Mattie McGrath warns of 'power at all costs' in housing debate
Mattie McGrath criticised the government and the 'phony Labour Party' in a parliamentary speech, focusing on housing failures, immigration and what he called a grab for power. He accused ministers and senior officials of self-preservation, arguing policies were driving people into poverty and betraying national aspirations.
Main accusation
He attacked the chamber's semantics and political rivals, condemning "Tweedledum and Tweedledee" and what he called fake oppositions. He accused parties of aligning on issues of globalism while failing to address housing and the needs of ordinary people.
Housing record criticised
He dismissed the new leader's promise to build a million houses as out of touch, saying it served millionaires in leafy suburbs rather than those in need. He criticised a former minister with responsibility for housing for an appalling record, characterising that legacy as "blunder and blood" and "shameful."
Historical framing and national destiny
He invoked the men of 1916, saying they would be "turning in their graves" at current policies and noting upcoming commemorations for figures such as Collins and Liam Lenthal. He framed housing, employment and living standards as central to the nation's destiny and sacrifices.
Immigration and social consequences
He warned against "flooding your place with people from all over the world," arguing this would drive local people into "peonery" and undermine jobs, homes and decent standards of living. Immigration and housing policy were presented as linked issues affecting ordinary citizens.
Accountability and call for change
He accused the government and senior officials of self-preservation and greed, citing an official who sought a pay rise when changing departments. He urged those in power to share with permanent officials and to serve the electorate, saying activists and young people had left the chamber in disgust and that "our people" were expected to take over.
Keywords
Housing, Labour Party, minister, housing record, immigration, power at all costs, 1916, political accountability
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I think the people looking in today, that's those that haven't switched off from dictator and the semantics that go on in this chamber for the last number of months with Tweedledum and Tweedledee and indeed the fake oppositions and phony oppositions when it comes to housing and issues like this. But on all other issues of globalism you're all in the one boat and you're all happy. The men of 1916 must be truly turning in their graves to see what's going on. The men like Collins and Liam Lenthal will commemorate in 10 days time who gave the ultimate sacraments that we would have freedom. We're her right to our destiny. We would have homes for our people and we would have decent standards of living and entitlement to a job. Not flooding your place with people from all over the world and driving our people into peonery. And here we are today, we have the phony Labour Party and the new leader with a dream of a million houses she'd build. The only million she knows about are the millionaires out in the leafy suburbs of Dublin Four where she was elected by. She got this dream. Minister Kerry was Minister for Housing some years ago. He didn't build his houses at the Mine Society, houses for people, all blunder and blood. Your legacy over there in housing is appalling, it's shameful and it seems like self-preservation is the order of the day for the government and the government's senior officials. You had a Secretary-General recently who wouldn't move office from one department to the other without a hefty rise. So it's time that we've got this greedy grip that's on power that you want to hold on to. Share with your officials, the permanent government and serve the people who we elected to serve, not self-serving, yourselves and power at all costs. And we're waiting for our people to come in here to take over. What change are the people going to get if the kids from the gallery left while ago in disgust with the charades going on here today?
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