Mattie McGrath warns 'three-card trick' will muzzle Dáil debates
Mattie McGrath challenged the Tanaiste over changes to Dáil procedure, arguing the business committee convention had worked and warning recent tactics risk collapsing debates. He accused the Tanaiste of attempting to 'muzzle' opposition, described a 'three-card trick' to stack sittings so backbenchers will not attend, and criticised a bill he said supported Vulture Funds.
Business committee record
He said there have been 32 meetings of the business committee in this Dáil so far, that the meetings had been civil and that matters were worked out without votes, presenting the convention as effective.
Procedural concerns and 'three-card trick'
He warned that scheduling many members to sit at the same time will lead to backbenchers not turning up for debates, causing debates to collapse and legislation to fall. He described this as a three-card trick intended to muzzle debate.
Representation of rural Ireland
He emphasised he represents the people of rural Ireland and ordinary people, rejected being labelled far-left and argued for fairness and equality in parliamentary debate and scrutiny.
Vulture Funds criticism
He accused the Tanaiste of previously pushing a bill to support Vulture Funds and contrasted that with his claim to represent ordinary people rather than those interests.
Closing remarks
He concluded his remarks by reiterating his objections to the procedural change and thanking colleagues for their attention.
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Thanks Chair. Could I remind Tanaiste that he depends on a small party who were in opposition recently to stay in government. Well, he has 11 of them now, one gone and more to go. So look, it is now sadly, we take no lecture from Tanaiste about that. What's going on here is a convention that has worked well in the rest of all. We've had 32 meetings of the business committee in this Dáil so far. And they've all been civil, and they've worked very well, and we've worked things out always, without ever a vote in the business committee, I don't think. All we want here is, what we see going on here is, and you know where you're sitting Chair, Laskan Kohler, the backbenchers are not turning up for that time, and they'll collapse the debates. That's why this is a three-card trick. Put all them in first, they won't turn up for the debates, and then the legislation will fall, and it'll be closed down. This is an attempt to muzzle. And I'm not a far-left party, Tanaiste, I remind you, I don't like it. We want fairness and equality. We represent the people of rural Ireland, and they need to be heard. You pushed a bill here earlier to support the Vulture Funds. That's who you represent. We represent the ordinary people. Thank you, Deputy. Thank you. Thank you, Paul! Thank you.
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