Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I am talking about when we started this morning. There were only four Members on the opposite side. There were between 15 and 18 Members present on this side. Having these Friday sittings is merely paying lip-service to reform because they are not meaningful. There is no Order of Business, we cannot vote on this legislation and any vote that is called on it will have to be deferred until next Tuesday. Bills are being rejected out of hand on every Friday sitting, which does not augur well for the way we do business. I am not saying that the Government should accept every proposal that comes from this side of the House but surely this Bill could be accepted as a work in progress document, referred to a committee and amended but whatever else, consultants should not be brought in to consider it. They should be kept away from it because if they are brought in matters will definitely get convoluted as they will want to protect their own skins. They have contacts in the county councils and it is like a merry go around, a nice cosy cartel. It needs to be unshackled, unbuckled and broken. The EU-IMF troika is crucifying us and I cannot understand how it cannot see or expose this waste that is taking place on a daily basis and that it is allowed to continue.

I thank the Chair for his indulgence. I commend Deputy McGuinness on his work on this Bill and I am disappointed that it is not being accepted.

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