Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

Several amendments I had tabled on Committee Stage were ruled out of order for the nonsensical reason that it might result in a cost to the Exchequer. The argument does not stand up. The fact that I am speaking in the House today is a cost to the Exchequer. The Acting Chairman being in the Chair is a cost to the Exchequer. The water I drink is a cost to the Exchequer. It is patent nonsense. If that is to be the cornerstone of our democracy we might as well all stay at home and save the Exchequer and give it to Anglo Irish Bank. We are giving it €1.25 billion today. We could give it another €0.5 billion as well. The reason is farcical and I object strenuously to it. I do not blame the Ceann Comhairle but I wonder who is dreaming up these rules. Is this the transparency and open government we were promised? The lads opposite spent a long time on the Opposition benches but they learned a great deal very fast. They must have written down all the things for which they blamed the previous Government and gave it to spin doctors to amalgamate it and mush it up. It is a shame.

To return to the Bill, it would be worthwhile to discuss the amendment if we were to do nothing else today. We need proper answers.

We would be better off without laughter from the few on the benches opposites. Deputy Tom Hayes invited his colleague from Mayo, Deputy Michelle Mulherin, to come to the front bench to sit beside him and make it look good, whether it was for reason of aesthetics or laughter, I do not know. I welcome Deputy Mulherin. Last week in the committee she said she got tired of looking at proceedings on the monitor and she came down to lecture us. I took her to task for it. She is elected in the same way as I am but I was very shocked that she came down to lecture us on the issue.

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