Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Your TDs
The country is facing the most serious crisis since independence. Yet in it's eight months the last Dail met on only 51 days. The summer recess ran from 16 July to 27 October. Of the 166 TDs elected last February, more than 20 contributed not a word to a debate. Only about half made more than five contributions.
True, many put down questions for written or oral answer but the vast majority of these questions relate to disconnected telephones and social welfare enquiries on behalf of constituents.
TDs will complain that the procedures of the Dail do not permit them to make more than an incidental contribution and, even then, the contribution is made to a virtually deserted chamber for most of the time and is done primarily for the "record", by which is usually meant the local provincial newspaper. But apart from efforts made by John Bruton, not a single TD made any serious attempt to reform the procedures of the Dail to make their involvement any more meaningful. There is no reason to believe that those elected next Wednesday will have any greater relevance to Irish life and its problems.
This brief analysis of the performance of the TDs concentrates primarily on the backbenchers. While the account of their "work" is necessarily sketchy, the overall picture actually understates the abject nature of the contribution of a number of our TDs.
A Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central FF)
Government chief Whip and therefore involved in many procedural wrangles. Restricted because of his position from taking part in debates generally but he did intervene on a motion on the anti-poverty programme and said: "A lot of money must be switched from the wealthy to try to improve to some extent the inequalities of our society." He was very much a success as chief whip and is clearly ministerial potential for the future.
Michael Ahern (Cork East FF)
Spoke in only one debate and that on the budget, where he failed to find a single fault. Nevertheless the speech showed a grasp of taxation and agricultural matters and it was therefore surprising that he did not speak again.
Bernard Allen (Cork North Central FG)
One of the most regular users of question time since he was elected in June 1981. In the last Dail, he spoke six times, on the wisdom of having District Courts handle disputes over de-controlled rents, in two adjournment debates on the need for city centre development in Cork, on two occasions urging government support for Irish Steel and a guarantee that in all local authority contracts the steel used would be Irish, and in opposition to the Gregory deal plans for city centre development in Cork. An impressive addition to Fine Gael.
Lorcan Allen (Wexford FF)
Traditionally one of the poorest contributors to Dail debates ever since he was first elected in 1961. However, as Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture he did read three Departmental scripts to the Dail and answered questions. He was the victim of vicious and entirely unfounded rumours in the Wexford area about an alleged assault. It appears that the rumours emanated from inside the local Fianna Fail organisation.
David Andrews (Dun Laoghaire FF)
Made only four speeches in the course of the last Dail. One of these lasted about two minutes and concerned the BIM vacant office block in Dun Laoghaire. Another of his contributions was on the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Bill and this lasted in all about one minute. Another intervention in a debate on a local government Bill dealt entirely with a local issue. His only other speech dealt also with a local issue, this time on fisheries. It would be fair to characterise his contributions to the last Dail as entirely unserious.
Niall Andrews (Dublin South FF)
Unlike his brother, he has become more serious in politics and made an excellent intervention on the Finance Bill on June 9 in which he attacked not only social welfare abuses but also profiteering by the professions and the deployment of tax accountants to assist in the avoidance of tax. In all he made six speeches during the last Dail and was awarded for his staunch defence of Charles Haughey against vilification in the media by being appointed a junior minister only days before the fall of the Government - he supported George Colley in the 1979 leadership election.
Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny FF)
Only the debate on the closure of the Fieldcrest factory last June prompted him to get up on his feet in the Dail, and then only briefly. Otherwise, his contribution to the parliament's affairs are questions about individual constituents house grants and social welfare payments, submitted for written answer.
B Michael Barrett (Dublin North West FF)
Elected in June 1981, his maiden speech was a general denunciation of the rising level of crime and vandalism, which proposed no new answers. He spoke twice in the last Dail, once complaining that constituents had to wait an hour for a bus and that CIE executives with their company cars could provide no explanation.
Sean Barrett (Dun Laoghaire FG)
Has kept largely to local government issues in his contributions in the last two Dail terms. Appointed Fine Gael chief whip last March, he made seven interventions in the 23rd Dail, all relating to department estimates or the Budget. Able and clearly of ministerial potential.
Sylvester Barrett (Clare FF)
Demoted from the senior ministerial side, he became the Junior Minister in Finance last March. Clearly unenthusiastic about having to present highly technical and abstruse Bills to the Dail, he was the only Minister of State to reserve his position on the no-confidence issue and he then went on to vote against his Taoiseach.
Myra Barry (Cork East FG)
Speaking last November on the Coalition's Youth Employment Agency proposal, she asked that more detailed statistics on youth unemployment be prepared. Her preceding parliamentary questions had elicited unemployment figures freely available in Central Statistics Office publications. She spoke twice in the 23rd Dail. On 5 May, on foot of Jim Mitchell's motion on crime and vandalism, she stated she had seen four smashed windows between O'Connell Street and Leinster House and that five-year-old children were robbing handbags in the city centre.
Peter Barry (Cork South Central FG)
Only his proximity in age to Garret FitzGerald (he is 54) will prevent him from being leader of Fine Gael some day, and possibly Taoiseach. Very much underestimated because of poor Dail and television manner, he is a major influence within Fine Gael, has sound judgement, a surprising radical bent and is very much his own man. He should be because he is one of the Dail's wealthiest members.
Michael Begley (Kerry South FG)
Spoke only twice in the last Dail. Once on a motion on Udaras na Gaeltachta - he played a part in the background events leading to the attempted Oireachtas investigation and once on a fisheries issue.
