LIFE AFTER LEINSTER HOUSE:Bruised but not broken by tough experiences in the last Dáil, Paul Gogarty isn't ruling out a return to politics. Although a Lotto win would help considerably, writes MICHAEL O'REGAN
PAUL GOGARTY, who lost his seat in Dublin Mid West, has not had much contact with his Green Party colleagues since the election, apart from chats with John Gormley and Mary White.
He has been taking some time out from politics, reviving his journalistic career, writing and editing, and he is doing some television work. A keen guitarist, he has played gigs and he has started a blog.
Married with two children, Gogarty (42) has found the absence of political involvement liberating. “There is a huge freedom involved. I have been having a ball with my family.”
Whether he will become politically active again depends on his next career move.
“I need an income to live. You cannot be overtly involved in politics and secure journalistic work.”
He is not ruling out standing for the Dáil again, adding that it could be up to two years or so before he decides either way.
“If I won the Lotto tomorrow, I would record an album as a vanity project, but I would also devote myself to political life. It is a vocation.”
He says he had “two years of abuse” before losing his seat, while his wife, Heidi Mahon, had doors closed on her face while canvassing on his behalf.
When confronted on the doorsteps, Gogarty talked matters out with those prepared to listen.
“I spent a lot of time debating with people, and it was gratifying to hear those who did not vote for me recognise the work I had done.”
He believes the Green Party suffered for remaining in government with Fianna Fáil in the national interest.
“We felt we had a moral obligation to stay in and be a party to unpopular decisions because of the economic crisis. We paid a price for that.”
Although the economic crisis put paid to some of the party’s legislative plans, it did secure reform of the planning laws and halted cutbacks in education, he says.
“I take personal pride in my role in protecting investment in education.”
First elected to the Dáil in 2002, Gogarty’s time in national politics was colourful and sometimes controversial. His use of expletives in exchanges in the Dáil with Labour’s Emmet Stagg made headlines.
He believes, however, that much of the media coverage of him was unfair, consisting of a mixture of exaggeration and half-truths.
“I was portrayed as a bit of a buffoon. The other parties were happy to go along with that image of me.”
Although losing the seat was traumatic, he stresses he is not depressed by it all.
“The months since the election have been the best in a long time. If I ever return to representative politics, I think I will be the better of the experience.”
