Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a rá go gcuirim fáilte roimh seachtain na Gaeilge sa Teach seo agus ar fud na tíre freisin mar is deis mór é seo ár dteanga dhúchais a labhairt. Ní minic a chloistear an Ghaeilge sna sráideanna nó sa Dáil agus áiteanna eile, agus is mór an trua é sin. Ba cheart go mbainfimis úsáid aisti chomh minic agus is féidir chun í a choinneáil beo agus ár ndúchas freisin.

As well as that, Seachtain na Gaeilge reminds us that we are a united, democratic and independent nation. We are a proud nation and are very interested in our future. Therefore, we ought to have the same objectives to keep our teanga, culture and heritage alive, as well as protecting our citizens. Our citizens ought to be fairly treated but they are not and is mór an trua é sin. It would appear that there is a hierarchy sa tír seo. There is a hierarchy in Ireland today and, sadly, morality does not even come into the picture sa tír seo. It would appear that this Government sees no difference between right and wrong any more. Is rud uafásach é sin.

In referring to comhaontú Páirc an Chrócaigh II, an tUasal Walter Cullen, who is a spokesperson for the UNITE trade union, stated the cuts being proposed cannot be sustained by the workers nor can they be anything other than disastrous for jobs ar fud na tíre. This comment came from one of the country's leading trade unionists. In addition, it is not justifiable that na banaltraí agus na gardaí on the front line should be obliged to accept such savage cuts. It has been proposed under this agreement that those earning between €35,000 and €40,000 per annum would be obliged to accept a cut of up to 8%. This is not acceptable but it does not simply stop there. Those who earn more than €100,000 per annum only stand to lose 6%. Tá sé sin uafásach ar fad and is totally unjust. Tá na daoine ar fud na tíre ag feitheamh, which leads me to mo cheist.

Why did the Taoiseach return to the Croke Park agreement and start these cuts with na daoine beaga? Why should they stand to lose more? They have worked and strived so hard down all the years and did nothing wrong. Is daoine an-mhaith ar fad iad. I believe the Taoiseach perceives the ordinary taxpayers as simple scapegoats to pay for the sins of the bankers, the Government's predecessors, regulators agus daoine mar sin.

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