Mattie McGrath criticises programme for government as neglecting rural Ireland
Mattie McGrath spoke on 27 June 2020 about the programme for government, arguing it neglects rural Ireland, contains no costings and lacked consultation with his Rural Independent Group. He criticised Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael for refusing to engage with Sinn Fein and said the programme favours Dublin while offering only "crumbs" to the countryside.
Main critique of the programme for government
McGrath said the programme will not deliver for rural Ireland, accusing the document of promising actions without costings and of containing "talking chops, fudges and other words." He warned that rural affairs have been inappropriately combined with social protection and that the overall plan lacks concrete delivery for country households.
Consultation and negotiation failings
He recalled that his Rural Independent Group made itself available for talks with all parties but accused Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael of refusing to engage with Sinn Fein and said Sinn Fein also failed to follow up with alternatives. McGrath said there was no meaningful consultation during the negotiations and suggested other opportunities to form a national government were missed.
Rural focus and agriculture concerns
McGrath criticised what he described as an overwhelming Dublin focus in ministerial appointments and policy, saying ministers are concentrated in cities while much of the country is "abandoned." He expressed specific concern for agriculture and said rural development has been unevenly treated in the document.
Sports and rural industries at risk
He warned against moves that would affect greyhound racing, coursing and horse racing, calling them industries important to rural communities and urging ministers to "hands off." McGrath argued these activities are sports and livelihoods and said people in the countryside would not tolerate their demise.
Civil liberties and other legislative worries
McGrath raised objections to proposed measures he summarised from the programme, including exclusion zones around abortion services and new hate crime legislation. He questioned how such laws would affect freedom to protest and free speech and asked who would decide what constitutes a hate crime, linking his concerns to broader scepticism about sovereignty and influence from banks and Europe.
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Corry, look, from the very outset my colleagues and I in the Rural Independent Group made ourselves available in talks with all parties to try and form a government. Sadly we went with Fianna Fáil, indeed Fianna Gael and Sinn Fein, but there was no follow-up. I said at the outset that the electorate's wish was for change, as I said that today we should be respected, but Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael refused to engage with Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein also failed to come back with any other alternative, despite promises of further meetings with our group. I consulted widely in my constituents in recent days about this government and there were other opportunities, there were other areas that a national government could have been formed. And we had the perfect scenario for with the COVID and the cooperation that was there. The focus on Auburn Centre and the uneven focus on agricultural development is crazy in this document. I mean, the amount of ministers that we have now in Dublin and in Cork and out as far as greystowns, I think I counted 10. What about the rest of Ireland? Deputy Tobin Minton from Donegal to Clare. Well, he can continue right down to Limerick and then 24 to Tipperary and indeed down to Waterford, Cundiport, Oregon, the south-east. Abandoned the south-east. Oh, the east, yes, it's all about Dublin and nothing about the country. So, Deputy Martin, I'm very disappointed with that. So, rural Ireland doesn't need development because it's the right thing to do, but it's the fact that you can manage in Dublin now and you want to give us crumbs and put some little things out to us because you want everything in Dublin. As I said, rural affairs are mixed up now with social protection. I think that's a crazy scenario. That'll tell you how they think about rural Ireland, put it in with social protection and the busy job there that's going on. Disabilities are worse with children. I want to remind you, Minister Matt, you're a Minister for Children, I think Minister for Health, that disabilities aren't confined to children. Unfortunately, they go from the cradle to the grave with people and disabilities. That's a shocking indictment on your judgment. We also have seen in recent months the COVID-19, the huge advances of living in rural Ireland. So, you drive through every day to Dublin, Minister Taoiseach Martin, maybe you didn't see it in the last 12 weeks. We experienced a wonderful rejuvenation by our people, not by government. All we need is a fair share of government supports and I feel that this programme for government will not deliver for rural Ireland. It will be proposals and, as Deputy Tobin said, 102 kind of actions, inactions, talking chops, fudges and other words. Minister, I also worry about some things that are in the programme for government. Incidentally, I don't think they were in the document that went to Fianna Fáil. And you said today, Taoiseach, that you were delighted to be Prime Minister of a free nation. And you're going to have an exclusion drone around places where abortions are carried out. Where's the freedom there? Are the freedom to protest and free speech? And you're also going to deal with legislation for hate crime. Who's going to decide what's hate crime? What elite group? Now, where's the free Ireland in? We're not free since the banks, we went kowtow to Europe and the banks, and they're our masters. The banks and our European masters and, indeed, further afield. And this happened, all happened when Fianna Fáil joined up with Aldi in Europe. And he sold your soul and sold everything else with it. And we have the results of it here today. During the negotiations for the programme for government, you know, we spent six weeks the last time engaging. This time, we got no consultation. Fine, you didn't need us. But you may need us yet. A minister, as I said also, the whole situation regarding farming. And I wish all the ministers well in their roles. But I'm concerned about agriculture. I'm concerned about, I think there's a minister there with rule. It has culture, arts, media, tourism, sport and the gale tout. And I'm sure whatever you're having yourself in the pubs are open on Monday. My God, such a portfolio. And who has it? A deputy on party class at the Green Party. And greyhound racing is inside in that. Coursing is inside in that. And, indeed, horse racing. Huge industries that are important to my country. And we have express wishes from Deputy Martin and others in the past about wanting the demise of these sports. These are not, they are sports, but they're an industry in rural Ireland of the people, by the people. And I say hands off. Because the people won't tolerate this. We've lost enough. So, Taoiseach and ministers, I wish you well in your roles. But I'm very concerned about the programme for government. Not a costing for any action. Thanks, Deputy. Kick it down the road and not a costing for any action. And we're going to live hard to get press. So, listen, the people and teachers out there. And they're very smart, intelligent, like to think for them. So, a free country. A free country. How are you, Taoiseach Merton, when you want to bring in this legislation for hate speech for an elite group and the right for people to peacefully protest, to save lives? Deputy Richard O'Donoghue. Thanks, Deputy.
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