Spring supports Begg appointment

Kerry Labour Deputy Arthur Spring told the Dáil he was quite satisfied about the appointment of David Begg to the position of chairman of the Pensions Authority because he is “a man of great stature, he has done great service for the country and he is a man to whom the Labour Party would adhere, as would any decent person who would seek to see trade unions represented and any person who would seek to see people's pensions protected.”

Opposing a motion of No Confidence in the Tánaiste, Deputy Spring said he has never done anything wrong by the State or by the people and he is a man “around whom we would all put credit. Unlike some others who have destroyed pensions in this county, he is a man of integrity.”

“Many things have been said about Members of this House and many good people have been appointed to positions who have done good things by this State,” he said. As parliamentarians, it is incumbent upon us to do the best thing by the people. A procedure has been put in place, which I welcome, and there is a clause in it which allows the appointment of David Begg, which I also welcome. One of the key points in that respect is the fact that women will be more represented on State boards than ever before. It is incredible that the two leading parliamentary Opposition parties, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, have only one female parliamentarian seeking re-election. We have always done the right thing by the female population, by 52% of the people of the country, and our leader will do something to make it equitable.”

In speaking about things being equitable and about equities, Deputy Spring some people's character could be described as rakish in terms of what they have done in the past. “They have marched people to the top of the hill and have asked people to pay into public meetings in order for them to talk about how great their objection is to the state the country,” he said. “This is all factual information.”

The Opposition motion was defeated by 82 votes to 32.