Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I rise with pleasure to support my colleague's Bill. I know it is short but much research has gone into it. The Bill is long overdue and I am glad the Government is not opposing it. That is a sign of some resemblance of the new politics in the context of which we are supposed to be operating. I note there will be some amendments but they sound quite reasonable. We will tease them out on Committee Stage.

I welcome the guests, whom I would describe as entrepreneurs, to the Gallery. Some are from Tipperary and some from elsewhere. We need such creative people with the vision, insight and courage to put their money where their mouth is and try to stimulate business. They have an idea, test it and design a product before trying to promote it. They put in the long hard slog as that is what it takes to get something from farm to fork or, as in this case, from the grain to the good craft beers and alcohol products that the Bill aims to support. Activity in this industry has mushroomed. My neighbours, the family of a former colleague of the Minister of State, the late Deputy Theresa Ahearn, are setting up such an enterprise and the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney, launched it in Tipperary. It is on the finest land in the Golden Vale, where the finest of malting barley is grown. It has been stored since last September. It is the Tipperary Boutique Distillery and the name precedes it. We produce some of the best barley and other cereals in the south east and the rest of the country. It is very important that we support what is proposed and it gives me great pleasure to do so.

I am pleased Deputy Alan Kelly has clarified some issues that had given rise to concerns for some people. It is only people who visit and tour a brewery or distillery and who wish to sample or buy some of the products who should come under this legislation. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, is not here but we might have to stay a week in the townland if he gets the alcohol legislation he desires. Even the smell off us when we come out of the brewery would stop us from sitting into the car. I know there is talk of remote-controlled cars but the Government is supporting that legislation, which would be a death knell for rural Ireland. It is an important issue and I do not condone drink-driving or deaths and injuries from such activities. The legislation to which I refer is ridiculous and it would achieve the exact opposite of what the Bill us is seeks to achieve and what all the rural Deputies want to achieve. Ireland exists outside the Red Cow roundabout, or the "mad cow roundabout" as some people like to call it. The madness is on this side and the sensible people are outside it. They need to be allowed to breathe, live, work and create an economy for our families and ourselves.

I am not normally known for supporting or having a love-in with Deputy Kelly but this is certainly good legislation.

See this speech in context