There is “no reward” for people across Ireland who work, according to Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue.
The Limerick TD was speaking in the Dáil this week to mark Europe Day, which was celebrated on Thursday. The annual day honours peace and unity in Europe, and is held on the anniversary of the ‘Schuman declaration,’ which is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.
Deputy O’Donoghue told the House that he believes Ireland is “surely losing its identity in Europe,” pointing to the significant amount of regulations that come directly from Europe.
“Let us hope in the upcoming European elections it will be an Ireland day. It is heavy-heartedly I say this because we have not heard from the people representing us in Europe in five years,” the TD said.
“They turn up on European election day looking for votes and say, “we are here again.” They say they are here to represent Ireland in Europe. Some 70% of the regulations for Ireland come from Europe. Ireland is slowly and surely losing its identity in Europe.”
He further claimed, with regards to MEPs such as Clare Daly, Mick Wallace and Ming Flanagan, “that we have not heard from any of them in years.”
The TD said that the “biggest disappointment” about Europe Day is that “in Europe, and in Ireland, we punish the people in this country that work.”
“There is no reward for anyone in this country or in Europe that works. Whether you are self-employed and employing people, a tradesperson, whether you are working in a restaurant – no matter where you work in this country there is no reward.
“The only reward you seem to give to people is if they do not work. If two people work in a home and they try to put their children through school or college, there is no reward for them.
“They are told they are working, they can afford to pay for it. Yet if they want to get planning permission for a house, they are charged thousands. If you do not work in this country, you can apply for a house and you will get a house from the State for nothing.
“People in this country who work have no problem working for those who need it and vulnerable people who cannot work. There is no reward in this country for anyone who works and provides for people who cannot work.”
The Deputy went on to say: “There is no system giving people an extra tax credit at the end of the year because they are on the bread line, working 40, 50, 60 hours a week trying to make ends meet. They are building their own houses, paying for their own transport. The Government is taxing them on the fuel, 50%, and they are going to work. It is taxing them on food, it is taxing them on the clothes on their back because they are working. There is no reward.
“How can the Government celebrate Europe Day when it does not celebrate the working person in this country? I hope when the European elections come around that people realise the mistakes they have been making for decades, and that they put independents into Europe where we will finally have a voice and have people who are accountable for the actions in Europe.”
It comes as a new poll has seen more respondents say they would vote for Independents than for any of the political parties, including Sinn Féin, 4 weeks ahead of the local and EU elections on June 7th.
The results of the latest poll for The Journal and Ireland Thinks show 24% of people plan to vote for candidates classed as ‘independents and others’ on 7 June – an increase of 9 percentage points from the 15% recorded last month.