Mattie McGrath Blasts Green Budget as Cruel Trick on Rural Ireland
Mattie McGrath criticised a budget measure advanced by the Greens, Fianna Fall and Fianna Gael, arguing it will harm rural communities, motorists, taxi drivers and the transport sector. He described the proposal as a "cruel, mean, lean trick" and said it demonises people in poverty and rural Ireland.
Main critique of just transition
McGrath said the money presented as a ring‑fenced fund for a "just transition" is misleading and will not help ordinary rural people, citing those trying to heat cottages, farmers and exporters as examples of people who will be left behind.
Impact on rural transport and services
He warned the measure would damage the taxi trade and further cripple the bus industry, which he noted is already affected by the pandemic, and said costs for lorry drivers and hauliers have "all gone up".
Accusations of political manoeuvring
McGrath accused the Greens of tricking Fianna Fall and Fianna Gael, called the move "blatant blackguarding" and accused the measure of demonising people in poverty and rural Ireland.
References to stakeholders
He named Deputy Murphy, the Road Holders Association, contractors FCI, farmers, exporters and parents relying on transport, arguing the proposal ignores the realities of those groups and the safety and access issues on rural roads.
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You understand rule of life and your constituency. This is a trick, hard trick by the Greens, Fianna Fall and Fianna Gael, because they tell us this money is going to be a ring fence and it's going to be put into projects to deal with just transition. Just transition, my eyeball, is what it is. You tell that to the woman trying to heat her cottage in the country, in Tipperary and Holly for any place. Tell her to the farmer that's trying to cut his crops. Tell her to the exporter. Tell her to the lorry man. I'm shocked that Deputy Murphy, if she supports this, because she was lobbying for years with the Road Holders Association. Tell her to the contractors, FCI. Tell her to the people that are trying to get a transport to college for the children, which we all are. This is shocking. I think that you put this on here tonight is blatant blackguarding and demonising of people in poverty and people in rural Ireland especially who can't go anywhere unless they get a taxi or unless they drive. Full stop. They have no cycle lanes, no access to them. It's not safe on the roads that we have. And this is going to destroy the taxi. What about the bus industry that's crippled at the moment? With the pandemic? How are they going to get back on the road again? And their cab attacks to fill up the diesel tanks to survey their lorries? It's all gone up. It's just a cruel, mean, lean trick. And I can't believe that the Greens would put the wool over the eyes of Dina Fáil and Pina Gael here. Obviously, it's a Green budget, but this is a Bonoville. Thank you, Deputy Deputy. Thank you, Deputy Deputy.
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