Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Confusion reigns again, and while I want to be positive and I want the Government to be positive in responding to a request, it is typical. We are in the last day of this Dáil session. One month ago a request was made but, typical of the Whip, confusion abounds. People have been denied speaking time because the officials were confused. First Deputies were given five minutes each and then parties were given ten minutes. It is typical of how the Whip handles all issues. I went down this morning to wish his staff a happy break because I do not know how they manage with him. If he was not so busy running into the Seanad Chamber yesterday with letters of dismissal for his colleagues he might have got this one right. It is always the same with bully boy, boot boy and jackboot tactics. This is how the Whip has operated since he took office, as has the Government with guillotines. I condemn it as a shambolic way for the Government and Chief Whip to handle this issue.

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