Results 2,701-2,720 of 20,725 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I know that. The only people paying for water today are farmers and businesspeople. That should not be lost on anyone here and nor should what it costs to produce water. Crocodile tears are being shed here for people and in respect of this legislation, which is going through with the support of the new Government partners. We hear rumblings from the Taoiseach - soon to be Tánaiste -...

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: There are crocodile tears for small farmers and ordinary people. I remind the House that the only people now paying for water in their taps are the farmers, publicans and business people. They are the very people paying for water and so it is easy to have crocodile tears. If this is only for towns the size of Nenagh, why does a farmer extracting water with a 2,000-gallon tank to irrigate...

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: We were all very complimentary earlier on tonight on the Bill regarding maternity and many other pieces of work that the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, has done before he took over his position, but this is crazy. As I said last night to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, Deputy Fitzmaurice called them “Bills”, but I...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: There have been huge issues with the Acts since the 1996 Act. The Minister is saying now he will be able to rectify that under this new piece of legislation. I wonder whether the families who have been traumatised by this and who have been struggling have been abandoned by their legal people. In many cases, a legal person was appointed and took power over the person. I hate to talk about...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I will make a brief comment. This is such an important piece of legislation that means so much to so many families and individuals. It is a pity to have it guillotined and that we will not get to discuss some of the amendments, albeit there are not many people in the Chamber. The amount of time allowed is ridiculous, to be honest.

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I ask the Minister to clarify that point. I just do not understand what he meant.

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I know the Minister's intentions are good, and I expect the Bill has been thoroughly assessed by the Attorney General, but is the Minister anticipating any legal challenges? The changes being introduced are pretty wide-ranging. The ward of court system needed completely overhauled but there are people transitioning out of it, as the Minister said. I understand from the Minister's remarks...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I know that.

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: This amendment is very important. Any of us with any court experience, notwithstanding the family courts, knows that fees can be astronomical, so it is very important there is a cap. Many of these people are in a vulnerable situation. While wards of courts in the HSE might be fine, when they exit that, they might not have family or means and may not be able to meet fees. It is a very...

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: In a case with which I am dealing and many other cases, the person is not in position to speak to whoever is appointed. What happens if the person is incapacitated to the extent that he or she cannot instruct or make a decision, which is possibly why he or she is a ward of court in the first place?

Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I know that.

Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I offer my good wishes to the Minister of State, who seems to be back in good form after his brief sojourn from the House. I followed him a couple of days later but, thank God, we are both back in time for Christmas. I compliment him and all involved on this reforming legislation. There is no doubt the previous situation was a backward one, as any of us who has employees will...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I am always ahead of myself.

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: The Deputy can name Santa Claus.

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I want make a few points. I have many issues with An Bord Pleanála; we all have. The public has lost confidence in it. Is maith liom an Gaeilge. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil Gaeilge agatsa. Changing the name from An Bord Pleanála to an coimisiún pleanála is only playing tricks with people.

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Sorry, I stand corrected in that. It is another trick. In a reply to a question earlier from Deputy Boyd Barrett about community groups being able to object to planning applications, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform told him they would still be able to object but they had to give their names.

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I am just telling the Minister what is going on. Does he want not me to ask him any questions?

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Is the Minister saying that just because I criticised him for being part of Rambo's team out in Dublin North? Is that just to get back at Mattie, is it? The stench of the planning corruption that went on is still coming from Dublin North, and the carry-on that went on with money. I met every one of them when they came to Clonmel, supposedly canvassing, with their pinstripe suits and big...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: That is what is going on. We have to protect the NGOs at all costs. They are causing a wreck to this country. There are some very good NGOs, but many of them are causing a wreck to ordinary people's lives, and they are getting well paid to do so. They are getting almost €6 million of taxpayers' money for vanity projects and good wages. Croppies lie down, is their attitude.

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Hear, hear.