Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I do not believe those figures. They do not reflect my experience. People come here illegally and get all the treatment, including free housing and everything else. The message the Minister is giving out is to penalise those who play by the rules. Multinationals can get away with stuff as well. This affects small businesses. It is not just the hauliers; it is also agriculture and hoteliers trying to get people in. They pay the money and go through the system. It is so bureaucratic, and the Minister is telling me it takes 19 days. That is simply not happening. It is not the case in Tipperary, certainly. People are not telling me lies. The process needs to be streamlined. Where a business needs employees from abroad in order to carry out its business, where those people are qualified and meet all the criteria, there must be a streamlined process in order that businesses can get them in . They make a huge investment and the driver, operator or whomever may not come at all or might leave after a short time. It is a risky business for employers. They need these people. The Minister must cut out the red tape.

See this speech in context