Tag Archives: Verona Murphy


Yesterday evening.

Dail Eireann.

Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara challenged Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on his plan to extend covid emergency legislation for a further three months.

He also took issue with a tweet from the Minister:

Mr McNamara said:

“While looking at this debate in my office I noticed that there was a tweet a couple of minutes ago and indeed it was from your good self, the Minister for Health, saying that everybody who opposed this was reckless. With regard to being reckless, it was reckless to have such a disregard for Parliament and for the Dáil, not for me or Deputy Connolly, or any of the Deputies here, but for the people that we represent because it is the essence of democracy. One thing that Fianna Fáil always had, that party the Minister joined so late in the day, was a fairly healthy respect for parliamentary democracy.

“If the Minister wants to talk about recklessness, it is reckless to run down a health service the way our health service has been run down. The Minister did not run it down, but there are three members of the Cabinet in which he sits who had collective responsibility for running it down.

“The Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he was the Minister for Health, came up with the HSE as a way to spend money on reports. The Tánaiste, Deputy Leo Varadkar, when he was the Minister could not get out of there fast enough. The Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, caused a general election when he was the Minister for Health. We thought he was the most inept Minister for Health ever, or at least we were told that by some Fianna Fáil canvassers before the last election.

“That was reckless to run down a health service the way they did. It was reckless to fail to do anything about it when getting into office, which is what the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has done. Where is the additional capacity that he spoke about and that he asked about when he was on the Covid committee? It is simply not there. Cholera hospitals were built in this city in response to a cholera outbreak. TB sanatoria were built all over the State in response to that. We had €23 billion. What was the €23 billion spent on apart from masks that are now clogging up our sewerage systems, which was junk that was brought in from China? What was the €23 billion spent on? We have nothing to show for it. Such a wanton waste of Exchequer funding is simply reckless.

“If the Minister wants to talk about recklessness, it is reckless to deny children the ability to play sports during a pandemic when they are locked up in their homes. It is reckless to tell them it is safe to sit in a classroom for six hours a day but not safe to play sports. It is reckless because of the effect it has on their formation and particularly on their mental health.

“This is the case with some children whose parents have come to me to complain about what is going on. It is reckless to fail to look at schools and their ventilation, and to spend €23 billion without remedying this. Last winter it was understandable because it was all new but we are heading into our second winter with nothing done. I put it to the Minister that this is reckless.

“Above all, it is reckless to fail to look at the science and to pretend that we are following the science but instead lurch from hysterical reaction to hysterical reaction. Let us look at the vaccines and let us look at their efficiency and efficacy. There are studies about this. Vaccines of course have stopped people from getting seriously ill, but now we know of waning immunity.

“We now know that how infectious somebody is, whether they are vaccinated or not, varies relatively little. We know that there is an enduring immunity from recovery. There are also question marks still about masks and about how small are the particles by which the virus is spread. Are they so small that masks do not capture them? If the Minister wants to talk about recklessness let us talk about it, but also have an honest reflection upon his role and how reckless he has been.”

Meanwhile…

Yesterday evening.

Dail Eireann.

Independent Wexford TD Verona Murphy also opposed the extension of emergency powers…

“I have had contact with many disgruntled constituents who are wondering why we did not open on 22 October as was planned. I share many of their concerns. There seems to be an attitude from the Government to try to extend its power with these restrictions under the guise of being precautionary, yet as soon as they are passed they are being used as a matter of course rather than as an emergency power.

“I also have another major concern which needs to be met head-on. Why are Government Members and policies being designed to scapegoat those who decided, for whatever reason, that they did not want, or could not take, the vaccine? We have the highest vaccination rates in Europe. I would like to commend all of the hard-working staff in all of the vaccination centres who have been very confident in their roll out of the vaccine programme. The constant scapegoating of the unvaccinated does not stand up to scrutiny or evidence and is completely unwarranted.

“Every time we see evidence of a failure in Government policy, the narrative shifts to find the latest random thing to blame it on. There has yet to be any evidence presented which shows that vaccine passports actually serve any purpose in preventing transmission. In fact, recent studies have shown that a vaccinated person is every bit as likely to transmit this virus as a non-vaccinated person. Therefore, why is the Government continuing to divide society on this basis? Some of the language used by Ministers…”

Mr Donnelly interjected:

“Deputies, that information is false and it is really important that Members of Parliament do not spread anti-vaccine information like this in the Chamber.”

Adding:

“It is so damaging in terms of the anti-vaccine campaign.”

Ms Murphy continued:

There is nothing anti-vax about some of the constituents contacting me. They are contacting me and telling me they are unable to take a vaccine. It is stupid to tell people they can attend weddings without certificates…if the same people cannot then go out to a restaurant the next day because they are being labelled as unvaccinated.”

Transcripts via Oireachtas.ie

Last night: Three More Months

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Prime Time on RTÉ One.

Verona Murphy, Independent Wexford TD and President of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), raises a sceptical covid tone rarely heard in Montrose to host Miriam O’Callaghan’s visible and audible incredulity.

FIGHT!

This afternoon.

Verona Murphy, who ran as an independent after her deselection by Fine Gael for comments she made about Muslim immigrants during a by-election in Wexford last November, has taken the last seat in the five-seat constituency. Also…

…Sinn Féin’s Johnny Mythen topped the poll, with Labour leader Brendan Howlin, Fianna Fáil’s James Browne and Fine Gael’s Paul Kehoe all elected. Minister of State Michael D’Arcy of Fine Gael lost his seat, as did Fianna Fáil’s Malcolm Byrne who was elected following the by-election last November.

