for Electric cars – we need to look at the end to end life cycle from production through use to disposal. They might not have as good green credentials as people think.
@Ted Logan: I drive a 2002 Mercedes. I could go out and buy a new one tomorrow, and I wouldn’t need a bank loan for it either. Personally. I think new cars are a phenomenal waste of money. I’ll let others worry about depreciation, and pick them up years later with low mileage and a good service history.
I paid 1500 for my current car 3 years ago and it has cost me nothing to run it beyond petrol, insurance, car tax, tyres, and a few bulbs and the annual service. . That’s 3 year of ‘cheap’ driving to date. In that time my insurance has rocketed to 1k, my car tax is close to 700 and my petrol consumption about 40 a week. So. I’m getting away lightly. I won;t change it until it costs too much to fix. If it lasts another 10 years, I’ll still be driving it.
Good point. Still, fewer components, so I guess the first wave might trade in all right if upgrading to a more streamlined one. Be good to see how they hold up. If they came down in price secondhand, more first-time drivers would try one.
What defines a new car being ‘sold’…On PCP finance?
PCP is the work of the devil.
As a a self employed person If I bought new van now in 12mths it would need a doe even if it has only 10km up on it.
Now why would i ever bother buying a new van/car van etc. For me personally if the doe was 100k or after 3 years then I’d be tempted to buy new more often but as it stands unless I win the lotto or I get a great trade in offer , I wont ever be buying anything new.
@Angry Gaming: DOe is way less stringent than the NCT though. Much easier to pass and there are also way more test centres as lots of local garages have the ability to test the DOE. I’d prefer the DOE to the NCT anyday. My van used to pass it no problem, when I’d be going back for a retest with the car.
@Mr Snuffleupagus:
While you may well be right regards the DOE been easier than the NCT, my own experience of having both a van and a car would back you up on that, the cost of the DOE is considerably higher (€95 compared to €55 for NCT) and you have to do it every year from year 1
I wonder what is the ‘right’ number of new cars per year. In that a number that ensures a good stock of quality, safe cars, but not at the expense of people buying new cars that they really cannot afford.
have your say