Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin for tabling the motion. I am weary and tired of the Government not opposing these motions. It does oppose them in name and actions but it just will not oppose them in the Dáil. This is because it does not have the moral courage to get the backbenchers into the Chamber. I hate using the word that starts with an "s" but they are screwing the people. That is what is happening. The backbenchers will not turn up and vote for it because they are in trepidation of the people they will meet out there. It is sickening. The Government has lost the will to live. It may not be the case in the Minister's Green Party, but it is for his colleagues in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and the so-called independent backbenchers supporting the Government. The people are in anguish. The Government is throwing them sops of money that it has taken from them in penal charges over the past two years through its direct actions, taxation and excise such as the carbon tax.

The Government has no respect for the ordinary people. All the while it has allowed multinationals and the big companies to gouge and gouge because it is in their póca. It is in their pocket as far as I am concerned. That is the kernel of the problem. It will not tackle the conglomerates. It will not tackle CRH Roadstone. It puts everything back on the ordinary people. It is shameful. It is more than shameful that the Government will not call a vote. I intend to call a vote tomorrow evening to expose the charade the Government is at. Night after night it accepts motions but will not do anything about them. This is a horrible feature that has crept into the Dáil over the past year and a half. It is disgusting.

This point is not a criticism of the lads who are here. This evening we spoke about tourism. In fairness the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, complimented us on promoting our own areas and speaking about the good projects and volunteer projects. We will take no lecture from an Teachta Louise O'Reilly about speaking up for our own places and being positive about community groups such as Knockmealdown Active and other groups that I mentioned. How dare she? Everybody is entitled with the permission of the Chair to speak our minds. We will take no lectures from any Deputy, especially Deputy Louise O'Reilly.

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