Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Well done. However, I do not know whether the Labour Party will hold on to them owing to this legislation. It is a good job the party did not pass it three weeks ago. If it had done so, it would be minus three seats. I suppose we should not be making light of this. Well done to the Labour Party on its three seats and well done to the successful individuals — God bless them and more power to them. I am thinking, however, of the proud history of Clonmel, where the Labour Party was founded. Its members did not even go down there to commemorate the party's 100th anniversary. They shied away. It was not that we were not going to be nice to them; we are not that kind of people. They would be welcome.

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