Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

The electorate of Tipperary South who sent me here to Dáil Éireann with my colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, and Deputy Tom Hayes, have given clear messages over the past week that they want me to remain within the Government to continue to work on behalf of all the people of south Tipperary to deal with many issues that are of fundamental importance to the constituency. I could name dozens but shall confine myself to just a few. One is South Tipperary General Hospital and St. Michael's unit within it. There is also a need to progress numerous school and road projects.

Our most pressing issues as a Government are to stabilise the economy and to get credit flowing from the banks to hard-pressed businesses and homeowners. It is vital that we stop the haemorrhaging of jobs because of the dramatic effect this is having on families and communities and it is imperative that we ensure that no family home can be allowed to be repossessed, even as there are institutions lining up for repossession orders.

As recent events have shown, the Opposition benches offer very little scope to make a difference. I am in the Dáil to represent my constituents, to make things better for them. I am only interested in making life easier for the people of south Tipperary. I want to help find employment for them. I want to ensure that local issues in south Tipperary have a national voice here in Leinster House. There is no point being locked outside the door when issues relating to my constituency are being debated inside. I do not want to be left alone in the coffee docks of Leinster House, like some lone soldiers from the other parties across the benches, trying to get things done. I want to be in a position to make changes where necessary for the good of my constituents. I may not have been successful this time but my voice has been listened to on other occasions and I have no doubt it will be again in the future. I assure my colleagues on all sides of the House that I will continue to be work hard within my parliamentary party.

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