Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too thank Deputy McNamara for introducing this timely and important motion. We are just dehumanising people. That is what is going on under the Government. I have been up here for 14 years now and note that is the case in respect of everything we have done.

When the NDLS was first established, I could not believe that three private companies would have a part to play before a driver got a licence. One of them could not get the materials to make the licences and there were delays as a consequence. It is a shambles.

I thank the county council staff who help people above and beyond the call of duty. At the time when you could take a ticket and queue, at least you saw movement and people’s smiling faces. You did not have to ring up and get no answers. The people in the offices are under pressure.

We decommissioned the IRA. We have the RSA and the NRA, which is now TII. These are unelected, unaccountable quangos that the Government has set up. They are like mushrooms, growing and expanding, and they have no respect for the public interest or this House. All those concerned want is a big office with a brass plate on the door. There are chief executives, chairmen and everything else, including a board, of course. It is all a matter of jobs for the boys and saying to hell with daoine na tíre, especially the people of rural Ireland. What if a person does not have broadband? Many of us do not. What if a person cannot use broadband? People are dehumanised in these circumstances. It is making life hell for them.

I do not know how we get multinationals into this country because their staff, when they come here from all over the world, cannot drive here. They have to do a theory test. What an ungracious insult to people who can drive in Manhattan and all over the world. I thank Geraldine in my office, who deals with this. I thank the voluntary organisation in Clonmel that helps young people with learning difficulties to do the theory test. All these tests did not exist when we were applying for licences; they are in place now. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. We are not praising the young; we are denying them. We are killing our elderly population and allowing them to perish.

Bus drivers cannot be got. People over 70 are not allowed to drive school buses. They can drive private buses to matches but cannot drive to school. We are crying out for drivers. Now we are told the unfortunate drivers coming here from the war will not be allowed to drive in Ireland. They can drive in every other European country. What is wrong with this little quango Republic? It is shameful.

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