Tom Bellew (Louth FF)
One of the most active of the newcomers, he opened his account with an expression of disappointment in a Fianna Fail bill aimed at securing customers when travel agencies collapse. In further speeches, he has addressed himself to fisheries development, details of the Budget and to the Defence estimates (declaring, in the last case, that he was happy that the government had distanced itself in the Falk· lands conflict from "a warmongering megalomaniac"). He also spoke on the need to reduce ESB charges and on the Irish Shipping Ltd Bill. He was frequently in the House to harass the Opposition and made very full use of question time. A prominent and vocal member of the Fianna Fail dissident group.
Joe Bermingham (Kildare Lab.)
Spoke in debates on eight occasions, always with fluency and conviction. He effectively bridges the gap within the Labour Party between the rural and urban wings. Solid contributions on housing, public works and local government issues.
George Birmingham (Dublin North Central FG)
In his first Dail term, he made long and careful contributions on the extension of the District Courts' jurisdiction and the de-controlling of rents. In Opposition since last February, he attacked the Gregory-deal urban development commissions as "anti-local authority" and suggested the proposals for acquiring the Custom House site were "hastily put together". He intervened frequently on department estimates, and kept up the constituency service with regular batches of the obligatory questions about phone services. He won enormous "kudos" within Fine Gael at the last election by his selfless efforts to ensure that his party won a second seat in his constituency.
Neil Blaney (Donegal North East Ind.)
Clearly the bright lights of Europe are beckoning too brightly for him to take much heed to the Dail for he spoke there on only three occasions since the last election - once on the nomination of Taoiseach to explain his vote', once on the July no-confidence motion and once, very briefly to reply to comments by Garret FitzGerald on his influence on what Haughey said during the latter's trip to America. All very predictable stuff, united Ireland and more money for the construction industry. Nevertheless, the only voice in the Dail who clearly speaks for a sizeable section of the Northern nationalist population.
John Boland (Dublin North FG)
Made a mere four contributions to Dail debates since the last election. Nevertheless he has become a figure of importance within Fine Gael, although his prestige was damaged by an ill-considered speech on the need for a national Government. He would certainly be in another Fine Gael dominated cabinet.
Gerry Brady (Dublin South East FF)
Has handled much of the Gregory deal for the government, as Minister of State in the Department of the Environment. Moved the uncontroversial Litter Bill and opposed Labour's Local Government (Building Land) Bill. Appeared to offer a credible television presence for Fianna Fail initially on his appointment as Minister for Education but seemed to veer quickly towards the limp, anaemic style, previously believed the preserve of Michael Woods.
Ger Brady (Kildare FF)
Elected in February 1982, when he replaced Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan whose seven months in the Dail had been characterised by total silence. Brady's only. speech was on the Finance Bill, on 10 June. Drawing attention to abuses of the social welfare system and the disincentives to work which it contained, he stated: "If we do not provide jobs for our young people I shudder to think of the consequences in five or ten years." He had no ideas as to how those jobs might be provided. His parliamentary questions have been rare and routine.
Vincent Brady (Dublin North Central FF)
Spoke five times in the last Dail on the Budget and local government issues. He supported the Bill setting up urban
development commissions, arising from the Gregory deal, and hoped piously for an amicable settlement with the Dublin Port and Docks Board on the transfer of the 27-acre Custom House site. (See Wigmore.)
Matty Brennan (Sligo-Leitrim FF)
Ray MacSharry's running mate and first cousin has been invisible in the Dail since he was elected in February 1982. He has not made a speech, a short intervention or asked a single question.
Ned Brennan (Dublin North East FF)
Reared on the cut and thrust of City Hall, he has plunged into a wide range of debates. On a bill to secure travel agency customers, he declared: "I have never availed of the sunny beaches of Majorca or those places but I should like to feel secure if I were going there." In the Budget debate, he supported the Gregory deal and attacked the "knockers and doom peddlers". On a Jim Mitchell motion on crime, he stated: "There is not a sufficient number of Loughan Houses into which to put these young people who commit crime." He also spoke, as an ex-NCO, on the Defence estimates. Recently broken into theatre criticism.
Seamus Brennan (Dublin South FF)
Frequent intervention, both in Opposition, and from government backbenches, in the Budget debates. On the Fianna Fail budget, he insisted that "we cannot as a nation, continue to provide the volume, quality and level of services which we have been providing." He looked to workers to show more self-discipline. His interventions have been uniformly unexceptional. He is in favour of all the popular causes but studiously avoids hard decisions.
Ben Briscoe (Dublin South Central FF)
Found it hard to contain himself when speaking last May on Jim Mitchell's private members' motion seeking a declaration of a crime emergency in Dublin: "I plead with the Minister to hammer some of these young hooligans." Spoke on three other occasions. He questioned the practicability of a Labour proposal to control building land prices, and on another occasion suggested that Garret FitzGerald would only "tinker" with the finances, changing tack when things went wrong.
John Bruton (Meath FF)
One of the two outstanding members of the last Dail. His speeches are worth reading for their educative value on institutional reform, control of public expenditure, etc. He has also been radicalised considerably by his experience in the Department of Finance and in politics generally.
