Results 1-20 of 392 for going forward speaker:Mattie McGrath

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...buíochas le Brian Ó Domhnaill and Triona in my office and my colleagues for putting down this motion. On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I make no apologies to anyone for putting this motion forward. The Minister mentioned that a number of debates have been held. I think three of them were forced by us, after months of begging. We have used our Private Members' time...

Petrol and Diesel Excise Rate Increases: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I also compliment Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion that will try to deal with the cost of living issue for people and in this case, excise on fuel. The Government made a big hoo-ha about giving the excise rebates and they were very welcome. However to put the excise on now, especially for rural Ireland, the farming community, hauliers and everybody else is heartless and...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...this big sweeping brush the Minister has brought down from the, well, I cannot say the hills of County Cavan, but perhaps the boggy land or the turf areas of the county. One broom sweeps all. This is going to have a disproportionate impact on businesses, especially ag an am seo. Businesses are just hanging on by their fingernails at the moment. Deputy Collins raised this issue with the...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: .... I acknowledge that unlike what I said this morning about his abysmal time in health. Recently, it has not only been Fine Gael that has been far too left for far too long. In my opinion all three Government parties and most of the Opposition occupy that left-wing space even though it is the private sector that generates our national income and wealth and even though 80% of employees...

General Practice and Local Health Services: Motion (20 Mar 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I too thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. It is a simple matter of fact that all services across the regions have been diminished and the lack of accountability is shocking. What happened recently in Nenagh with St. Conleth's nursing home was nothing short of blackguarding. Deputies Lowry and Cahill are both claiming that they got this centre to be a step-down facility...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Mar 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...but I think the Taoiseach will be seen as a lame-duck participant this time because of the situation he has announced today. In any case, my long-time and continuing concerns relate to what really goes on at these meetings. I have asked the Minister of State this question before. Does he really bring the concerns of this House to these meetings? We have seen from the recent...

Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Gabhaim buíochas le Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion tonight. I sympathise with Deputy Michael Collins, his partner, Val, his own children, Eileen, Marie and young Michael, and his sister, the mother of that young man. I know how the Deputy was so fond of him. I was present when he had many phone calls with him over the past number of months. I know how hard Deputy...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Oversight of RTÉ's Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues and Plans for Longer-term Support and Funding for Public Service Media: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (27 Feb 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...you briefed the presenter or the research team that you were prepared to answer this question, so it was a leading question to dismiss her publicly or throw her under the bus, as has been said. Going forward, how can you feel confident or what confidence can you give us or the public, who I think have switched off from watching this anyway because they are disgusted with it, as they are...

Healthcare Provision in Rural Communities: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...loss and to his brother Danny and the mother of the young man. I thank Tríona and Brian Ó Domhnaill in our office for putting this motion together. I am disappointed because, as usual, the Government has put forward a countermotion. Everyone knows that something is wrong. Somebody quoted figures earlier and said that spending has increased by €800 million, or 40%,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...manager have been employed in that location since the 1980s. Tipperary had a lot of hammer blows last week with a number of restaurants closing. On one hand the task force does great work and yet Government State agencies do this. An Post said it will advertise to get a private contractor or perhaps co-locate in a shop but we have no idea where, or who would be interested in this...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jan 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...but there is now confusion and no clarity from the Department or TII. It is supposed to be a single carriageway route. It just beggars belief that in this day and age in 2024, they would design, go to all this fuss, upset all the landowners and householders with debates and consultants and so on, and contemplate building a single carriageway road. We must engage in forward planning and...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Mattie McGrath: Councillor Fitzgerald replaced his late dad on the council, so the service in the family goes back even longer. I wish his mum, who is in her 95th year, well too. I have minor concerns about the ten-year cycle for the development plans. It is very long. I know the plans can be amended but they seldom are and it is an arduous task. We will be submitting amendments on these issues....

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Nov 2023)

Mattie McGrath: ...to do an impact assessment on many of the schemes it has brought out. I welcome many of the schemes, but the councils do not have the staff to deal with them. The flow of information back and forward is too slow and untimely. On the proposal for renters, the cost of rent is outrageous. If we listened to the Minister's colleagues, we would think everything was hunky-dory. My own...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Mattie McGrath: ...this cannot be done any more. They also have to have sensible burning on the mountains, as do very many gun clubs that manage their stocks. This derogation has to be extended because you cannot go into the land to cut the bushes, and where they are cut farmers cannot go in to remove them. In any case, when we stop the burning of them we will have to mulch them, which involves a bigger...

Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2023)

Mattie McGrath: ...talk and talk and talk. We just have lost the ability to build. I am a member and vice-chairman - I was chairman - of a voluntary housing association. We set about building 14 houses 15 or 20 years ago. We were told it would take forever. We built them in 18 months. Eleven lay-people on the board hired in all the expertise and built them. I would go back to the Department...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2023)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, compliment, ar an gcéad dul síos, an Teachta Connolly agus a grúpa for putting the motion forward. I know how passionately she feels about this topic, on which I listened to her speak many times here. I put it to an tAire Stáit that this motion is very important. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, we have diminished, damaged and almost destroyed our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Mattie McGrath: 139. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason behind the removal of funding for the 'getting citizens online fund'; if it will be restored going forward to assist vulnerable and isolated members of the community in accessing services online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46605/23]

Driving Test Waiting Times: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2023)

Mattie McGrath: We tabled this motion in good faith. The Government has decided not to oppose it but it is a complete cop-out. It is an abject failure of the Department. I am disappointed that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is not here for the reply. With the Chair's indulgence, I would like to sympathise with the families of the four young leaving certificate students from Clonmel. They...

Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Sep 2023)

Mattie McGrath: If you are fracking gas, you need to have water to keep things cool. It is all part of the construct that was set up and the separation of duties. I will go back to the gas but I am just saying that we have three reservoirs. There is one in Carrick-on-Suir on the Lingaun river, another in the Ardfinnan regional water scheme and a third in the Galtee region water scheme. They are massive...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Mattie McGrath: ...past. Now everybody is strapped for cash and this funding is necessary. I welcome the recent engagement of the HSE and the Department of Social Protection in visiting the centre to see what is going on. It is an excellent service with wonderful staff and patrons. They look forward to it so much and they love it now that it is back after Covid. There are many other day care centres...