Independent Candidate Verona Murphy Elected In Wexford (Newstalk)

Previously: Verona Murphy on Broadsheet.

“Well, if Fine Gael sought to silence her, we well and truly failed – I think is the first thing to say.

“And I think the second thing to say is the decision to deselect her is looking better by the moment.”

Health Minister Simon Harris commenting on deselected Fine Gael Wexford candidate Verona Murphy’s most recent comments.

Earlier:

A roadside Verona Murphy Poster in Wexford during the recent by-election

This morning.

Deselected Fine Gael Wexford candidate Verona Murphy gave an interview to South East Radio’s Morning Mix.

Via Independent.ie:

She said she was silenced by the party and subject to a media ban in the final days of her recent by-election campaign.

Speaking to South East Radio on Thursday, Ms Murphy said she had raised the issue of migrants as a security issue. “I apologise for the words I use. I stand over the fact it is a security issue,” she said.

In her unsuccessful by-election campaign, Ms Murphy said asylum seekers coming to Ireland have to be “deprogrammed” as they “carry angst” and may have been “infiltrated” by Isil. She also claimed that children as young as three were being “manipulated” by Isil.

Ms Murphy said that in her role as president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) she was at the “coalface” of the issue of migrants trying to get into the country.

She said she had attended security briefings from MI5 and Interpol on the issue of migration. “I doubt anybody in Dáil has as much experience of the migrant issue as I have,” she said.

Now watch me migrate to the far right

Listen back here

‘Do we have to wait to have a London Bridge incident on Wexford bridge?’ – Verona Murphy insists she’s not a racist (Independent.ie)

Verona Murphy to decide on future as general election independent candidate (RTÉ)

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael Wexford by-election candidate Verona Murphy

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ:

Verona Murphy has confirmed to RTÉ News that she is to be deselected as a general election candidate by Fine Gael.

Ms Murphy said she is going to take a break from politics over Christmas, and will assess her options in the New Year.

During the by-election campaign Ms Murphy apologised after claiming that some asylum seekers coming to Ireland have to be “deprogrammed” as they “carry angst” and may have been “infiltrated by ISIS”.

Murphy confirms she will be deselected as a Fine Gael candidate (RTÉ)

Previously: Verona Murphy on Broadsheet

This morning/afternoon.

Wexford By-Election Count.

Verona Murphy the Fine Gael candidate, with her party’s Director of Elections, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan after arriving in the count centre at St Joseph’s Club Community Centre, Bishopswater, Wexford. Mr Flanagan, following the third count (above), declared: “It’s all to play for.”

Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

This morning/Afternoon.

Dublin Fingal by-election count.

Green Party candidate Joe O’Brien talks to the media (top) as Fianna Fáil Candidate Lorraine Clifford Lee she arrives at the count centre in the National Show Centre,

Quotas yet to be reached as counting continues (RTÉ)

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (centre) and Fine Gael by-election candidate Verona Murphy (left) canvassing in Wexford town yesterday

Yesterday.

Main Street, Wexford.

…It was unusual when it comes to a canvas in a county town four days before a by-election, that publicity opportunities would be shunned, but it’s been an unusual campaign for Fine Gael in Wexford.

They [Varadkar and candidate Murphy) largely received a positive reception, with smiles and banter a-plenty between the public and the politicians, although one man in The Book Centre, when asked if he would like to be introduced to the visitors, confided that he would not be seen in such company…

Smiles and banter from Varadkar in Wexford but no time for the waiting press (RTÉ)

Previously: Due Diligence

Pic: RTÉ

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Verona Murphy at the opening of Ms Murphy’s by-election campaign offices in Wexford town last July

This morning.

Via Irish Independent:

Fine Gael’s leadership didn’t know its besieged candidate Verona Murphy was also at the centre of bullying allegations made by a female worker.

The party is embroiled in controversy over its by-election candidate linking migrants with terror group Isil.

Despite concerns within the party about Ms Murphy’s views, Tánaiste Simon Coveney gave a significant show of support yesterday by campaigning with her in Wexford.

Ms Murphy is the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA). Last year, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found an office manager at the IRHA was penalised for raising concerns of alleged bullying by Ms Murphy and others.

The female worker, who is in her 60s, raised a bullying and harassment complaint against the president and claimed Ms Murphy “took umbrage against her for raising such concerns”. Ms Murphy denied the allegations.

Fine Gael sources said the party knew nothing about the matter until now….

Meanwhile…

Fine Gael ‘in dark’ on bullying case against besieged candidate Verona Murphy (irish Independent)

Earlier: Dan Boyle: An Epitaph To Epithets

Top Pic: Wexford Today

Not around the eyes.

This afternoon.

New Ross, County Wexford.

A billboard belonging to Fine Gael by-election candidate Verona Murphy ahead of the Wexford by-election on November 29.

Ms Murphy has caused controversy by suggesting asylum seeker children as young as three need to be “deprogrammed” as they may have been manipulated by ISIS.

Eamonn Farrell/Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

A bream ticket.

Suit yourselves.

Earlier: The Wait Debate

Eamonn Farrell/Rollingnews