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central FG)
In his two contributions to the last Dail, he attacked the Fianna Fail Budget. On 6 May, he declared that "successive governments have enthusiastically adopted the notion of free services for all and granting subsidies that do not distinguish between the people who receive them." Control of public spending was not co-ordinated, he said. He criticised the Budget on details again on 27 May. He has, so far, disappointed the hopes that he would show in politics the calibre he displayed as an economist.
Liam Burke (Cork North Central FG)
We have no account of him speaking in the last Dail but research on him has been inadequate.
Ray Burke (Dublin North FF)
One of the country and western brigade now in virtual control of the inner Fianna Fail cabal. Buddy of Brian Lenihan and developing the panache and elan which the latter have made famous.
Hugh Byrne (Wexford FF)
Made only a minimal contribution to the last Dail - one speech on job losses in New Ross, another on best growing and processing and another intervention on the Budget. All very brief and unremarkable.
Sean Byrne (South Tipperary FF)
Made only a single speech in the last Dail. This was on the Budget and dealt solely and unremarkably with agriculture. A member of the dissident Fianna Fail 22 group.
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Sean Calleary (Mayo East FF)
Disappointed at being left out of the Government until a few days before it collapsed, when he got a junior ministry. He did not speak at all in the 23rd Dail.
Donal Carey (Clare FG)
Spoke four times. First, to express concern about the preservation of the salmon species, particularly in his own constituency. He spoke in an adjournment debate on Shannon airport and, on the Budget, declared: "The GAA are struggling to keep our national game alive, but the cost of hurleys is very high."
Frank Cluskey (Dublin South Central Lab.)
Made just two speeches. Also signalled his presence in the Dail with occasional points of order and rare questions. Now with Dail and Euro salaries, plus allowances, one of the richest members of the Dail.
George Colley (Dublin Central FF)
Mingled frequently in the Budget debates when in Opposition, but has been much quieter on the government back benches. In fact, he did not speak at all in the 23rd Dail. Otherwise pre-occupied.
Eddie Collins (Waterford FG)
Fine Gael spokesperson on Transport, has recovered from the devastation he experienced at being denied a senior Government post in June 1981. Spoke eight times in the Dail. His seat could be in jeopardy.
Gerry Collins (Limerick West FF)
An unlikely choice as Foreign Minister but with the doggedness he brought to his assignment to Justice, he acquitted himself creditably. Much underestimated - could yet be a contender for the top job.
Hugh Conaghan (Donegal North East FF)
Made only a single speech and that very briefly on an adjournment motion on Co. Donegal Housing Loans. Obsessed by Blaney and, as a consequence, anti-Haughey.
John Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan FG)
Said nothing at all. And that goes for at least two Dails.
Paul Connaughton (Galway East FG)
Has little to show for his status as Fine Gael spokesman on Tourism, having contributed just twice to the last Dail, and then on local and agricultural matters.
Ger Connolly (Laois-Offaly FF)
One of the Dail's most colourful characters and also one of its most vocal. As Minister for State at the Department of the Environment he was deceptively effective.
Patrick Cooney (Longford-Westmeath FG)
Very committed, very serious. Made nine speeches. One of them got him into hot water with his leader when he criticised Trocaire. Seems to have softened a little of late.
Liam T. Cosgrave (Dun Laoghaire FG)
Made five formal contributions to the last Dail, having waited nearly 11 months after he was first elected in June 1981 to make his first full length speech. That was on the Budget. In June, he spoke on the divisions of P & T into two organisations, but mainly on the state of the phones.
Michael Joe Cosgrave (Dublin North East FG)
Made one two-minute speech on a local issue.
Clem Coughlan (Donegal South West FF)
Welcomed the Coalition's Housing Finance Agency in December 1981 with some reservations and with extensive reference to his own constituency's "depressed state of affairs". His speech on fisheries in March 1982 was very largely concerned with local details, like the width of the road between Burtonport and Donegal.
Ber Cowen (Laois-Offaly FF)
Managed to emulate his predecessor as Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Ted Nealon, by managing to say nothing in a debate during the course of the Dail.
Donal Creed (Cork North West FG)
When he attacked 25% across-the-board social welfare increases he extended his criticism to "the Bruton budget", In his two other speeches, he expressed doubts about the Coalition-promoted Housing Finance Agency and deplored the condition of army living quarters.
Kieran Crotty (Carlow-Kilkenny FG)
Initiated the several Fieldcrest debates, spoke on Department of Agriculture estimates, and opposed the Social Welfare Bill to allow benefit payments to strikers.
Frank Crowley (Cork North West FG)
Has now got through his first two Dails without making a speech. In the last Dail, he asked just one question about school transport in his constituency.
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Brendan Daly (Clare FF)
As Fisheries Minister, he has made half-a-dozen contributions to Dail debates, steering through the inherited Sea Fisheries Bill and a departmental estimate, and beating off an Opposition motion urging an Irish stand for nothing less than a 6-mile limit.
Michael D'Arcy (Wexford FG)
Fine Gael spokesperson for Fisheries and Agricultural marketing, whatever that was. Spoke on four occasions.
Austin Deasey (Waterford FG)
Brought in from the Fine Gael cold when he announced his vote against the leader in the secret ballot after the last ejection. Made spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and spoke nine times. Outspoken and courageous.
Proinsias de Rossa (Dublin North West WP)
Repeated interventions throughout Budget debates, several departmental estimates and the two confidence motions. Pressed his party's case for an inquiry into Udaras na Gaeltachta in an adjournment debate. Contributed to discussions on the Iran-Iraq war and on the Lebanon.
