The not-so-serious-stuff...

DeVore

Time for some questions of a lighter nature I think....

Have you ever fallen asleep during those (seemingly tedious) dail sessions?

Do people bug you in restaurants about policy or when you are out with your family?

Did you really pretend to be dead during a speech once? (or was that a tabloid style rumour?)


DeV.

oppenheimer1

Some constituents I'm sure can be unreasonable and some can make some downright bizarre requests of their representatives. What has been the oddest representation made to you since you were elected?


Oh and is all the real debate actually held in the Dáil bar?

Dirk Gently

what was the story with seizure-gate. various stories of you rolling around on the floor? also, pics or GTFO.

PaulGogartyTD

DeVore wrote: »

Time for some questions of a lighter nature I think....

Have you ever fallen asleep during those (seemingly tedious) dail sessions?

Do people bug you in restaurants about policy or when you are out with your family?

Did you really pretend to be dead during a speech once? (or was that a tabloid style rumour?)


DeV.

Closed my eyes once or twice during long budget debates with the oxygen in short demand. Dozed off at a meeting once but never in the Dail.

People 'bug' me all the time, out shopping, at functions, in restaurants, walking, with kids. Some are people I know for years and don't mind the chat. Sometimes you are stuck for time and it's rude for your family to keep talking when they are trying to do something with you, but it's rude to cut them short too so you are trying to find the balance.

It's the drunken boors who come up to you at weddings and the like and talk ****e that are the irritating ones.

I didn't pretend to be dead, that's a myth. I outined what happened on Tubridy's show yesterday and will respond in more detail as per another questioner's specific query later on....

PaulGogartyTD

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Some constituents I'm sure can be unreasonable and some can make some downright bizarre requests of their representatives. What has been the oddest representation made to you since you were elected?


Oh and is all the real debate actually held in the Dáil bar?

I was offered money in all seriousness by an asian gentleman once, after calling to their house to discuss an issue. He seemed to be under the impression that there was a call out charge... Perhaps the fact that many politicians have "clinics" means that they get confused with doctors.

The most unusual request was from a constituent who needed concrete blocks. I tried to get them second hand and from various sources, but it didn't work out and said family was having a problem with neighbours. At the end of the day I bought some and had them delivered to the house. Couldn't afford to do that every day, but the family had a case and it was the right thing to do.

The Dail bar is a place of respite where people can discuss things without being bothered and also relax. Would be nice if alcohol was only served in the public bar, but that would be too much to ask.

deelite

Hi Paul

These are serious questions - my kids have asked me to ask you:

Did you watch the Xfactor or Strictly Come Dancing?

If you had to (really and truly had to) would you appear on "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" or "Celebrity Big Brother"

And finally and this is the biggie -

Can you pass through the Dail the No Homework Bill when you go in to work tomorrow?

Terry

Hi. I'd like to run for President at the next election. It will be my first opportunity, as I will not turn 35 until next month.
I'll be running on the platform: "I'm not Bertie Ahern".
Would you be willing to support my bid?

Also, any chance of getting Eircom to make a deduction on my next bill? My internet was down between 10am and about 5pm today.
Serious stuff. I almost missed this week's episode of "No Ordinary Family", and my Farmville crops withered.

Finally; regarding your infamous "**** you, Deputy Stagg" incident.
As a constituent of North Kildare and someone who has always given Emmett Stagg my first preference vote, I feel that your comment was an indirect insult towards me.

I would like to be invited to the Dáil and have you make a formal apology to me, followed by free beer in the Dáil bar.
Fúck the rest of the people in North Kildare. This is all about me. The rest of them can't post here.

Dirk Gently

did paul engineer all these shenanigans with the liverpool fc sale to divert my attention away from reading this board today?

johnnyskeleton

Oasis or blur?

PaulGogartyTD

deelite wrote: »

Hi Paul

These are serious questions - my kids have asked me to ask you:

Did you watch the Xfactor or Strictly Come Dancing?

If you had to (really and truly had to) would you appear on "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" or "Celebrity Big Brother"

And finally and this is the biggie -

Can you pass through the Dail the No Homework Bill when you go in to work tomorrow?

Watched X Factor and thought Mary Byrne was the best and sang in tune.

If I had to, I would go on either, but for family reasons I wouldn't spend that long away from home. I would miss my wife and kids too much. It would have to be a LOT of money GUARANTEED to go to charity.

Supposed to be meeting a group from Colaiste Padraig Lucan at 11. It's very late now and I haven't even got to shave yet. Homework is a bit like NAMA and banking bailout. Very unpalatable and unpopular, but probably useful at the end of the day.

PaulGogartyTD

Terry wrote: »

Hi. I'd like to run for President at the next election. It will be my first opportunity, as I will not turn 35 until next month.
I'll be running on the platform: "I'm not Bertie Ahern".
Would you be willing to support my bid?

