Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Aire, an Teachta Ring, ar a phost nua. I welcome the Minister's appointment and wish him well. I know he is a rural Deputy. He was very active when his constituency colleague was flying around the world doing business. He was looking after the house at home, which is very important. When the farmer goes to the mart, someone must look after the cattle and the sheep at home. The Minister did this efficiently. He was made fun of on "Scrap Saturday" and by Oliver Callan on many occasions, but he did what he needed to do. He was there. I heard about him from all the people in County Mayo. Various people told me that he was always a ground worker. I know he will fight in the Cabinet alongside his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne.

The members of the Rural Independent Group have met representatives of Foróige, which was on its knees three or four days ago. I raised the matter here last week and I spoke to the Minister yesterday. The Minister delivered in his current portfolio and I thank him for that. Gabhaim míle buíochas leis. Foróige is a wonderful organisation that does the work we are talking about this evening throughout the country.

I was very disappointed when I read the script delivered by the Minister this morning. He said that "this Bill has just one purpose, to establish the new Department, confer a name upon the Department and to provide for a Minister who will be in charge of the Department". One would think that such simple language could be understood by baby infants. However, the next paragraph was worrying:

It is important to note that the Bill does not confer any functions on the Department. The new Department's functions are still being finalised and these will be transferred at the earliest opportunity following the enactment of the Bill.

There lies the problem. The Minister knows that I am very pro-life. I will not get into that here. When a couple is expecting a baby, it is lovely. They find out whether it is a boy or a girl and they choose a name. If the baby goes through the full gestation and is delivered safe and well, everyone is happy. Then there is a christening. When are we going to have the christening? When are we going to hear about the other functions? We are breaking up for the summer holidays on Friday. We have no idea when this will happen. Where is the commitment from the Government?

As my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group and others have said, we made it clear at the Government formation talks that a full Minister - an Aire for rural Ireland - was very important to us. It was talked about, as other people have said. The media ran with stories on it. We were very disappointed when we got the hind tit, if the Chair will excuse the language. She knows what a hind tit is. A cow has four tits. It might have a hind tit. It could be a dry one as well. We would call that a dúidín. It would be useless. It was a hind tit Department. That is what it was.

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