Barry Desmond (Dun Laoghaire Lab.)
Although by no means the most popular, he is becoming one of the best TDs in the Dail. His contribution was prodigious and usually well-informed. He seems to have been educated by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Semi-State bodies into the profligacy of public expenditure.
Eileen Desmond (Cork South Central Lab.)
Her attacks on Health and Social Welfare minister, Michael Woods, whom she preceded in the post, have focused very largely on his dropping of the Combat Poverty Agency.
Sean Doherty (Roscommon FF)
The centre of rumours throughout his tenure as Minister for Justice. Did not have the placidity of temperament desirable for this position. However, unfairly vilified by his opponents and by the media by innuendo.
John Donnellan (Galway West FG)
Said nothing at all. Doesn't get on with Garret.
Alan Dukes (Kildare FG)
Effectively Fine Gael's No.3 in the key debates, quick and coherent, Dukes frequently won agreement from his opposite number, Brian Lenihan, on agricultural matters. Three times last July, he raised controversies in adjournment debates.
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John Ellis (Sligo-Leitrim FF)
Frequently interrupting others - especially Ruairi Quinn on his land prices motion - Ellis contributed mainly in short interventions. In more extended reflections on the Budget he opposed raising tax exemption limits for single and widowed people. Lots of farm grant and social welfare payment questions.
Tom Enright (Laois-Offaly FG)
Made one good speech on the wastage on Government office blocks and a few inconsequential interventions on the Finance Bill.
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Frank Fahey (Galway West FF)
Just managed to get his first speech into the records with 24 hours to go before the 23rd Dail dissolved. He advocated setting up an Agricultural Development Authority on the IDA model.
Jackie Fahey (Waterford FF)
Pre-occupied by factionalism in his constituency organisation and by illness, he made just one speech in the last Dail and that was in an adjournment debate on the closure of a factory in Dungarvan.
John Farrelly (Meath FG)
In two stints in the Dail, he has stuck largely to agricultural subjects, speaking on the departmental estimates and, several times, on the closure of a home economics college in Navan.
Padraigh Faulkner (Louth FF)
Nowadays the eminence grise of Fianna Fail. He managed to make only one speech during the last Dail and that was about his former bailiwick, the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Nuala Fennell (Dublin South FG)
Her many interventions related to problems of bringing up a family. She has demanded more money for pre-school playgroups. a ban on glue sales to children and an extension of the public health nurse system. The first avowed feminist in Dail Eireann and a major addition.
Alexis FitzGerald (Dublin South East FG)
The country waits in thrall for the first insight into this penetrating intellect.
Garret FitzGerald (Dublin South East FG)
He once spoke for eight hours in the Senate and another speech in the Dail lasted for over seven hours. Recently threatened to do the same at a press conference if he was asked any more questions.
Gene FitzGerald (Cork South Central FF)
The man who once warned the Finance Ministers of Europe against the dangers of Friedmanism and monetarism, now more happily restored to the Department of Labour. There he pulled off a genuine coup in securing agreement on the public service pay issue.
Tom Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan FG)
Stands just behind the party's heavyweights. In the last Dail, he moved amendments to the Sea Fisheries Bill, attacked the Gregory deal and the squandering of public money and spoke on a Planning Bill and an ESB Bill.
Tom Fitzpatrick (Dublin South Central FF)
Took up tenants' case on de-control of rents and made a few briefer and vaguer contributions on the Finance Bill. He expressed confidence that the unions would eventually. cooperate fully with the division of P & T into two semi· states.
Jim Fitzsimons (Meath FF)
Marked time with his three contributions, performing just once in an adjournment debate on the Daily News/Sunday Tribune closure as minister of state.
Mary Flaherty (Dublin North West FG)
Shadowing Michael Woods on Social Welfare she spoke frequently and with some force on departmental estimates and on the National Community Development Agency. She was less committed to the old Combat Poverty Committee than the Labour TDs who led the fight.
Oliver J. Flanagan (Laois-Offaly FG)
Made five speeches in the last Dail, some of knock-about flavour, whether intended as such is not clear. Basically prefers the leadership of Fianna Fail to that of his own party. More or less advised the Pro-Life group to vote Fianna Fail.
Brian Fleming (Dublin West FG)
Hereafter to be known as Fleming The Phone for his stream of questions, often over 20 at one sitting, on cut-off phones. He did not speak either in the 22nd or the 23rd Dail.
Padraigh Flynn (Mayo West FF)
The Playboy of the Western World. The larger-than-life Minister for the Gaeltacht and now striding the world stage as Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. Behind the buffoonery there is a shrewd intellect and he was one of those who pressed on Haughey the need to abandon the boom and bloom after the Dublin West by-election.
Denis Foley (Kerry North FF)
Not a word spoken in the Dail since he was elected in June 1981. He makes it into the records with a handful of questions on local matters.
Sean French (Cork North Central FF)
Like quite a few more of the Club of 22 he did not make a single speech in the last Dail.
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Denis Gallagher (Mayo West FF)
Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare and promoted to Minister for the Gaeltacht in the reshuffle before the fall. Made only a single speech in the Dail since the last election.
Paddy Gallagher (Donegal South West FF)
In his three contributions to the last Dail, he dealt with fish and mainly with Killybegs. His frequent questions cover a wide range of local issues.
