Results 181-200 of 399 for going forward speaker:Mattie McGrath

Status of History in the Framework for Junior Cycle: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...and asked that it undertake a review of the optional nature of history in the junior cycle. The NCCA decided, as we know, that history be kept as an optional subject. The Minister has decided to go against that recommendation and has chosen instead to assign history "special core status" in the junior cycle, so maith an tAire. It is a wise step. I applaud the Minister on the decision...

Agrifood and Rural Development: Motion (24 Sep 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...that to him before. I also thank Superintendent Denis Whelan, the gardaí in Cahir Garda station, and the workers who went in and out of the factory and were so peaceful and respectful of what was going on. Many of them brought food to feed the farmers and their families. I thank the many companies that brought food and the many women who baked scones and apple tarts and cream....

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Mattie McGrath: In mid-July, my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group and I made a direct plea to the Minister and the Government to intervene formally in order to avert the further destabilisation of the beef sector. We stated that we were increasingly concerned at the absence of a beef round-table forum at which grievances and positions could be constructively aired and that would in turn have allowed...

Brexit Contingency Action Plan: Statements (11 Jul 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...side of the House will co-operate with the Government when there is a genuine need to be constructive. I mean it when I say we want to be constructive. As a small business man, I understand the importance of forward planning. If the Government does not intend to engage with the major stakeholders in this area, it is very scary. More needs to be done along the lines of the Brexit...

Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...little communication at that time and my parents, who are now deceased, and the parents of the other children I was with thought we were all in danger and might never come home. Thankfully, we all got home safely albeit at 2 a.m. instead of 9 p.m. It is shocking that there has been no closure on that. I salute Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan on her efforts and the cross-party meetings she has...

Local Government (Rates) Bill 2018: Instruction to Committee (2 Jul 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...me that the council has confirmed that it intends to refuse this request. It is a real punch in the teeth for hard-pressed ratepayers. I am talking about ratepayers who want to pay and who have a good record of paying, not the fly-by-nights that do not want to pay for anything. I salute the business people. As part of its reply, the council noted that it is disappointed to hear that...

Home Help: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to speak on this motion and I compliment Sinn Féin on bringing it forward. I am particularly struck by the cost analysis in the motion. I compliment Deputy Butler on her amendment, which I will be supporting. The motion outlines the cost-effective nature of home support by comparison with hospital care and nursing home care. It makes stark reading. The average weekly...

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2019)

Mattie McGrath: It is not different. A licence was granted without any planning. One must go through all procedures. I am just trying to illustrate my point that this should not be put in the role of Garda superintendents. It should be a proper due process of planning permission that should be advertised and go through the normal channels where the public can make submissions etc. As the Bills Digest...

Supplementary Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Mattie McGrath: It is with a heavy heart that I stand here to comment on this. I compliment Dr. Scally on doing this work and coming forward with this supplementary report and the scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme which was just a fiasco. We now know that the latest Scally report identified that the number of laboratories involved in CervicalCheck was greater than originally...

Defence Forces: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I support this motion, and compliment colleagues in Fianna Fáil on bringing it forward. There is clearly a massive disconnect between the Government's view that it is doing everything it can to support our armed forces and the statements made by senior Army personnel that morale is on the floor. Any of us worth our salt, the Minister of State included as he must be in touch with them...

Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 May 2019)

Mattie McGrath: We would not want to be contaminated. It is the Independent Alliance. I compliment Deputies O'Dea and O'Rourke for bringing forward the Bill on an excellent scheme. When common sense applied and there was plenty of funding many badly needed adaptations were carried out and I salute the staff on the local authority for the work they do. I also commend the occupational therapists on...

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...State will protect them, but that has not been happening. That is not the experience of so many thousands of families right across the country. Then the Minister tries to lecture us on bringing forward a well-researched motion. The figures are there if he wants to quote them but he does not. I was only in court this morning to witness the shameful treatment in the Four Courts by a...

Road Traffic (All Terrain Vehicle and Scrambler Motor-cycle) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 May 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am pleased to contribute briefly to the debate on the Bill. I compliment my colleagues in Fianna Fáil on bringing it forward. It is very worthy and necessary. No Member wants to be a killjoy, but we must deal with these dangerous vehicles. They are not toys. Although I sympathise with communities or estates which are experiencing anti-social activity related to scrambler or quad...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...It is disrespectful, and I hope the Minister of State passes on the message to him. I understand he is a busy man, but it always seems to be when the party leaders are finished that he decides to go. As we know, the European Council has agreed to an extension to allow for the ratification of the withdrawal agreement by the UK. We in the Rural Independent Group have been co-operative...

Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Apr 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...Michael McGrath and Cowen, and for their persistence in following this matter through. Deputy Michael McGrath had previously made clear that there seems to be no real disincentive to bring forward bogus claims. There is nothing. They can do whatever they like. The purpose of the Bill is to provide for an increase in the penalties for those found guilty of an offence under section 26...

Rural and Community Development: Statements (10 Apr 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...robust when he was in opposition and I know he was glad to get the portfolio he has. He is doing his best with it. I want him to be honest with us. I have one ceist before I start. I hope he got some treatment from his local vet for the dog at home that is always scratching. The dog probably has mange. The Minister could use DDT and other things on him if he is not in a healthy...

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care)(Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Apr 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...against these three sanctions. In fairness, any justice system must provide for a right of appeal. We cannot have cursory justice and must provide for a right jf appeal. It is, therefore, a good amendment. All of the amendments strike me as being perfectly reasonable. We must have strong and robust protections for the public. While they are generally excellently served by the...

Educational Supports for Children Experiencing Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (3 Apr 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am glad to speak on this motion on educational supports for children experiencing homelessness. I compliment Deputy Thomas Byrne and his colleagues on bringing it forward. We speak about the chaos in the United Kingdom Parliament as a national embarrassment to its politics, but the issue of child homelessness is equally a national embarrassment for this Parliament and the Government in...

National Children's Hospital: Motion [Private Members] (12 Mar 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy to take the opportunity to wind up this evening's debate. Before I do, I thank my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group for agreeing to bring forward this motion and putting so much time, effort and energy into it. I also thank David and Mairéad in my office for working so hard. I also thank Deputies Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, Seamus Healy and Michael Fitzmaurice as well...

Civil Law (Presumption of Death) Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Mar 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...number of missing persons reported in Ireland increased from 5,000 in 2004 to 9,000 in 2014. It is simply unimaginable to think about what these families and their loved ones suffer when a person goes missing. As we know, the Law Reform Commission published a report on civil law aspects of missing persons in 2013. It made a number of recommendations that have found their way into this...