Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I am glad to resume this debate. I was the last person to speak on it just before the Christmas break. I had some very strong things to say that day. I hoped that when we came back there would be a new year's resolution. I spoke then about the arrogance of the Government after ten months in office. Now we are back here after the Christmas recess, and after time for reflection I find nothing but total disrespect for the people on this side of the House and by extension, for the public. We are seeing Bill after Bill. The House was misled here about the water services Bill two weeks ago on the Order of Business, although I understand the Taoiseach is examining it. Now the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 is back before us without any proper consultation. The water services Bill was guillotined on Committee Stage, which I think set a precedent. This is the transparency, openness and honesty that we were promised by the people on the Government side of the House when they were on these benches. It is a total sham, but the people know that now. They are eagerly waiting for them in the long grass. They will wait as long as they have to, but by God will they get them.

We are now discussing this Bill and our Whip, Deputy Murphy, has written to the Taoiseach about the regulatory impact assessment for the Bill, so that we can have an informed debate about it. The Taoiseach wrote back and said that in an ideal world, an RIA is best completed in tandem with the publication of the Bill. We do not have an ideal world and we do not have an ideal Minister either. I said last year that he should be Minister for job creation. I think he created 45 or 47 jobs in this Bill in one hour before Christmas. I said he would meet them all at Christmas time in a State car and give them Christmas boxes as some of them were his friends. There was no frost this year so he could safely drive, and he could even have worked around. It is a pure mockery of the legislative system to bring this Bill before the House without any impact assessment. It has been going on in every Bill. The arrogance of getting into power with such a huge majority has gone to their heads. They think they can do what they like and disrespect us over here, and a Ceann Comhairle who aids and abets them is unfortunately being biased.

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