Results 161-180 of 397 for going forward speaker:Mattie McGrath

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I acknowledge the concessions that have been made in bringing forward some of the stages. However, those over 66 years are still neglected. They are not looking for much, all they wanted was the difference between their pension and the Covid payment. They have played and continue to play a big part in our society. Mobile businesses have been badly affected. There are many from bread...

An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála Eile Ar Mhaithe Le Leas an Phobail), 2020: An Dara Céim - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Second Stage (19 Mar 2020)

Mattie McGrath: ..., the same applies to An Garda Síochána, the Civil Defence, the Red Cross and all the volunteer organisations that have stepped up to the plate overwhelmingly in the past ten days. Ní neart go cur le chéile. Meitheal is a great Irish word in the sense of gathering and supporting each other. People are proving that sense of meitheal and helping each other, ag...

Post-European Council: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...Day in and day out, they are being demonised in this House, in the media and all over. It is the duty of the Minister of State, at this level, and that is why I asked before she went, what she was going to bring to the table at that meeting. I am asking her now to let us know in her reply, or to at least communicate with my office, what she put on the table. She should have defended the...

Section 39 Organisations: Motion [Private Members] (17 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...organisation on all of the work they do. I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health on the need to restore pay for staff in section 39 organisations. I accept the view put forward in the motion that the independent, not-for-profit section 39 sector provides vital services for many thousands of people with disabilities throughout Ireland and that the section 39 sector...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Sláinte), 2019: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Health) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I salute the work of my colleague, Deputy Harty, who has been a serious, dedicated and passionate advocate of health reform in this State since his election five years ago by the good people of Contae an Chláir. Deputy Harty has made clear that he understands the purpose of this Bill. In the main it is an attempt to strengthen the rights of citizens and in particular those who are sick...

Inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (12 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta O'Callaghan. I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for bringing forward the motion. I wholeheartedly welcome Shane's mother and father and his four sisters. This motion is a testimony yet again to the loving and determined perseverance of Shane's mother, father and sisters, who I salute. It is a scandal of the highest order that such efforts have to be made...

Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...had been on the decline for decades. Anti-Catholic rhetoric, in particular, is rampant. Some have even described such views as the last acceptable public prejudice. That said, I supported the Government's Bill to repeal the blasphemy clause from the Constitution. As Our Lord said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." While many of...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...farmers. There is a swathe of them across the west, and indeed in my county, and they are struggling. That is the reason we saw so many of them on the picket line at the meat plants, for all the good it did them, which was none. They will be charged this tax but will be unable to claim it back because it is only a gimmick. They will not have sufficient tax liability. Some account...

Illegal Drugs: Motion [Private Members] (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I too compliment an Teachta Curran and Fianna Fáil for bringing forward this very important motion. The numbers involved are truly staggering. As the motion indicates, individuals, families and communities throughout the country have been devastated by illegal drugs. Drug-related deaths in Ireland are at their highest ever, increasing from 431 in 2004 to 736 in 2016. The value of...

Pre-European Council: Statements (16 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: All of us are waiting to see whether the hopes of this week’s developments in Brexit will bear fruit and if a deal will emerge. We have all supported the Government in its efforts on this. The middle of October used to be harvest time for apple farmers in Tipperary. Hopefully, the harvest will be rich and we will get a deal. The kind of deal is the question, however. Cén...

Living Wage: Motion [Private Members] (15 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...and compliment its authors. I had better declare that I am an employer and can speak from that perspective also. As I said, I am happy to speak to the motion and salute Sinn Féin for bringing it forward. Some of the statistics mentioned in the motion are truly disturbing. There is no other way to describe them and I compliment Sinn Féin on its research. According to...

Financial Resolutions - Budget Statement 2020 (8 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...public services. He failed miserably to do either. One would have to have heard this to believe it, but the Minister began his Budget Statement by stating we have a well-run economy for which the Government is delivering responsible management. I do not know what planet he is on or that he thinks the people are on. This highlights the absolute fantasy land that the Minister and his...

Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...’s interest and engagement with affected families, and I thank all the other Deputies who contributed, namely, Deputies Cahill, Browne and Ferris. I sympathise with Deputy Ferris, who lost his good friend 20 years ago. No one likes to lose a loved one, whether through a serious illness or, worst of all, tragedy. Today is International Mental Health Day and one would not like to...

Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2019. Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire. I thank the Minister for his courtesy and the Government for not opposing this Bill. When Ms Anne-Marie O'Brien, who is in the Visitors Gallery with her dad, started to raise issues, right after the terrible accident, which...

Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...military precision these things would not and should not happen, if the Minister of State had his eye on the ball and he cared enough about the Defence Forces. I know constituents who were looking forward to coming home for first communions, confirmations and weddings but were held up as they were doing their tour of duty, leaving their loved ones waiting for them. We got glib answers...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (2 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...close to them. We know that the story goes on and around and around. It is a case of, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours". As I said, it is timely that this legislation should come forward but, like Deputy Sherlock, I am a little distracted and confused as to why. Even though the Government had Deputy Micheál Martin supporting this new household charge, as I read in a...

UN Climate Action Summit: Statements (2 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: ...to speak on this important matter. I also welcome those measures we can and must take to arrive at a fair, just and proportionate response to the issue of climate change. I do not believe the Government has the slightest clue of what those words mean. It does not do "fair" or "proportionate" and I do not know if we can trust it with climate change. Do I believe that the proposals put...

Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Oct 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I commend Deputy O'Callaghan on bringing forward this important legislation and for highlighting what is a growing menace with society, namely, knife crime. I found it disturbing to hear Deputy O'Callaghan refer during his First Stage introduction of the Bill to the fact that the number of knives seized by An Garda Síochána has increased by 66% since 2016. In 2017, 1,600 knives...

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....