Paddy Gallagher (Waterford WP)
Blooded in the Budget debate last May, Gallagher has been on his feet frequently since then. After speaking at greatest length on the Fieldcrest closure, he joined his two party colleagues in explaining at length also why they would not support a no-confidence motion on the issue. Like his two party colleagues however, he made a major contribution.
Jim Gibbons (Carlow-Kilkenny FF)
His single speech to the last Dail was a demand for government intervention to save the Fieldcrest factory. His questions are rare and routine. Note how many of the Fianna Fail dissidents were strangely quiet throughout the lifetime of the Dail.
Tony Gregory (Dublin Central Ind.)
Silent on the one bill which made it to the 23rd Dail as a result of the Gregory deal - the Urban Areas Development Bill - Gregory spoke repeatedly and pointedly on Budget amendments. Also stated his position on the Lebanon crisis.
Brendan Griffin (Tipperary South FG)
A plodder who appears in the records of the 23rd Dail mainly for asking questions and sitting in the Chair. Made just one formal speech.
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Mary Harney (Dublin South West FF)
In the previous Dail she made several strong interventions on the Clondalkin Paper Mills closure and in support of Women's Aid but she fell silent in the 23rd Dail. Kept up a flow of questions on phones, schools and toxic dumps. Made a courageous and riveting speech at the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party love-feast on 6 October.
Paddy Harte (Donegal North West FG)
In a long speech on the Department of Posts and Telegraphs he anticipated that the state service would be out. stripped by private couriers and was bemused that Irish stamps do not bear the word "Ireland". Raised more postal issues in private notice questions. Demanded £400,000 for Donegal public housing in an adjournment debate.
Charles Haughey (Dublin North Central FF)
Misunderstood.
Paddy Hegarty (Cork East FG)
Fishing and sugar-making were the subjects of his four speeches in the last Dail, where he urged more support for the Sugar Company and proposed insisting on a 12 or 15 mile limit in EEC fisheries negotiations.
Michael D. Higgins (Galway West Lab.)
Unstoppable - in both official languages and on a vast range of topics. His contributions on poverty, fisheries, the Gaeltacht, third world aid, and much more, were always clearly argued. One of the two outstanding TDs of the 23rd Dail - the other being John Bruton.
Colm Hilliard (Meath FF)
Elected on the strength of a Labour vacuum and a famous name, he has done nothing to justify his presence in the Dail. Not a squeak out of him.
Gemma Hussey (Wicklow FG)
Pitched straight in on the first full day of Dail business last March, and had made several more brief interventions by the time she delivered her first formal, very detailed speech on the Budget. Raised the Ardmore Studios closure on an adjournment and hopped up and down in the Order of Business sessions. On the Economic Plan, she suggested the state fleet of Mercedes be replaced with more modest cars confined strictly to official use.
Liam Hyland (Laois-Offaly FF)
After a more active 22nd Dail, he made just two interventions in the last Dail, expressing his regret in a speech on the Budget that there were no plans to locate any government department in Co. Laois. Piled in the questions on local and individual matters, sometimes following them up on the floor of the House.
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Liam Kavanagh (Wicklow Lab.)
Highly respected, careful and somewhat laborious contributor to Dail debates. Knows his stuff on a variety of topics but lacks flair. Could easily have been leader of the Labour Party had he allowed his name to go forward.
Michael Keating (Dublin Central FG)
Less in evidence in the last Dail than when he had a junior government position. Speaking on the extension of the Trades Disputes Act protection to public servants he appealed for a comprehensive look at demarcation, disincentives to work and "the undermining of the work ethic".
Sean Keegan (Longford-Westmeath FF)
Made no speech during the course of the last Dail. Junketed a lot on Council of Europe business.
John Kelly (Dublin South FG)
Urbane, witty and with a fastidious attention to detail. Even from the back benches, he marked Des O'Malley closely on revisions of company law. He would do himself a service by resisting sometimes the temptation to speak just because it comes so easily.
Jim Kemmy (Limerick East DSP)
Spoke frequently on details of the Fianna Fail budget, attacking farmers' and landlords' privileges. On the Urban Areas Bill, he urged speedier compulsory purchase procedures and objected to An Bord Pleanala's over-ruling of local authority decisions. On the bill to give An Bord Gais higher borrowing limits, he pressed Limerick's case for natural gas supplies. Kept his cool when others around him were losing theirs.
Enda Kenny (Mayo West FG)
Spoke five times during the course of the 23rd Dail, having made no contribution to a debate during the previous Dail. Mainly concerned with local matters but elevated to the front bench to take charge of the Gaeltacht portfolio.
Michael Kitt (East Galway FF)
He made five speeches, with only his speech on the budget dealing with national issues. Nevertheless he displays a seriousness about the issues and a willingness to see outside his own political cabbage patch.
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Liam Lawlor (Dublin West FF)
Contributed to three debates in the last Dail, asking that the recommendations of the Commission on Taxation on PAYE be implemented, welcoming the changes to the Trades Disputes Act and calling for more productivity in the public service in return for new legislative protection, and responding aggressively to an Opposition motion in support of the National Development Corporation. His speeches were generally pedestrian.
Brian Lenihan (Dublin West FF)
In government as well as in opposition, always quick to turn any issue into a party-political wrangle. Had a worrying time in the Dail as Minister for Agriculture with such a strong opposite number, Alan Dukes. He frequently had to give up.
Jim Leonard (Cavan-Monaghan FF)
"Taxation is a very controversial subject", he observed in the Budget debate in which he demanded more funds for agriculture, health and cross· border projects. In his other speech to the 23rd Dail, he turned from abuses of the tax system to a sharp attack on the failure of the cattle disease eradication schemes.
