Mattie McGrath: Protests Lack of Briefing and Forestry Bill Block
Mattie McGrath criticised the lack of promised briefings and alleged manipulation of the speaking schedule, saying his group was prevented from speaking on the first stage of the Forestry Bill. He warned the delay risks continued timber shortages that affect roofing in both rural and urban areas and asked when leaders would receive a briefing.
Lack of promised briefing
He told Tisha that despite a leaders' briefing "three weeks ago, actually yesterday" a follow-up had been promised last week and had not been arranged, asking when group and party leaders would be briefed.
Blocked from Forestry Bill debate
He said that because of what he called manipulation the ruling independent group "won't even get to speak tonight on the first round of the Forestry Bill", a bill he described as badly needed.
Housing and timber supply concerns
He argued the Forestry Bill's delay is doing "untoward damage in rural Ireland, and indeed urban Ireland, with the lack of timber for roofing for houses", underlining the practical consequences for housing.
Scheduling and attendance problems
He complained he was "sticking in the chair" while several of "your own backbenters" did not turn up, which he said prevented the Chair from following the debate, left other groups unfairly treated and risked bills collapsing despite efforts to prevent that outcome.
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Hi too, I'm Tisha, I'm concerned and I'm a support deputy by the Barrett. In both issues, one is the fact that we're not coming before the committee, but Tisha, you promised last week, we had a briefing for leaders three weeks ago, actually yesterday, and you promised last week, or you referred to it, that we'd have one shortly, but when are we going to have a briefing for the group and party leaders? And secondly, it's a parting that we're the ruling independent group, and because of your manipulation, we won't even get to speak tonight on the first round of the Forestry Bill, which is so badly needed, which is doing untoward damage in rural Ireland, and indeed urban Ireland, with the lack of timber for roofing for houses, but also the fact that you just, you continue with this charade every week, and I was here this week, sticking in the chair, and several of your own backbenters didn't turn up, and you could not follow the debate, it's not fair to the other groups, as you cannot know when you're going to be on, people are listed before you, and they don't turn up, and bills will collapse, we won't let them collapse if we can help it, but it will happen, which is the best of our ability we cannot monitor, so it's totally wrong. Thank you.
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