Mattie McGrath spoke on 27 June 2020 about the formation of a new government and raised sharp concerns over the published programme for government, its lack of costings, and impacts on rural Ireland, the elderly and small businesses. He said he will act as a constructive opposition, supporting what is good for the country while opposing measures he views as attacks on families, the elderly, rural communities and workers.
Opening thanks and election background
He thanked the Count Coorda, secretary Peter Finnegan and the organising team for the day, and recalled being elected for Tipperary on February 8. He noted the 140 days since the election with no real government in place and the interregnum handled by the Count Coorda.
Negotiations and government formation
He described making himself and the Rural Independence group available to meet deputies of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, but said Sinn Féin did not show the necessary intent in negotiations. He restated his earlier view that a national government could have been formed during the Covid crisis when a consensus approach had been in effect.
Concerns about the programme for government
He criticised the programme for government for having no costings - "not a shilling accounted for, or a euro" - and warned that the many proposed commissions, reports and reviews will all cost money. He said he detests the proliferation of such bodies and fears more will be set up without clarity on finances.
Rural infrastructure and local projects
He expressed specific worries about rural transport policy, mentioning concern over a green minister for transport and the potential impact on local road projects. He cited projects for Tipperary Town - a ring road, and bypasses and relief roads for Turles, Carrick, Shure and Clannmill - as necessary programmes for rural Ireland that he will scrutinise.
Commitment to constituents and constructive opposition
He pledged to represent the people of Tipperary to the best of his ability, supporting policies he deems beneficial and opposing those he believes harm families, the elderly, SMEs and workers. He said he will hold the government to account while wishing ministers well on a personal basis.
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At the outset of the Caeladol, Caeladol, Caeladol, Coorda, and Secretary Peter Finnegan and all his team for the organisation for today Not only that, I want to thank the Count Coorda for his stewardship over the last interregnum that we had since the election, with no real government in place 140 days ago, I was privileged to be elected by the people of Tipperary on February 8 While I accepted the result of the general election, it was not clear, and I didn't give a clear decisive result I do not believe that the government made up of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party will offer much in the way of progress for the constituents that I represent in the Count of Tipperary, and indeed all of Ireland Since then, I have made myself available, as have the Rural Independence, to meet with deputies of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Fein I do not believe, however, that Sinn Fein worked service in continuing those negotiations and showing any real intent of forming a government But I am worried about the proposals that are here before us today The day I was elected in Tipperary, I suggested, at the time, that we should have a national government I think the fact that the Covid crisis came about, we did kind of have a national government We had a consensus agreement, and we all worked together, in Athens, the Colonel of Caelan And we could have had a national government, because we had every reason to do it, but we didn't As I said, for the last four years, I have opposed the Fianna Gael government, supported by Fianna Fáil, with their confidence and supply Because of the way they had treated the families of rural Ireland, the working people They just didn't, they didn't get it, Fianna Gael didn't get it, had no empathy with ordinary people And of course, with the banks, the way they treated people, insurance, you name it, across the board Unfortunately, I do not have faith in a programme for government that has been published With no costings whatsoever, not a shilling accounted for, or a euro Indeed, I am very concerned about, as I said, the amount of 101, I think, commissions, reports, investigations, reviews that have been set up They will all cost money I detest all the kangaroos that we have set up, and we are going to set up many, many more of them So my independent colleagues and I made ourselves available to meet, and to talk, and try and get an input For a fairer Ireland, for a fairer rural Ireland, but we didn't get the opportunity, and we weren't asked And we were promised, actually, two and a half weeks ago, by the three party leaders, Taoiseach, Deputy Martin and Deputy Ryan That they'd meet us immediately after the programme, but that never happened, but that's their choice I understand the primary function of the Dáil is to elect a Taoiseach and a government And as I said, it happened today, and I hope it does, because the country needs a government And I want to wish and talk to Martin, his wife Mary and his clown Golair I wish them the very, very, very best as Taoiseach-elect and for the future But I want to also, and the ministers that he would appoint I want to also outline today, that I will be, as a constructive opposition I will be supporting issues that are good for the country and good for the people But as I said, I won't be supporting the attack on families The attack on the elderly, the attack on rural Ireland, and indeed SMEs, small businesses And as I said, I won't be undermining workers Working people deserve to be paid a decent weight And above all, our elderly had been left behind and been punished Right through the COVID crisis Over 66ers didn't get a happening They were forgotten about And God help us, we know what happened in the nursing homes Unbelievable, the way they were treated And their families, as I said So I look forward, as I said To represent the people of Tipperary To the best of my ability And support what is good And oppose what is not good And I'm worried about a green minister for transport I'm worried about road projects like a ring road for Tipperary Town A bypass and a relief road for Turles Carrick and Shure, Clannmill Worried about these necessary programs Programs for rural Ireland So I will be holding the government account While I wish everybody in the government well On a personal basis, I will be constructive opposition Good morning Thank you Deputy
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