Mattie McGrath Confronts Insurance Crisis Threatening Motor Racing Clubs
Mattie McGrath raised urgent concerns about motor racing clubs being unable to secure insurance, saying many events have been cancelled and organisers in the South cannot get quotes while counterparts in Northern Ireland can. He also rejected what he described as an attack on his independence after a recent intervention by Deputy Batchick and refused to be lectured on how to represent his constituents.
Insurance crisis affecting bike and motor racing clubs
Mattie McGrath warned that Sport Ireland and Motor Racing Ireland events, including the Faheen 50, cannot go ahead because organisers cannot get insurance quotes in Southern Ireland. He said there are 12 or 13 large events and many smaller meetings impacted this year, with committed volunteers unable to stage races they have run safely for decades.
Disparity with Northern Ireland and promised engagement
He pointed out that organisers in Northern Ireland are able to obtain insurance while those in the South are not. McGrath told the chamber that the Taoiseach had assured him the Minister would engage on the issue, but that engagement had not materialised and events have been cancelled.
Defence of independence and response to Deputy Batchick
McGrath also criticised what he called an "attack on our independence," saying he would take no lecture from Deputy Batchick about how to run business or represent people. He invoked the party’s past role representing rural Ireland and Tipperary and warned that newcomers would be gone quickly if they tried to dictate terms.
Local impact on volunteers and communities
He emphasised the human cost for clubs and local communities, noting that volunteers who give their time to run races safely have been left unable to do so this season. The cancellations affect long‑standing events and the community activity they support.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
I have something very important to raise, but I think I couldn't allow that attack on our independence and our right to be here and represent our people and our views. We didn't wait until Deputy Batchick elected in by-election recently to come here and tell us how to run our business and how to be respectful and how to be mannerly. It's all one-way traffic here, as I can see. If you have an Ontario advice or a contrarian advice or opinion, you're not allowed to talk at all, whether it be on rural Ireland, whether it be on immigration, whether it be on many other issues that affect us. And I take no lecture from Deputy Batchick, she'll be gone like the last leader quicker than we even, it gets dark. That's what happened with the Labour Party. It's founded in Colombia, a proud party that represented rural Ireland and the people of Tipperary, and now what is it? Language and the doldrums. We won't take any lectures like that, and I thank you for your indulgences. My issue was that I wanted to raise, for you to allow me, is Sport Ireland, not Sport, Motor Racing Ireland, motorbikes. I raised the picture here three weeks ago. Faheen 50, it's going on there with 70 years, and many other clubs throughout the country. They cannot get insurance to have any of their races this year. There are 12 or 13 different big events and many, many small ones. And these are committed people, committed sporting enthusiasts, running races safely, can't get an insurance quote in Southern Ireland. Their colleagues in Northern Ireland can get insurance, but they can't get it here in the South. You promised me, Taoiseach, here several weeks ago that the Minister would engage with us and get this started. Sadly, all the events have been cancelled this year, and those people who want to give so much to the communities can't do it. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. D gouge is here. And please try to set the男's side of the body to deal with it. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Mountain tremors. Deputy Shortall. Deputy Shortall. çocuğ Som Penel. Give救. Syah. Anupad. duty. Don't.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
