Richard O'Donoghue

That is as much as it comes to. I am going to put something on the record very clearly to you now as well, Conor Sheehan, since you talk about Limerick and put Limerick people down. I am going to talk to you as a parent.

I am going to talk to you if you may listen, but you do not listen.

Chair, these people-----

I am going to talk to these people.

Correct - respect. That is what I am asking for, and it is the one word I have written down here for you today. It is "respect".

I have been heckled in this House, saying I am anti-gay and anti-this.

Excuse me. Again, you cannot be quiet and listen to somebody else's opinion. It is called respect. I have been heckled in this House on more than one occasion, be that for my religion, for being over here, for being far right. I am going to put something very clear to you: I am a parent and a grandparent. I have a son who is gay. None of you ever said to me, "Gee, Richard, we did not know that." Y…

I will respect and help people. That is my duty of care as a politician. People then say that one of our party members made an assumption. That is his opinion. It does not have to be mine. Allow a person to have their own opinion. All I am asking for is to be able to have my own opinion. My opinion is that there are an awful lot of people out there who are scared and lack understanding. The world…

This is what I am trying to say. Politicians come in here and say something sometimes for a headline. I say what I feel, being part of me. If Members do not agree with it, that is their problem. Remember this: I went around to many houses during the election. I went to one house and a person opened the door. They were identifying as a fox. Did I respect them? Did I talk to them? Yes, I did. Did I…

Again, I am a believer-----

Somebody just called me a gobshite.

This is the fool we are talking about. Again, a person can have an opinion.

A person can have an opinion, and each side of this House will not allow opinion unless it is their opinion. As an adult, this is about-----

Again, if the Deputies to my right keep interrupting, it means I am saying something that is hurting them very deeply. I have my opinion and I am here to help anyone who is in whatever situation they are in, regardless of whether I agree with it or not. This is what I am talking about. Everyone in this country deserves healthcare - end of story - regardless of their circumstances or whatever else.…

Last week, Independent Ireland tabled a Private Members' motion relating to the protection of whistleblowers. Part of our motion was to remove the protection for civil servants who are knowingly acting outside of their remit whereby they would not get protected by the State if they are knowingly acting outside the remit of their work. I asked at the time for an open vote from Government on the mot…

What about this question?

Agreed.

It is the minority I am talking about.

No, it is the minority. I praise the ones who are doing the good work. It is the minority who are doing bad work.

Christmas is approaching. When we were growing up, we were told by our parents that if we were not good for Christmas, Santy would fill our stockings with coal. How many people in this country this year will be hoping that Santy brings them a bag of coal? How many? Have we not turned full circle? It is not that long ago that we heard it. We will now see people go cold in their houses this year. I…

I will provide it.

It is a breath of fresh air when I hear that people over there agree to something I suggested five years ago. One Member said he is a young person representing Fianna Fáil representing that generation. I have four sons. I started out in Fianna Fáil, until it tried to put me in cotton wool and would not let me speak. The Deputy is part of the Government that is part of the problem because it did no…

However, I will look at it and support the people from Clare. The lads are all singing from the one hymn sheet now and they are agreeing on it.

They will go home and tell their constituents that they spoke up for them today. However, they did not listen for five or six years to the people with experience who could have helped to address the problem. As I have said, I will give them praise all day, every day, if they deliver what we have asked.

I am delighted that the Government is now taking the advice of an Independent who is giving it the roadmap so it can deliver infrastructure, on budget and on time. I am delighted that the Deputies are speaking from my book. They might bring this to their parties and drive it home. I will provide the rocket they are looking for, and as Deputy Crowe said, he can light it but he would want to light i…