Mattie McGrath criticises Senate route for lockdown legislation
Deputy Mattie McGrath spoke against a bill that emanated from the Senate, arguing it was introduced without pre-laid scrutiny and would add multiple measures on top of existing health legislation. He said the process was 'shocking' and declared his opposition to the bill and the way it reached the floor.
Senate origin and scrutiny
The deputy said the bill came from the Senate on Monday and that a vote was taken there, but he understands there is no legal or pre-laid scrutiny when bills are moved by government or anybody in the Senate. He called the lack of pre-laid scrutiny outrageous for such serious legislation.
Scope and composition of the legislation
McGrath described the package as three different pieces of legislation added on top of the Health Amendment Act, calling it a "dolly mixture, licorice all sorts." He said the measures amount to a tweak that would 'card us as well as carding the people.'
Committee process and oversight
The deputy criticised the failure to bring the measures before the Health Committee or the Justice Committee, noting that Justice is involved in the measures. He said there was no proper debate and that the route taken bypassed normal committee scrutiny.
Lockdown timing and political consequences
McGrath referenced the prolonged lockdown, saying it has been the longest in Europe, and recalled a promised renewal with a sunset clause in June. He warned that piling additional legislation onto existing restrictions without full scrutiny would be unacceptable and reiterated his firm opposition, calling the route through the Senate a "sneaky avenue."
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Deputy McGrath is not agreeing. Not agreed, Count Coulter. This bill has emanated from the Senate, as we know, on Monday, and there was a vote taken there, but I understand that there's no legal scrutiny, pre-laid scrutiny, when bills are moved by government or anybody in the Senate. I think this is shocking, this legislation and all it embraces, three different pieces of legislation, on top of what we had in the Health Amendment Act, and the lockdown has been so long, longest in Europe and so prolonged, and instead of coming in here with a vote, we were promised a renewal, a sunset clause, on those restrictions, in June. We're now piling in three pieces of legislation on top of it, a dolly mixture, licorice all sorts, and no pre-laid scrutiny. It's outrageous for such serious legislation, and I think it's just shocking that it couldn't be brought to the Health Committee, or the Justice Committee, as you know, the Justice is involved now as well. It's just a tweak, a tweak really, to card us as well as carding the people, and I've seen enough of it, and I'm opposed to it. It's shocking that it's going to be taken here with no pre-laid scrutiny, and no proper debate, and coming through the sneaky avenue of the Senate. It's shocking to the core. It's shocking to the core. Take your comment. If you have any questions, you honestly read on the simple side of the Senate. You may have read on the right hand side of the Senate. Credit the Senate page. Take your comment. Take your comment. Take your comment. Take your comment. Take your comment. Take your comment. Take it again. Take it again. Take it again. Take it again. Take 2018 for late careerustomer fears, which people say thatatif wan to put pega in this placing clapoops andaeda in the air.
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