Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

It is on the record if the Deputy would like to check it. His attack on Deputy Wallace in regard to why he was speaking on behalf of our group was disgraceful. We are an Independent Group. We pick people to speak on particular topics. Deputy Wallace and I have as much right to speak as has the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. As I stated last week, the Fianna Fáil Government became arrogant after ten years. This Government has become arrogant after ten months. The arrogance of some Ministers is shameless. I am surprised at the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, who is a good Minister and who I like but he should have more respect for all the Members who are elected to this House. No matter from where they come, they have been elected and they represent the people. While I am unsure of the exact words in my case, he also stated something to the effect that the people had elected extraordinary people. Were the election held today, the Government would experience some extraordinary change. The Labour Party already has lost Deputy Nulty in a case of last in and first out. The Government should be careful and make haste slowly. It should not insult the electorate for electing the Members of this House.

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