Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have two and a half minutes each. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus tá an ceart aige i gcónaí.

I compliment Sinn Féin on this motion. It is very important one because of people with disabilities and people who are unable to access transport. When we talk about equal access and opportunities, we must bear in mind that these people are completely hindered. I support the bones of the motion from that point of view.

As a Deputy for rural Ireland, I want to say that we have no services. Fares have been reduced since Covid for all of the urban services and for the few services we have in the country. However, those who have no services cannot get a reduced rate. It is as simple as that. If services were not being provided by companies like Kavanaghs of Urlingford, Lamberts of Ardfinnan, McCarras and O'Donoghues of Clonmel, we would be in a bad way. Another issue is that the town transport bus in Clonmel was taken away because of Covid and it has never come back. It is like the snow up in the Nire; it went after the winter and we have not seen it since.

There are many things to be made up and restored here, but having to book a train or a bus 24 hours in advance is an insult to the person in a wheelchair or whatever situation the person is in. That is scandalous.

I want to salute the voluntary boards up and down the country. I was a member of the board of Ring a Link, which provided an excellent service in Kilkenny, Carlow and south Tipperary. We were the motivators and initiators, as these boards were in many counties. TII has now taken them over. I know that the services are running well and we welcome them, but obviously we want more. We have tried to run night links and different things, but they do not actually work.

The Taoiseach is claiming today that people who cannot get a house can stay in a pub drinking all night. They will have heat and light inside in the pub and will have a roof over their head. Is opening pubs and bars in the middle of this deep recession all that the Cabinet has to discuss? Thank God the Minister of State is not part of the Cabinet, and I do not mean that comment in a bad way. I believe he would have been a voice of reason. It seems that this nonsense is all the Cabinet has to discuss now. I do not know who it is playing to. Who wants to be inside a pub at 5 o’clock or 6 o’clock in the morning? I heard a publican this morning saying that people could have two nights' enjoyment in one night. Did one ever hear such talk when people cannot get a house, public transport or access to these services? Of course it is different for Ukrainians or some other non-nationals. When Irish people ask for more from the national budget, the answer is "No". We have to go back to the end of the queue. The Government has gone from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again to the ridiculous. I think it is a shameful situation.

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