Mattie McGrath demands full debate on Board Penala crisis
Mattie McGrath criticised Board Penala's conduct and called for a full debate on the floor, arguing that judicial reviews are costly and the board is not properly functioning. He also raised concerns about the housing crisis, pressure on business committee staff from the government, and the handling of the electoral bill.
Business committee pressure
He acknowledged the hard work of business committee staff but said phone call after phone call and last-minute items were being pushed on top of them by the government, leaving decisions to be made within an hour and creating an unfair burden.
Board Penala and housing crisis
He said there is a housing crisis "never saw the like of it," and argued that Board Penala's "carry-on and questionable behaviour in many cases is not helping." He insisted the crisis required another debate focused on the board's conduct.
Allegations of political influence
He accused the "political coconies of two parties on Government, Fianna Gael" of favouring friends in appointments, saying "all your own friends that are in there now" and asserting the matter could not be dismissed as conflict-free.
Calls for ministerial accountability and review
He demanded a minister attend for a full debate on the floor and noted a review announced by the minister in respect of a specific issue. He warned that judicial reviews cost money and said people need a properly functioning Board Penala rather than repeated legal challenges.
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I have acknowledged the hard work of the staff of the business committee, but phone call after phone call, stuff has been pushed in on top of them by the government when we left our meeting and decisions to make within an hour or whatever. It is just unfair. I am objecting also to order business on the ongoing saga and controversy surrounding Board Penala. We need another debate here on the crisis. We have a housing crisis, never saw the like of it, and Board Penala's carry-on and questionable behaviour in many cases is not helping. There is no conflict in this one and the highest authority in planning on the land, and for the judicial review we would not find anything out. These judicial reviews cost money, but people need a proper functioning Board Penala, which we do not have. Mostly the political coconies of two parties on Government, Fianna Gael, Feinna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna Fianna, all your own friends that are in there now, and they cannot deny it. The electoral bill is the same thing. You haven't changed your spots, no, the Leopard never changes them, but I'm telling you, I'm glad to be waifing, just wanting sure and certain, I'm still trying to get rid of the spots, but I'm saying to you, we need a debate, we need a debate on the carry-on board planola, we need a minister in here for a full-down debate on this floor. Deputy McGrath raised the issue on board planola, there is a review on DeRay in respect of a specific issue there that the minister has announced, and again we should await the outcome of that review. Thank you very much.
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