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LAST UPDATE | 4 May 2023
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy’s request for a Dáil questions and answers session about his involvement in a protest in Jobstown in 2014 should be facilitated.
Murphy was found not guilty of false imprisonment following the incident but Varadkar has nonetheless previously been critical of the PBP TD’s role.
Varadkar yesterday told the Dáil that Murphy should answer questions on his involvement in the protest after Murphy called for a questions and answers session with Minister of State Niall Collins.
Following Varadkar’s suggestion yesterday, Murphy today tweeted that he would be “happy” to take questions in the Dáil on the incident if Collins also agreed to take questions.
He said he had contacted the Ceann Comhairle to seek to arrange such Dáil time.
“I suggest the same format be utilised for both Minister Collins and me, following recent procedure. In other words, a statement followed by Questions and Answers,” Murphy said.
In a subsequent tweet today, Murphy said that his requested Q&A was not being facilitated.
The Business Committee met and the government did not agree to Niall Collins and me doing Q&A sessions next week.
— Paul Murphy 🏳️⚧️ (@paulmurphy_TD) May 4, 2023
It turns out Varadkar's demand for Q&A about Jobstown was just an attempt to distract from the government's shielding of Niall Collins from any accountability. https://t.co/umMou4472B
When asked about Murphy’s request, Varadkar today said that Murphy was acquitted of the wrongful imprisonment of two women but that what he did was not in line with the code of conduct for TDs, in his view.
“At the time, he didn’t come into the Dáil and didn’t answer any questions. If it is the case that he’s now written to the Ceann Comhairle and has offered to come into the Dáil to take questions, well then we will certainly facilitate that,” he said.
When asked about the Collins coming into the take questions in return, Varadkar:
“I think that’s cynical, and I think that’s unacceptable. He’s either willing to come in and take questions and make a statement in relation to his conduct, his ethics and what he did at that time, I don’t think it should be conditional on what somebody else does. I think that’s really cynical.”
Last week, Collins told the Dáil he had “no doubt” that his actions in relation to the sale of land in Co Limerick in 2008 were legally correct.
That statement came after it was revealed his wife purchased land from Limerick County Council in 2008, after he attended a meeting of the Bruff Area Committee where the sale was proposed.
Collins said the process was “all done in full transparency” and the sale occurred when he was no longer a member of the council.
There was criticism that the minister was permitted to give a statement rather than take questions from the opposition.
Jobstown
The controversial protest took place on n 15 November 2014, at Fortunestown Road in Jobstown, Dublin, when ex-Labour leader Joan Burton was leaving an adult graduation event and was heckled by protesters opposed to water charges being introduced on the back of government-imposed austerity measures.
Along with her adviser Karen O’Connell, the then minister for social protection was placed in a Garda car which was subsequently surrounded by demonstrators for a number of hours.
Murphy and five others were found not guilty of falsely imprisoning the two women.
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Paul Murphy was cleared in a court of law a long time ago. He is being pressured for having the audacity to try hold a sitting minister to account when the mainstream press were in hiding, that’s all
@John O’Reilly: so why is he volunteering to do this?
@Ciaran O’Mara: Varadkar asked why he didn’t, even after being found not guilty, so Murphy is showing he has nothing to hide in an attempt to put pressure on Collins to answer questions. It’s also a disgrace for Varadkar to suggest Murphy broke code of ethics seeing as he leaked confidential contracts to a rival GP group, and was cleared of being investiged by 2 stooges in SIPO and a FG appointed DPP.
@Ciaran O’Mara: Varadkar stated in the Dail Paul Murphy had questions to answer concerning Jobs town. All accused were found not guilty. The judge stated that the guards were not truthful.For want of better words….Now that Varadkar has said he will oblige Paul Murphy..Will Varadkar also support the questions that the opposition wish to ask Niall Collins..One thing about Varadkar, his mouth is not in tune with his brain…Martin will be over the moon with Varadkar..Also is Varadkar stating he does not accept the verdict of the court…It again may take the Attorney General to get him off the hook again.
@Ciaran O’Mara: Because he’s letting Vradkar make a fool of himself
@Ciaran O’Mara: Throwing it back in Leo’s lap, hope leo has the pin still and it doesn’t blow up in his face?
@Ciaran O’Mara: To force Varadkar to put up or shut up, and if he won’t do so, then it appears that Murphy’s accusations of the government circling the wagons to protect Collins is accurate, Allegedly.
@Ciaran O’Mara: All council meetings should be videoed going forward, that FF Minister for State is displaying classic Ray Burke carry on.
Whatever happened to Fianna Fails pledge to clear out all the chancers in the party?
FF,FG and greens behaving like they are untouchable.
Leo walked into that one.
Leo the liar gets more embarrassing by the day.
What are the 4 definitions of leadership?
Authoritative: Leaders mobilise people toward a vision. Affiliative: Leaders create emotional bonds and harmony. Democratic: Leaders build consensus through participation. Pacesetting: Leaders expect excellence and self-direction. Then we have Leo!
Ffg entitled chancers throwing there toys out of the pram, Leo the leak is getting hysterical in his rants
Here we go tit for tat bull shxt from Leo leak…
It’s watching a episode of the muppets
Another day at the creche.
Leo is getting very hot under the collar lately the heat is getting to him can’t hold his anger
Poor Leo he just can see how hypocritical that statement is. Oh roll on a GE
So just waste more tax payers money on something that happened nearly 10 yrs ago and that nobody cares about either.. Fantastic
Such a waste of taxpayers money. Focus and act on real issues.
Two weomen were trapped in there car for over two hours.It was a frightening experience.I believe he could have done more.
@Willie Marty: were you one of those women?….
@Willie Marty: was it not a garda car?
@Willie Marty: Joan B was reading the Daily Mail.
@Willie Marty: Perhaps the 40 guards on duty could have done more…You know the same guards who the judge in the case, all but accused them of telling lies. Seems Varadkar will only recognise a court verdict if it suits him…Perhaps he could get the Attorney General to again get him out of a hole like he did concerning Zappone gate. Will Varadkar now support the opposition questions concerning Niall Collins, as in the same context as the questions put to Paul Murphy…Again Varadkar opened his mouth before his Brain could stop him…
@Willie Marty: so frightening they resorted to giggling.
I hate them all.
Poor old Leo has had his bluff called. SF bashing incoming to deflect. How people vote for this chancer is beyond me.
I’m sick of the madness from the Layabouts Before Workers ilk like Murphy!
That’s the difference between a man and a mouse. A mouse, like Collins, hides; a man will stand up.
For man also read woman.
Paul is just looking for cheap publicity over a non-issue.
His behaviour regarding Joan Burton tells you all you need to know about him.
Looking forward to his performance in cabinet when SF go into government with PBP.
@Arven Nelson: Varadkar is quite willing to have Paul Murphy answer questions in the Dail….Can you please explain the fact Varadkar supported Niall Collins in not answering questions,Bit hypocritical don’t you think..comments closed on a statement made by Martin concerning the Ditch earlier..Varadkar seems to be filling the hypocrisy spot while Martin is busy.
Did he say this before or after the Business Committee ruled it out?
@ Paul: I’m sick of the madness from the corporate establishment lakies like yourself that have blindly marched us into this authoritarian, neo-liberal nightmare.
have your say