Mattie McGrath challenges minister over survey's hardship figures
Mattie McGrath spoke in the Dáil on 29 July 2020 about a survey of 4,100 members showing severe financial strain and mental-health distress. He defended his record and rejected the minister's accusation that he was "mean and nasty", citing detailed hardship statistics.
Survey findings
He cited a survey of 4,100 members that revealed 11.6% could not pay their utility bills, 9.7% had to sell essential equipment, 7% had lost or were in danger of losing their vehicle, 3.4% were in danger of losing their home, 17.4% were dealing with mental health worries due to financial stress, and 2.4% had considered attempting self-harm.
Groups highlighted
He named a range of affected people including taxi drivers, van and truck operators, pub workers and the over-66s, describing many as struggling to get any income and praising their contribution to families and communities.
Response to the minister
McGrath rejected the minister's criticism that he was "mean and nasty", saying he was simply representing the people whose stories and survey data he read into the record. He said he was being direct to the government and insisted on defending those constituents.
Parliamentary urgency
He seconded a call made by another deputy for urgent discussion and suggested a forum could meet "tomorrow, or the next day", arguing the Dáil should consider sitting on Friday or Monday rather than going off for a six-week break to address the emergency described by the figures.
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To my best, I need a last call here, look, whether it's the fact that I'm from Tipperary, where the first shots in the war of independence were fired, whether it's the fact that I listen to Rebel Hats, R&E, Rattle the Boards, Des Dillon, Dom O'Driscoll, and wonderful ballads and songs, yes, and I'm replying to the Minister, how dare he say that I'm mean and I'm nasty, how dare he, I'm representing the people that I read out here, that a survey of the 4,100 members, and they discovered that 11.6% couldn't pay their utility bills, 9.7% had to sell essential equipment, 7% have lost over, have lost or in danger of losing their vehicle, which they have to manage, the same vehicle might be for the family, for going to the beach or going to school, picking up the kids, 3.4% in danger of losing their home, is that mean and nasty? Because she doesn't sit well with yourself Minister, 17.4% are dealing with mental health worries, as a result of financial stress, is that mean and nasty? 2.4% have considered attempting self-harm, it's shocking, and because Minister, I'm not being personal to you, but I'm being personal, I'm being direct to the government, as I said, there's lots of things about this whole situation that I don't like, we also have the taxis, and we also have the man in the van, all different vans, whether they be vans or lorries or trucks, self-implied people out there who can't get a penny, and of course we have the over 66ers, and to represent them up here, and keep representing them, who have got nothing, after all they've done for this country, and they're still doing their families and their grandchildren, and man even working in the pubs, the pubs that have been misled and blaguarded and denied, and him that are over 66, a penny, a shilling, they were put out of business by the government, and I'm being mean and nasty, because I have the audacity to represent them, and the teacher asked me last week what planet I was on, I'm on planet Tipperary and planet Earth, thank God, and I'm planning to look after these people, and that's all I'm doing, and I second what Deputy Doherty said, I won't go into it any longer, that we should have some kind of a forum tomorrow, or the next day, and the dollar won't be here the next day, and if we had to sit Friday, and we had to sit Monday, we can't go off for six weeks break, let these people, look at the figures, 2.4% of a temple self-harm, and we're going to now be crushed, they have families, they have wives and families and children, and they have tried to cling on to what they do best, and that is always give solace to what they do, they're just givers, and they naturally give enjoyment and solace and support to us in difficult times, as other blippies have said, so I'm not being nasty, I'm not being mean, and I don't accept that at all from Minister O'Donoghue.
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