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FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin has described members of the AAA-PBP as the ‘pro-Russia alliance’ during a feisty short debate on Syria.
Deputies were not even debating the war itself but merely agreeing to discuss the issue on Thursday when a row broke out.
It followed what had already been a testy hour in the Dáil chamber in which Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghaíl was forced to take some TDs to task, including his party leader Martin.
After some back and forth, Ó Fearghaíl confirmed that they would be discussing the situation in Aleppo on Thursday.
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith interjected and said that the debate should be about “Syria”.
The Ceann Comhairle accepted this but it started an argument in the chamber:
Micheál Martin: Because you don’t want to be condemning Russia on Aleppo, that’s your problem.Richard Boyd Barrett: (Inaudible)
Sean Ó Fearghaíl: Ah please, deputy Boyd Barrett please.
Micheál Martin: You would never condemn Russia. You guys are incapable of condemning Russia.
Bríd Smith: I just want to raise the fact that the French are also bombing Syria.
Micheál Martin: Absolutely, always dilute the Russian contribution to the slaughter and genocide in Aleppo.
Sean Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Martin, can we focus on the legislation please?
Micheál Martin: I’m glad I’ve excited some bloody activity on it at some stage… On the order of business proper.
Richard Boyd Barrett: One sided humanitarian disaster…
Micheál Martin: Ah yea, there you go again. I’m doing my best not to be provoked by the pro-Russia alliance on my right, which stretches across to Sinn Féin. And that’s been a consistent feature of this Dáil.
Gino Kenny: You should withdraw that. You should withdraw that remark, you should withdraw that.
Micheál Martin: I will not withdraw it, I will not.
Gino Kenny: You should make an apology.
Martin continued on with the next item of business without withdrawing the remark.
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Makes a change from landlords robbing people I guess.
@Jurga Moylan: running a business wasn’t considered robbing the last time I checked.
@Sean: if your “business” is overcharging people for a place to live then you’re only technically not committing robbery
@Jurga Moylan: I don’t rob my tenants. I rent them a place to live and subsequently pay the mortgage and the tax man. Nothing left for me
@Charlie: not much point in doing it then is there?
@Charlie: except that eventually the tenants will eventually have paid for the property for you. Nothing wrong with that, but there is something in it for you.
@Charlie: Same here Charlie. There seems to be a view that all landlords are unscrupulous Fagin types who bleed their tenants dry. My tenants are renting at €300 a month below market value, as were the tenants before them. It’s the government’s fault for not building enough social housing over the past 20 years, not mine nor yours.
@Michael Burke: Not everyone wants to buy their own house. Landlords provide a service. Your beef is with the government, not with private citizens.
@Sean: the imbecile didn’t own the properties so he robbed unsuspecting individuals of their monies. That’s robbery, not a business!
@Pat Butler: the business he is referring to is the landlord, who it is implied is doing the robbing first
@Karl Harvey: why do you assume it is over charging? Market rates are market rates: simple demand and offer at play. We surely agree the state should do more about affordable housing but it is a legitimate enterprise to buy properties and to let them. There are also businesses that employe people to maintain those properties…
@Michael Burke: yeah it’s a 30 year investment
@Johnny 5: I’ve worked all over the world for the past 25 years as have thousands of Irish like me.
There is a need for rental long and short term rental as staying in hotels for more than 3 or 4 weeks does not appeal to the vast majority.
Council estates and projects are very often atrocious locations for rearing kids.
@Charlie: oh ye, why bother so?
Obviously missing something here.
How would the alleged scam work
How could you get rent for property you don’t own
Surely a tenant pays someone and if they dont pay the real landlord comes after them
Would have been cheaper for the gardai just to repay the €260 grand, a 2 year gardai investigation probably cost more.
It’s being done everywhere on a smaller scale in most instances. I rented a house when I lived in Bath, UK. I rented out 3 rooms and it paid for itself. I never profited from it, all bills were split and landlord was happy she got her rent on time every month. Speaking to others in similar circumstances most did the same.
They are brilliant at these scams
@Maurice Dodd: Who?
have your say