Gerry L'Estrange (Longford-Westmeath FG)
Traditionally, the enfant terrible of the Dail, illness curtailed his involvement since the last election and he made just three contributions, all tame relative to his usual behaviour.
Terry Leyden (Roscommon FF)
A driving ambition, intensified by local rivalry with Sean Doherty. He has proved capable as the junior Minister in Posts and Telegraphs, especially in his handling of Dail questions.
Michael Lynch (Meath FF)
Straight to the point in his maiden speech on the Budget last June: "It is a national disgrace that over a number of years hotels across this country have been provided with Bord Failte assistance and grants and do little if anything to promote Irish dancing and Irish culture." Lynch plays in a ceili band. He also got the geriatric ward in Trim into this discourse on the nation's finances.
Denis Lyons (Cork North Central FF)
Opened several of his contributions in Irish and peppered them with swipes at Fine Gael. He denounced "unscrupulous landlords" and questioned some aspects of his own party's bill in one of the debates on de-controlling rents. In July, he welcomed the rescue of Whitegate refinery and in the Bud· get debates urged politicians to show "nationalist spirit" and "pride in our· selves". Paradigm of a Fianna Fail populist.
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Sean McCarthy (Tipperary South FF)
Has not made a speech in either of his two Dail terms. He has kept up a modest flow of parliamentary questions on local issues, such as public lighting in Cashel and the waiting list of patients for hip joint replacements in South Tipperary .
Charlie McCreevy (Kildare FF)
For one of the most highly profiled TDs of the last Dail his contribution to debates was negligible. In fact one could say he hardly made a speech. He did make a number of interventions over two days in the budget debate and on the Finance Bill but it was all very inconsequential.
Tommy McEllistrim (Kerry North FF)
Minister for State at the Department of Forestry and Fisheries, it was not clear why that Department needed an additional minister. This was the minister who saw his Justice colleague to his room on the night of the Ford Granada skid outside Tralee.
Denis McGinley (Donegal South West FG)
His two speeches to the last Dail were both delivered entirely in Irish, the first on 24 March on the Sea Fisheries Bill, the second on 11 June on the Department of the Gaeltacht estimates. In question time, he has insisted that Donegal needs a dog pound.
Larry McMahon (Dublin South West FG)
Basically a councillor, his one contribution in the last Dail was to initiate an adjournment debate in June on delays in teachers taking up new posts.
Ray MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim FF)
Clearly very able. He quickly abandoned the boom and bloom line on discovering the cold realities on the ledgers of the Department of Finance. It was he, more than Haughey, who held the line on public expenditure and there was evidence of strain between the two following the capitulation on the PRSI issue prior to the Dublin West by-election. It was MacSharry who proved Haughey's closest and most effective ally in both the leadership contests which have occurred since the last election. His dependability may not be assured another time however.
Maurice Manning (Dublin North East FG)
One of the few members of the Dail to stand out against the manipulative and conspiratorial politics of The Workers' Party. In spite of that he is one of the least partisan TDs in the Dail. He spoke on five occasions since being elected in February and was entrusted by Garret FitzGerald with drawing up proposals for the reform of the Dail with John Bruton.
Bernard Markey (Louth FG)
Always busy during question time, he spoke. six times during the last Dail, in the Budget debate and on departmental estimates. On 29 June, he urged more funds for Irish Steel, because he believed it to be strategically important for the state to have its own steel production facility. Earlier in June, he had spoken at length on the implications of the Brandt Report on world North-South relations for Irish aid to developing countries.
Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central FG)
Spoke often but without effect. However he did manage to be suspended from the Dail on 7 July.
Jim Mitchell (Dublin West FG)
Among his five speeches to the 23rd Dail was one on the Postal and Telecommunications Bill, which he used as an occasion to raise the issues of Leinster House phones with over-ride facilities. His private members' motion demanding the declaration of a crime emergency initiated a long debate on the subject. Certain to be Minister for Justice again in a FitzGerald government.
Bobby Molloy (Galway West FF)
Makes frequent and productive use of question time to get answers to constituency queries and assemble information about government departments. He did not make any formal speech to the 23rd Dail. Otherwise pre-occupied.
David Molony (Tipperary North FG)
In his second Dail term, he spoke four times, as well as putting in supplementary questions at question time. On 23 March, he initiated an adjournment debate on the closure of the Mogul mines. In the Budget debate, he attacked Mr. Haughey for yielding to pressures for more public spending from well organised lobbies.
P. J. Morley (Mayo East FF)
He said nothing at all since the last election and we are not sure he has said anything since first being elected to the Dail in 1977.
Michael Moynihan (South Kerry Lab.)
He spoke on four occasions during the course of the last Dail. All the contributions were thoughtful and thorough, however they could just as easily have been made by a backbencher from either of the two larger parties.
Ciaran Murphy (Wicklow FF)
He spoke on just three days out of the 51 of the last Dail. He spoke a few times on the Finance Bill but made no major contribution. He spoke on the motion on the closure of the Ardmore Studios and then on a motion setting up a Joint Committee on cooperation with developing countries.
