Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too thank the Independent Group and compliment its Members on bringing this motion forward. I note the Government is not opposing it. I hope this is not another one of the motions that the Government does not oppose but on which it does nothing.

We have to salute the carers. I wear the carers badge as often as I can - it is only a small thing - to recognise the strenuous and arduous work that carers do. However, they are being blackguarded by the HSE and the Department. I note the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has gone, like the snow off the Comeragh Mountains. When she sees us coming in she cannot face us. She closed respite beds in Carrick-on-Suir hospital, which served her own area. That will give some idea of the mindset in the Government.

Tens of millions of euro are being spent each year on private companies for recruitment. They are an abject failure because they are not recruiting. Why are they getting the money?

There is also the issue of child carers. Many children are caring for their loved ones and grandparents when they should be at school or taobh amuigh ag súgradh, out playing. It is not fair to them. There are many anomalies. Carers do such valuable work. Then there is the wasteful HSE with people getting over half a million euro. It is totally out of touch with, and tone deaf to, what is happening in the country. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and his colleagues will find that out when they go knocking on the doors. People will be waiting in the long grass for them, if there is any bit of grass given there is no fertiliser to grow it. However, the people will be waiting for them with the peann luaidhe because they have totally abdicated responsibility. All they want to do is serve global masters in Europe and to hell with the daoine, the ordinary people.

We all will need carers some day because many of us may have different needs, and we will know about it then. It is shameful and pitiful. I salute Councillor Richie Molloy, one of my councillors in Tipperary and manager of the south Tipperary carers association, and his gallant team, given the uncertainty they are experiencing. They have the begging bowl out and have to lobby and fundraise with walks, coffee mornings and so forth to try to keep the service going. It is shameful.

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