Also, any chance of getting Eircom to make a deduction on my next bill? My internet was down between 10am and about 5pm today.
Serious stuff. I almost missed this week's episode of "No Ordinary Family", and my Farmville crops withered.

Finally; regarding your infamous "**** you, Deputy Stagg" incident.
As a constituent of North Kildare and someone who has always given Emmett Stagg my first preference vote, I feel that your comment was an indirect insult towards me.

I would like to be invited to the Dáil and have you make a formal apology to me, followed by free beer in the Dáil bar.
Fúck the rest of the people in North Kildare. This is all about me. The rest of them can't post here.

Yeah, seeing as I apologised for my use of such language in such an inappropriate forum I will gladly apologise to your face. If you manage to find me, a pint is yours.

If you run for president better make sure Bertie is running first, otherwise you will have to change your slogan.

PaulGogartyTD

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Oasis or blur?

That choice would be Oasis, but I was into the Cardigans at the time.

PaulGogartyTD

clown bag wrote: »

what was the story with seizure-gate. various stories of you rolling around on the floor? also, pics or GTFO.

OK last post of the night/morning, seeing as I promised.

There was an incinerator meeting in Rathcoole and myself and Frances Fitzgerald got into heated words against each other when speaking to the assembled masses. It did not go down well. As such we were warned to stick to the point about how we would work to assist the campaign against an incinerator near the village. I thought we had both agreed to these rules of engagement.

When Ms Fitzgerald got up to speak, she immediately started bashing John Gormley, which I thought was choice given that she and her colleagues had voted for incineration as part of the Dublin Waste Management Strategy and it was the rainbow government that made it official policy.

I was sitting at the front row of about 400 people facing the organising committee. Senator Fitzgerald was at the podium and those chairing the meeting from the community group RAID were up at the top facing us.

When Fitzgerald started her Gormley routine I tried to subtly attract the attention of the organising committee. First I got down to my knees and immediately slumped to the floor as if what she had said had knocked me out. As soon as I was on the floor I was off it because the move was aimed at attracting the committee's attention without being seen by those in the crowd.

That might seem strange but the logic was that I didn't want to stand up and be accused of grandstanding. So I made my gesture very quickly, and then while still on my knees made a "winding the crank up" gesture as if to say stop this, she is winding it up (and leaving me with no alternative but to bite back in my contribution, I thought, but when it came to the crunch, I stuck to my supporting the community speech).

The gesture lasted about four or five seconds, less than half a second on the ground. Very few people saw it, which was my intention. Dramatic, but not intended for the public.

That would have been the end of it, but FG notified the Irish Times and when asked about it I said something to the effect that hypocrisy always has that effect on my psyche and that I couldn't promise it wouldn't happen again.

In doing so I perpetuated it to the extent that the myth was created that I rolled around the floor (untrue), feigned an epileptic fit (untrue) and that this was done in full public view from a stage (untrue).

Of course the downside aside from the IT article was that Fine Gael, in the name of Brian Hayes, subsequently sent out a press statement questioning my mental health. That to me was unfair, because if I had had particular mental health issues, it was insensitive and intrusive, and if I hadn't it was making light of what is a serious issue that involves hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland.

These issues were touched on in an interview on Ryan Tubridy the other day, which I hope I covered honestly and accurately.

It was an eccentric thing to do, I admit, but I am a bit of a dramatist at times and it had a targeted audience with a specific message in mind.

Which is the more worrying, a sane and sober TD trying to make a point in an unusual manner, or a Senator trying to drive home in a drunken state?

On that note I say goodnight to all. It has been a draining but interesting experience thus far. I will try and wrap it up tomorrow.

DeVore

Thank you for the obvious effort you have put in. I do hope you can cover the rest (and we are ceasing the flow of questions now you'll be glad to hear!).

DeV.

Terry

PaulGogartyTD wrote: »

That choice would be Oasis, but I was into the Cardigans at the time.

Great band.
I met Nina Persson in Dublin last year. I think I scared her.

PaulGogartyTD

DeVore wrote: »

Thank you for the obvious effort you have put in. I do hope you can cover the rest (and we are ceasing the flow of questions now you'll be glad to hear!).

DeV.

Thanks, there may be one or two questions I missed, but I hope I covered the large percentage. If there are any outstanding, let me know and I can respond later.

My responses have been intermittent and over a 36 hour period. However I have done my best to provide honest and where possible comprehensive answers, especially when I was still fully awake!

It is not possible to do this on an ongoing basis, as you can understand, but I found the process useful and the questions interesting and mostly genuine.

It would be interesting to get feedback from members as to whether they felt the process was useful, notwithstanding that they may have disagreed with some responses, and whether they believe I made a genuine effort to engage and respond honestly.