N Liam Naughten Roscommon FG) His predominantly local concerns have been fully reflected in his many questions, sometimes followed up in debate. He made four formal speeches in the last Dail, on the delay in building the Ballyforan briquette factory, demanding more finance for local authority housing, suggesting that the ability to service national debts depended \on negotiating "fresh productive lending", and pressing the farmers' case for higher compensation for reactor cattle. Ted Nealon (Sligo-Leitrim FG) Even as Minister of State was saved from having to speak for the Coalition government. He kept his record completely clean in the last Dail, not even necessarily present when his questions were being given written answers. These concern school repairs, water supply schemes, arterial drainage and, telephone exchanges in his constituency. Michael Noonan (Limerick West FF) Occasionally obliged to take the chair when the Ceann Comhairle and Leas Ceann Comhairle are absent. His only other contributions to the last Dail were very rare short interventions, but no formal speeches. Michael Noonan (Limerick East FG) Spoke four times in the last Dail. He spoke in March on the Social Welfare Bill and on Health Contributions Regulations. In an adjournment debate last May he attacked plans to have trans-Atlantic flights over-fly Shannon airport. A major "find" for Fine Gael and almost certain to be in a Fine Gael government. O
William O'Brien (Limerick West FG)
With one of the safest seats in the business, and now going into probably his last term, he kept mum throughout the 23rd Dail. Highly respected, however, within his party.
John O'Connell (Dublin South Central Ind.)
As Ceann Comhairle, he did not make formal speeches, but his rulings roused much comment. With high pressure on time and many contested rulings from the chair, procedural wrangles were common. New member Maurice Manning and many others declared himself confused with the "diametrically opposed rulings" which were given from one day to another, depending on who was in the chair.
William O'Dea (Limerick East FF)
He told the Dail last May that he had been warned, on entering politics, that he would find "Dail Eireann was a talking shop". The prediction had been borne out, he said, and he pleaded with members to say more honestly what they really feel about matters before the House. Argued details of the Budget (urging caution in taxing people for their company cars) and of proposals to de-control rents.
Tom O'Donnell (East Limerick FG)
He spoke on just three occasions in the last Dail - clearly his European Parliament obligations are a hindrance to him as they are to others with the dual mandate.
Martin O'Donoghue (Dun Laoghaire FF)
Busier in opposition than in government, he did speak up in the government's defence on the summer confidence motion, turning it into an attack on the Opposition's "no hope" attitude to the economy. Just before the summer recess, he was given the responsibility for steering a batch of 51 minor estimates through the Dail.
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan FF)
Three very brief interventions on Department of Health and Social Welfare matters, generally in the wake of statements from Michael Woods. On 9 June, he suggested rationalising all means tests for health or social welfare purposes into one officer in one department. Steady flow of parliamentary questions, mainly servicing constituent's queries.
Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West FG)
Very modest parliamentary load as Minister of State for Development Co-Operation, returned to issues in that brief when in Opposition. Attacked the Social Welfare Bill allowing benefit payments to strikers being pushed through the Dail before the summer recess as a Fianna Fail attempt to please The Workers' Party. Frequent questions on local and national matters.
Michael O'Kennedy (Tipperary North FF)
In four formal speeches to the last Dail, he told the Dail that the EEC had become unnecessarily pre-occupied with the issue of its own budget, that government spending on health and social welfare could be cut by taking medical cards from those who can afford to pay for medical services and tougher controls on people claiming benefits fraudulently, that administration of social insurance and the promotion of external investment in Ireland are too expensive and that he was confident Nenagh would get decentralised government offices. His speeches had weight and point.
Michael O'Leary (Dublin Central Lab/FG)
Was deeply unhappy throughout the period of the Dail as leader of the Labour Party, primarily because of ill-will between he and Cluskey. He himself was painfully aware of the incongruity of someone with his instincts and preferences being leader of the working class movement in Ireland and this, coupled with frustration over the electoral strategy decision, eventually drove him into the uncertain arms of Fine Gael.
Des O'Malley (Limerick East FF)
As Trade and Commerce minister, he had a couple of largely technical bills to look after, giving little scope for any demonstration of his undoubted oratorical ability. His mind on other things, he gave little attention to the demise of the government.
Toddy O'Sullivan (Cork North Central Lab.)
In his three speeches to the last Dail, he criticised the contracts which give doctors a certain number of bed-days in public hospitals, expressed some of his former Post Office work-mate's worries about dividing P & T into two semi-state bodies, and drew attention to the strange manner in which the Smurfit Group closed Eagle Printing Ltd, in Cork.
Paddy O'Toole (Mayo East FG)
The man who almost brought you not just a £12m international airport at Knock but also a £10m international sports complex there, spoke just three times in the Dail during the last term. One of these interventions being on the Udaras na Gaeltachta issue, which he did a lot to highlight.
Nora Owen (Dublin North FG)
Made four substantial contributions on diverse topics, from the Litter Bill ("close to my heart") to development cooperation. She supported Alan Shatter in demanding clarification of the Department of Health's attitude to the death of children at their parents' hands. In the Budget debate last May, she stated that "the people of this country are getting heartily sick of the whole political system."
P
Seamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny Lab.)
One of the least active of the Labour TDs in the Dail, only coming to life before the summer recess on the Fieldcrest factory closure and the following no-confidence motion. Made three interventions in all.
