Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tuigeann an Leas-Cheann Comhairle an fáth go bhfuil mé ag rá é sin. She chose it. I did not mention her the last time I spoke so this is not repetition. This is the first time, an chéad uair.

The following comments were apparently made by the Minister today. I have seen them in the print media and other media as well: "A number of rural TDs have opposed the bill, saying it would damage rural areas, but Ross accused those TDs of behaving like road traffic terrorists." I call on the Minister calmly, coolly and collectively to reflect on that statement and have the dignity and good grace to withdraw it.

Dan Breen occupied the seat that I am in today for many years. He had it for decades in fact. He was called a terrorist. He had a sulky bulldog appearance and he fought for Irish freedom. That freedom means we are now elected to this Parliament today. He came in here most days, I am told, but I never heard that he came in without a six-gun. I do not carry a six-gun and neither do Deputies Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae, Michael Collins, Kevin O'Keeffe or any of the others. It is totally intemperate and disgusting language. Let us consider the connotation given to what is happening throughout the world with terrorism, such as al-Qaeda and ISIS. God knows what is happening, with buses and vans being driven on top of people and everything else, yet the Minister decides to equate us with such people by using that kind of language. I appeal to the Minister, and I appeal to the Taoiseach who appointed him and gave him the seal of office, to have the Minister restrained. Anyone who can should talk to him also because that was appalling. I am unsure whether it was a slip of the tongue or whatever but it was well-delivered and it looked like a press release to me.

If we are accused of filibustering, then so be it.

This is legislation in respect of which the Minister has engaged in filibustering. It is like he was making a rake of hay - he almost had the hay gathered when the wind came and scattered it. He scattered the Bill everywhere. In fact, he has used a blunderbuss instead of engaging in a filibuster. The Minister wanted to add in cyclists, those driving with L plates and God knows what else, and that is what delayed the legislation.

Neither I nor Deputy Danny Healy-Rea are on the committee, but Deputy O'Keeffe is a member. We went to the committee to discuss our amendments and they could not be discussed because the Minister did not have them because they were not ready. The legislation was not ready. It was the Minister's fault. It was light a slow-moving train or like the Luas he has designed for Dublin that cannot get across O'Connell Bridge. We would take a few Luas lines and buses in Tipperary if he would give them to us but he will not give us anything, not even the scraps. The Minister can smile all he likes but that is unbecoming of him.

He has four more long days after tonight and then, on 6 May, his ministerial pension will be secured. Is that what he is waiting for? He is stuck to this Government like God knows what. I do not see many in here supporting him. He had the Ministers of State, Deputies Halligan and Finian McGrath, for a while but he has been a lone ranger in this debate. I have been here for every hour of it. Not a single Fine Gael Deputy nor any member of the Independent Alliance has been in the Chamber. There are screenshots and everything else on Facebook whereby people can see that the Minister was left in here on his own. What is wrong? I know that before Christmas he was giving out yards to the Whip's office and everything else for not having this legislation ready. I am a member of the Business Committee and we discuss every week what business is to be transacted. We do our best to do it well but it was as if there was nothing else in the world but this legislation.

This is at a time when we have discovered that 19 died as a result of scandalous neglect on the part of the HSE. The Minister is happy to support the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and Mr. O'Brien, the CEO of the HSE. Where is the political accountability? The Minister wrote for decades for the Sunday Independent and other publications and he had answers for everything. He called for openness, transparency and honesty and for quangos to be out, out, out, just as Margaret Thatcher said about the Downing Street agreement. The Minister is obsessed with this legislation. It is not fair, balanced, reasoned or capable of being implemented.

See this speech in context