Ross riles McGrath over rural Yes in referendum

TRANSPORT Minister Shane Ross has goaded Independent TD Mattie McGrath over the abortion referendum result in his constituency.

Tensions are high between Mr Ross and the Tipperary TD over the controversial Road Traffic Bill, which is still progressing through the House.

Mr Ross said he questioned if Mr McGrath – who backed a No vote in the abortion referendum – was really the voice of rural Ireland as he claimed, because even his own village voted against him on this issue.

‘Sometimes I wonder if those who are claiming to be the voices of rural Ireland really have the support of rural Ireland – of all of rural Ireland. I welcome, in that context, the fact that Newcastle in Co. Tipperary voted Yes in the referendum, Clonmel voted Yes, and Tipperary voted Yes. And I want to congratulate them on their decision to do that. I am delighted,’ he said.

He added: ‘So those who claim to be the voice of rural Ireland are not… even able to carry their own village with them.’

Mr McGrath, who lives in the Newcastle area, laughed loudly at the Minister’s remarks. He replied that we live in a democracy, then spoke loudly over Mr Ross.

The pair engaged in the verbal duel at the Oireachtas Transport Committee this week while debating plans for a pilot late-night transport scheme in rural Ireland.

During the robust exchange, with the pair talking over each other at times, Mr McGrath questioned what these remarks had to do with the issue at hand. The acting chairman, Fianna Fáil’s Kevin O’Keeffe, attempted to intervene.

Mr McGrath also said during the exchange that Mr Ross would ‘have all the rural dwellers locked up at night if you could’.

Ronan O’Reilly – Page 15