Paddy Power (Kildare FF)
Temporarily released from the constraints of his Ministry of Defence, which obliged him to make a number of routine appearances in the Dail, he took a broad sweep over economic policy in a speech ostensibly prompted by a resolution on raising excise rates. He spoke up for the race. horse-owners (they don't make money, they have money), looked forward to more decentralisation and clearly had no idea of the shift to come in Fianna Fail's economic stance: "For too long we have been listening to such things as we will all be ruined Mrs. Hanrahan if the rain don't stop" and it is high time the Coalition dropped that attitude. Thank God this ocon agus ocon is over and the sackcloth and ashes and the rending of their garments by these political pharisees is settled. We heard their swan song last January. Now light and hope have dawned and the people are glad Fianna Fail are back in office. "They may not be. But Paddy Power will be back."
Q
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East Lab.)
Pushed hard to take the initiative in the Dail with a private bill aimed at controlling land prices (leading to the establishment of an inquiry) and a private members' motion demanding better consumer protection for house purchasers. Attacked the Gregory deal and the closure of the Ardmore Studios but reserved some of his strongest words for The Workers' Party's "opportunism".
R
Albert Reynolds (Longford-Westmeath FF)
One of the ablest ministers in the cabinet, having now proved his mettle in Posts and 'Telegraphs and Transport and Power, as well as Industry and Energy. His loyalty to Charles Haughey is now very much in question, while his refusal to become director of elections for Fianna Fail carries messages all of their own.
John Ryan (Tipperary North Lab.)
Out of his depth with the Trade and Commerce brief, which party whip Mervyn Taylor took over in practice, John Ryan's principal contribution to the last Dail was a speech on the Postal and Telecommunications Bill covering ground well trodden in other contributions. He argued for maintenance of the unified service. Uses the Dail mainly as the hub of his well-oiled constituency service.
S
Alan Shatter (Dublin South FG)
In his two Dail terms, he has covered a wide range of legal, social and financial matters, using parliamentary questions skilfully to elicit policy as well as information. The Social Welfare Bill, Rent Restrictions Bill, the Postal and Telecommunications Bill and Department of Health estimates all attracted his probing attention.
P.J. Sheehan (Cork South West FG)
His two formal contributions to the last Dail were on the Sea Fisheries Bill, when he deplored Castletownbere 's disadvantage as a fishing port in being serviced by a "Burma strip" of a road, and on the Planning Bill, when he protested at delays in processing planning applications and the excessive proportion of refusals.
Joe Sherlock (Cork East WP)
Spreading the work with his two more recently elected party colleagues, he was less busy in the 23rd Dail than in the previous one. He made a short speech on the Finance Bill and deflected the attack from the government over the Fieldcrest closure. In his short time in the Dail he has qualified to chair debates on a couple of occasions.
Liam Skelly (Dublin West FG)
Introduced to the Dail on 1 June, he has not yet spoken there or busmitted a question. He may never again have the chance.
Dick Spring (Kerry North Lab.)
After a very busy first Dail as minister of state he took a fairly low-key approach to the 23rd Dail, until he had greatness and a government collapse thrust upon him. Discussing the Health estimates, he quickly got to particular
deficiencies in the services in Co. Kerry. He brought the summer no-confidence debate on to his familiar ground of law reform and crime prevention. And he warned that the re-organisation of the postal
services proposed in the Postal and Telecommunications Bill would lead to a worsening of postal services in the country-side. More will be expected of him in the next Dail.
T
Mervyn Taylor (Dublin South West Lab.)
There was always a specific point to his many interventions in the last Dail, where he followed the piecemeal changes to patents and company legislation all the way. Expanded on industrial policy persuasively in the Budget debate. Without waffle, but also without wit.
Godfrey Timmins (Wicklow FG)
Limped after his Wicklow colleague, Gemma Hussey, in raising the issue of the Ardmore Studios closure (ideal because of its proximity to Wicklow, the garden of Ireland, he remarked). That was his single, not at all earth· shattering, speech in the 23rd Dail.
Noel Treacy (Galway East FF)
Came into the Dail just eight days before it was dissolved, He'll be back. But what will he say? Will he say anything at all?
Sean Treacy (Tipperary North Lab.)
In just two speeches to the 23rd Dail he joined a long line of other Labour speakers in warning against the division of P & T into two independent parts and led off for the party on the Dail's fin~ day with a strong attack on the health cuts. The health boards, he claimed, have be· come "an avaricious monster gobbling up millions of pounds per day and providing little in return ... remote, cumbersome and inefficient." Solid stuff but nothing new.
Jim Tunney (Dublin North West FF)
As Leas Ceann Comhairle in the 22nd and 23rd Dail did not contribute to debates but occasionally showed off his knowledge of classical literature.
W
Joe Walsh (Cork South West FF)
Not a heckle, nor a "hear, hear" to be heard from him.
Sean Walsh (Dublin South West FF)
Made just two brief speeches in the 22nd Dail, repeating himself extensively, on the Clondalkin Paper Mills c!0lure. Silent in the last Dail.
Michael Woods (Dublin North East FF)
Given one of the most controversial government briefs to handle in the context of cutbacks in the health service, and one of the most demanding in Dail time given the never-ending queue of questions about welfare payments allegedly delayed or denied and about deficient hospital services. He put in a workmanlike performance.
Pearse Wyse (Cork South Central FF)
In his sole contribution to the last Dail (having made just one contribution to the previous Dail) he denounced the Combat Poverty Committee as a "disaster" and approved the government's still-born National Community Development Agency.
Y
Ivan Yates (Wexford FG)
Intervened five times, mainly in the Budget debates where he attacked the imposition of VAT at the point of entry and dwelt long on the disincentives to work in the