Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

He is always on the way. I welcome that but I call on him to be a man and to stand up for Tipperary South. He criticised me over the years and said I would not do things and that I huffed and puffed. However, we kept our hospital and many other services. From Tipperary Town to Carrick-on-Suir, there are threats to valuable projects, community facilities and HSE facilities. This is the latest threat.

There has been innuendo and talk and it is unfair to Army personnel and their wives and families. The wives met in Clonmel last night and I compliment them on that. It is unfair on the wives who have commitments on child care, schools and mortgages. They are not in a position to travel with their spouses to Limerick because it would not pay them. However, their spouses cannot refuse to go. I do not know what will happen. Perhaps Deputy Tom Hayes might provide a bus for them. I call on him to be a man. So many times in the past he has apologised to me and said that he would have to have a go at me over this or that. I said that was no problem and that he could have a go at me. I stand for Tipperary South. On the night of the count following the general election, he said he would not cause trouble and be like Mattie McGrath. I said I cause trouble when I have to in the interests of my electorate in Tipperary South. That is what I am elected to do and will continue to do. I call on Deputy Tom Hayes to be man and not a mouse and to stand up and be counted.

See this speech in context