Mattie McGrath criticises Appropriations Bill, praises colleagues
Mattie McGrath praised retiring colleagues and parliamentary staff and criticised the Appropriations Bill as symptomatic of chronic overspending and a lack of accountability. He said the Bill's stated purpose is to give statutory authority to votes during the year but argued it instead exposes systemic inefficiencies.
Mattie McGrath commended Deputy Eamon O'Keefe, Deputy Sherlock and Deputy John Paul Fieden for their contributions and thanked retiring members. He offered particular thanks to Deputy O'Keefe, his wife and staff for the way constituents were treated, and he extended best wishes and good health to all those retiring.
He thanked every member of staff by role, including those at the gate, ushers, canteen and restaurant staff, printers and porters, noting the tough job they do with a smile. He also acknowledged the Secretary General and his team, mentioned Ivory by name, and referred to Count Cawler while saying there remain questions about the commission Count Cawler is thought to chair.
McGrath argued the Appropriations Bill highlights chronic issues of cost overruns, lack of value for money and rampant overspending across all departments, calling these plagues in the public sector. He stressed the problem is systemic rather than the fault of any single person and said the Bill, intended to allocate funds, serves as a reminder of inefficiency and weak accountability.
He outlined the Bill's technical role in providing statutory authority for votes during the year, referencing original, revised and supplementary estimates and definitive capital carryover from 2020. He also noted procedural confusion in the chamber, saying the Appropriations Bill had not yet been taken and that he had been ahead of schedule, referring to the House proceeding with the Avocatis Commission Bill later in the day.
Tributes to colleagues and staff
Mattie McGrath commended Deputy Eamon O'Keefe, Deputy Sherlock and Deputy John Paul Fieden for their contributions and thanked retiring members. He offered particular thanks to Deputy O'Keefe, his wife and staff for the way constituents were treated, and he extended best wishes and good health to all those retiring.
Acknowledgement of parliamentary staff
He thanked every member of staff by role, including those at the gate, ushers, canteen and restaurant staff, printers and porters, noting the tough job they do with a smile. He also acknowledged the Secretary General and his team, mentioned Ivory by name, and referred to Count Cawler while saying there remain questions about the commission Count Cawler is thought to chair.
Critique of the Appropriations Bill
McGrath argued the Appropriations Bill highlights chronic issues of cost overruns, lack of value for money and rampant overspending across all departments, calling these plagues in the public sector. He stressed the problem is systemic rather than the fault of any single person and said the Bill, intended to allocate funds, serves as a reminder of inefficiency and weak accountability.
Bill purpose and procedural clarification
He outlined the Bill's technical role in providing statutory authority for votes during the year, referencing original, revised and supplementary estimates and definitive capital carryover from 2020. He also noted procedural confusion in the chamber, saying the Appropriations Bill had not yet been taken and that he had been ahead of schedule, referring to the House proceeding with the Avocatis Commission Bill later in the day.
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.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Denis Naughten
Denis Naughten delivers farewell after nearly 28 years
Gerard P. Craughwell
Gerard P. Craughwell: CyberQuest wins €8.5m to train 2,000 participants
Sharon Keogan
Sharon Keogan: Demands answer on 10-year delay to section 6
Richard O'Donoghue
Richard O'Donoghue: Calls to Abolish Means Test for Carers
Richard Boyd Barrett
Richard Boyd Barrett urges cost-benefit checks on spending
Richard Boyd Barrett
Richard Boyd Barrett Calls for State Builder to Solve Housing Crisis
Transcript
I would like to compliment Deputy O'Keefe. Deputy Eamon O'Keefe was just leaving, and indeed Deputy Sherlock and Deputy John Paul Fieden, who spoke knowledgeably and intelligently and very honestly about their time here and their experience. And a special break is to Deputy O'Keefe and his wife and his staff. Because when I got in here in 07, we went on a visit. A couple of my team, my family and I, to see how a constituency office runs. And by hell did I learn a lot that they got treated well in Galway, in the office of Deputy O'Keefe at the time. So I wish him well and thank him and thank everybody here. I wish everybody's retiring all the very, very best and best wishes and good health. As well, I want to thank each and every member of staff, from the people we meet at the gate, the guarantee to the ushers in the gate and to all the staff, the canteen, restaurant, you name it, printers, porters, everybody. The courties and the help that they give, they have a tough job too. They do it with a smile all the time. And they're brilliant. And indeed, the Secretary General and his team, Ivory, and the Count Cawler's office too. And I know the Count Cawler, I think, chairs the commission, but there's a lot of questions to be answered there. But I wish to count Cawler well and thank him as well. As I said, the Appropriations Bill, which outlines the government spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year, has once again highlighted the chronic issues of cost overruns, lack of value for money, and rampant overspending across all departments. The Bill is intended to allocate funds to various government operations. Instead, it serves as a glaring reminder of the inefficiencies and lack of accountability and the plagues in our public sector. And that's not the fault of any one person, but it's just a chronic system that has evolved and it's just not acceptable. The purpose of the Appropriations Bill is to give statutory authority to the most voters during the year, including original estimates for the revised estimates and the supplementary estimates. The Bill also provides for definitive capital carryover from 2020. The Appropriations Bill has not yet been taken. Appropriations Bill, yes, that's what I have for discussion. We're not. This is the House of the Avocatis Commission Bill. You're referring to the Appropriations Bill, which is this afternoon, later today. Thank you so much. I'm ahead of my time. Thank you. I'll let my colleague... Deputy. Thank you. I don't always agree with you, but thank you. It's a bad day. You don't let them... Sorry. Okay.