McGrath, Mattie

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (Continued)

I wish Deputy Varadkar well in his nomination today. Cuirim fáilte Uí Cheallaigh roimh a chlann go léir atá anseo freisin. I will give him a small bit of advice. He might be aware of the song “W...

It might be a case of who’s who now but who will be who over there later today? That is when the sport will start, will it not, Teachta Kenny?

The song ended with the lyrics, “Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss”. I wish the old boss well too, as I was not here yesterday. Only time will tell if we stand the test of time.

Much time has been spent this morning on posturing and political statements condemning new politics. It would be better for us to enhance new politics and embrace the reform the electorate voted...

Deputy Varadkar had a brief time in the transport Ministry in 2011. I cannot remember any stand-out issues he had there. In 2014, he replaced the now Senator James Reilly as Minister for Health...

In January 2015, Deputy Varadkar was heavily criticised for being on his laethanta saoire - I must commend him on his efforts with the Irish language - in the USA during the worst hospital trolle...

My view on the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, the night it was set up was that it was like a wild animal released in the woods and we would never know where it would end up. We now know...

I thank the Attorney General for her time and wish her well in her new role. We need to change our mindset. We want the new Taoiseach to engage with the people. I know he has been on a Fine Ga...

Will Deputy Varadkar deal with the vulture funds and the banks? Their persecution of ordinary people in this country is disgraceful. AIB has been merciless in putting people out of their homes ...

I wish Deputy Varadkar well. I will not be voting for him because he did not ask me to and I want to be able to challenge him in the House. I will vote positively with him on positive issues, h...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (Continued)

He is good at that.

Up Tipp.

And the one that we lost.

  I, too, congratulate and wish the new Taoiseach, his Ministers and everyone else the best. I thank the Taoiseach for being helpful in his previous ro...

I am shocked that he will now be the Minister with responsibility for rural development. If that is what he did to oifig an phoist, what will do to small farmers? What will he do to Tús workers? ...

I do look forward, however, to the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, who is laughing, dealing with DEIS schools in my constituency next year.

I am glad that the Minister is still in the Cabinet and the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, likewise as she will look after the issues that the Government-----

It is welcome that-----

Yes, please. They were going to-----

Some of them have left and more are half asleep. Some are waking up, however, and realising they are still in government. They will need to pinch themselves, but they should know that they must l...

We need to fill the places that IDA Ireland did not fill if we are to deal with the impact of Brexit. It is too serious.

And I gave the Minister a hand with it.

And he delivered.

Members are not allowed to talk-----

We all know who it was.