Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman, who is very fair. He did the same when I was talking, for which I apologise. We have a habit of doing that. Maybe when the speaker is not that interesting we wander into that area.

I will keep repeating this while I am in this House. We voted €3 million to run the children's rights referendum and a Supreme Court action was taken. Five Supreme Court judges - not just one - condemned out of hand the behaviour and actions of the Government in squandering and misspending and buying that referendum with false advertising and so on. The Supreme Court judges used stronger words than those. The Minister is a member of Cabinet and he can call me silly if he likes. It did not go down well when he called me silly this morning because I got many calls from people watching it live. Every Deputy is entitled to say what he wants to say here, whether it is on Leaders' Questions or otherwise.

The Government refused to have a debate in this House. The Minister for Justice and Equality appeared on "Six One" news and said the High Court had found differently. He should understand better than anyone that the Supreme Court is higher in the pecking order. The Government has refused to answer the question honestly. A case has been going on in recent weeks seeking to overturn the decision. Maybe it will be overturned - it is up to the judges. What will the Government do then? Is that democracy? Is that fair? Is that the voted expenditure we are discussing here? Money that the House voted - I voted for it - was misappropriated and misspent. I voted against the referendum. Of course I did; why would I not? I was the only Member of this House to do so. That is why, and the Minister cannot describe it as silly. It is flagrantly trampling over Bunreacht na hÉireann and the citizens' rights that go with it.

People other than Oireachtas Members who take a case are told they have no locus standi. This is all a big game to protect the State at all costs. I do not mind protecting the State - my late father fought for our independence. We have to start protecting our citizens and give them fair play. We must understand the Constitution and the rights of the citizens.

Another lady who came into this House to address us today got horrendous abuse from the State and it is still going on. Apropos of the legislation soon to be introduced, it is given a fancy name it should not have. It is literally the introduction of abortion on demand. This lady, God bless her, who was in that situation, was forced by the State to have an abortion.

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