Mattie McGrath Defends Deputy Murphy, Urges Focus on Tariffs
Mattie McGrath defended Deputy Murphy and said he accepted the democratic result after her election to Count Kola, while criticising the treatment she has received. He called on colleagues to end recent "charades" and focus on immediate issues such as tariffs and housing.
McGrath said he nominated the outgoing Count Kola, Shauna Friel, and voted for him, praising her work. He reiterated that he accepted the democratic result when Deputy Murphy was elected Count Kola.
McGrath expressed utmost confidence in Deputy Murphy, citing her life, school days, working days, education and studies of law. He said since she took her seat she "has acted rightly in all times, and acted on behalf of the people of Ireland."
McGrath described the treatment Deputy Murphy received as "nothing but shocking," repeating that previous speakers had outlined the conduct. He characterised recent behaviour as a ferocious opposition and called some of it a charade driven by those disappointed they did not get into government.
McGrath urged colleagues to "get down to the work" with tariffs expected to come in probably tonight and other pressing issues such as housing. He said it should be a line in the sand to respect the democratic principles of the House and move on to deliver for the people who sent them there.
He concluded by addressing Minister MacIntyre and calling for parliamentary decorum going forward.
Election and nomination
McGrath said he nominated the outgoing Count Kola, Shauna Friel, and voted for him, praising her work. He reiterated that he accepted the democratic result when Deputy Murphy was elected Count Kola.
Defense of Deputy Murphy
McGrath expressed utmost confidence in Deputy Murphy, citing her life, school days, working days, education and studies of law. He said since she took her seat she "has acted rightly in all times, and acted on behalf of the people of Ireland."
Criticism of opposition conduct
McGrath described the treatment Deputy Murphy received as "nothing but shocking," repeating that previous speakers had outlined the conduct. He characterised recent behaviour as a ferocious opposition and called some of it a charade driven by those disappointed they did not get into government.
Policy priorities and next steps
McGrath urged colleagues to "get down to the work" with tariffs expected to come in probably tonight and other pressing issues such as housing. He said it should be a line in the sand to respect the democratic principles of the House and move on to deliver for the people who sent them there.
Closing note
He concluded by addressing Minister MacIntyre and calling for parliamentary decorum going forward.
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Transcript
That's Count Kola. I too, as a person here who nominated the outgoing Count Kola, Shauna Friel, who did a fine job, and voted for him. But I accepted the Democratic results when Deputy Murphy was elected Count Kola. And the treatment she's got has been outlined by my two colleagues who previously, I don't have to repeat, nothing but shocking. I had a school group up last week. Thankfully, they weren't here when this charade happened. So it's just what the opposition want to call, as they've described in media and elsewhere, ferocious opposition. Some people are a little angry because they couldn't get into government. They had the chance, they didn't. I want to say that I have utmost confidence in Deputy Murphy, who has, to her life, to her school days, working days, her education, and her studies of law, and since she came in here, has acted rightly in all times, and acted on behalf of the people of Ireland. It's time we got down to the work we have to do, with the tariffs coming in probably tonight, and with all the other issues of housing, you name it. And we get down to read politics here, and work for the people that sent us here, and not the charades that we've had here in the last number of weeks. So I hope it'll be a line in the sand, and we'll have the democratic principles of this House respected. Thank you. Minister MacIntyre.