Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Despite what has gone on here today with the national planning framework and broadband last week, the programme for Government is specific in its support for rural Ireland. However, I do not know what is going on in the Cabinet room, especially when I read reports today about the latest proposals of the Minister, Deputy Ross. I see opposite me the Ministers, Deputies Naughten, Flanagan, Humphreys and Creed, all of whom represent rural constituencies. The latest bizarre proposal is to lock up the parents of any L plate driver, a son or daughter or anybody else, or if they are driving a tractor. This includes a buachailín trying to learn to feed the cows that the Government will not pay the farmers for. What is going on? What will be next? It is proposed to criminalise ordinary decent families and force them to get into their car every day to accompany their L plate driver. I am all for restrictions to assist in road safety. I sympathise with the relatives of those who have lost lives as a result of L plate drivers, but this is bizarre. Someone needs to rein in the Minister, Deputy Ross, lock him into the house in Wicklow where he lives and keep him away from the rural people. He has a vendetta against rural people. I am shocked at the other Ministers.

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