Mattie McGrath criticises Health Provisions Bill as 'checkpoint society'
Mattie McGrath challenged the Health Provisions Bill, saying the Dáil has not been given the legislation and that rapid timetabling prevents proper debate. He described parts of the bill as paving the way for a "checkpoint society" and called it "medical apartheid," demanding more time for scrutiny.
Main objection to the Health Provisions Bill
McGrath argued that deputies have not received the text of the bill the Cabinet were meant to produce and that the short timetable - with amendments due by 5pm and minimal speaking time - makes proper scrutiny impossible. He requested extra time, suggesting either Friday or next week for fuller debate.
Procedural and speaking-time concerns
He highlighted the Business Committee decision that left his group with effectively about a minute and 40 seconds per deputy to address an important bill. McGrath said the rushed process and limited access to the legislation undermined parliamentary scrutiny.
Power expansion and 'checkpoint society' warning
McGrath warned that the bill, and briefings he had seen, allow the minister for health to introduce "statutory incidents" that could enable others to demand medical papers. He said this risked creating a checkpoint society where bouncers, restaurant staff or Gardaí - and potentially the army or other groups - could demand to see medical documents.
Exchange over language in the Chamber
During the debate another deputy admonished McGrath for using inflammatory language such as comparisons to Nazism; McGrath denied having used the Holocaust word and asked for the record to be corrected. The exchange highlighted tensions over rhetoric and parliamentary tone.
Cap reform, climate and outside protests
McGrath noted cap reform had been debated and referenced peat producers and nursery people gathered outside, concerned about upcoming measures. He also said, in terms of climate change, that the minister had taken on amendments from the Opposition and devoted significant time and effort to the issue.
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We still have no proper discussion on cap reform, and we know that peat producers and, indeed, nursery people are outside today, hugely concerned about issues coming down the track there, but on relation to the health provisions bill that you're bringing out, I still, and we still haven't got a copy of the legislation that the Cabinet are supposed to have produced, we're supposed to have amendments in by 5 o'clock this evening, we're getting 10 minutes, my group, now after I row with the Business Committee, that's 2 minutes, that's a minute and 40 seconds per deputy here to speak in such an important piece of legislation. Teachta, your government has really a totalitarian agenda, and it's a danger of becoming a checkpoint society where anyone from bouncers, restaurant staff and Gardaí could demand to see our papers, medical papers, this is an ethical, it's a medical apartheid, as I said last week, we also see where in the bill we're taught by briefings that the Minister for Health can, at any time next week, when we're out of here, he can introduce statutory incidents to allow another group of people to do this, it could be the army, it could be anybody who it decides to do, I'm looking for more time for this, it cannot go ahead, because it's totally, totally regressive legislation, and we don't have time to debate it, and we must need either Friday or next week to discuss this properly. In terms of Deputy McGrath, the cap has been debated in this House, I do think, I do think through the Chair that you should refrain from your frequent use of language, and I've been at this for the last couple of weeks asking you not to keep using the term Nazism, totalitarianism, and all, you did it before and you've done it, you consistently make ridiculous assertions in this House that insult and are offensive to people. They're ridiculous, that's not my opinion, they're offensive, they understand what Nazism is about, they understand what the Holocaust was about. I never mentioned the Holocaust, excuse me, words have been put into my mouth, I did not use the word, I never uttered that word, never, please, never hear anybody else. Please, spare me the history lecture, please, I didn't, you should apologise to me, I didn't use that word, please, please correct the record. I didn't say you did, you did? You said I shouldn't use those words, I won't start with H, I won't even use it. You have accused Government of being like Nazis, I never used it, so stop the lies, please. You have accused Government of being like Nazis, please have a little order, and can we hear the Taoiseach out? You have accused Government of being like Nazis, and you have repeatedly accused Government of being like Nazis, repeatedly, in this House you have. What's this? We can't even see the legislation that's been brought through here. What I would like to say is, the time is up, in terms of climate change, I think it's fair to say that Minister Eamon Ryan has given very detailed time and effort, and has taken on board amendments from the Opposition in respect of climate change.
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