Results 6,281-6,300 of 20,731 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (6 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: On behalf of the Rural Independents I will briefly say a few words on the life, times and sad passing of Peter Kelly. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann from Longford-Roscommon in the 2002 general election. When I came here in 2007 I gained no greater friend than Peter. I also gained his advice and counsel, as well as his laughter and fun. He regaled us with many stories about...

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

Mattie McGrath: I support the amendment. Deputy Pearse Doherty has debated other amendments, but this is a punitive tax. There should be a carrot and stick rather than only a stick. That is what the impact of this carbon tax is on farmers, particularly small 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...

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

Mattie McGrath: I recognise all of this and appreciate the fact that some recognition was given last year and some changes made after the fact. A huge cohort of people, many of them elderly and some not so elderly, have used various remedies available from health shops and they have a good relationship with them. There is more awareness now and more availability of these products . Last year, in answer to...

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

Mattie McGrath: I appeal to the Minister to talk to the Minister for Health. As Deputy Burton said, the GPs' surgeries are overrun. This is an alternative that many families use, as do many elderly people. They have got to know the practitioners who are administering the health foods. It is a big business now and is very well supported. As was said, these businesses keep the queues away from the...

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

Mattie McGrath: Under this section the stamp duty payable on holdings of fewer than 40 ha would be 1%. We are trying to maintain some semblance of support for smallholders, who are literally being pushed off the land. We want to keep those farms viable and keep those units in production. We must support them in any way we can, through stamp duty and all other areas, rather than being overly punitive....

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

Mattie McGrath: Of course, I accept that those schemes are in place. Every year we are lobbied by the IFA and many other farm organisations and acknowledge that they are of benefit. However, our three amendments seek to do two things. One of them relates to business, but the two related to agriculture seek to sustain the smallholding which is not sustainable and has not been for some time. We want to...

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

Mattie McGrath: It is not agreed.

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

Mattie McGrath: Votáil.

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

Mattie McGrath: I understand that.

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

Mattie McGrath: I did.

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

Mattie McGrath: I did mean it. I spoke to him last week. I sat with him for three hours and he told me that he had enough resources.

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

Mattie McGrath: I did mean it. He told me that he had adequate resources to deal with it.

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

Mattie McGrath: I did mean it.

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...

Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: It was challenge enough because I was fighting the system. Anyway, bhí an bua againn. I thanked him, and thanked the jury as well. But for jurors in this country we would be nowhere. Jurors are good people. They go in and they do not get anything. Often it is quite onerous on their employers to look after them. We need them. We need to be protected. We must reform. We will...

Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to speak this evening on this legislation. As we have heard, the objective of the Bill is to allow persons who have been accused of an offence in Ireland and released on bail subject to supervision measures to be monitored in their country of ordinary residence. That seems simple enough. It also sets out the procedure for a person to be monitored in Ireland where they have...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I too support the concept. I accept the Ceann Comhairle's ruling but I believe the Government is using the money message as a measure to stop many good Bills, which is very unfair. I request that the clock be stopped while we have this debate. Many Deputies want to raise issues on promised legislation and the time for doing so is being consumed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: Where will we get the staff?

Death of Mr. Gay Byrne: Expressions of Sympathy (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I extend our condolences to Gay Byrne's family and note the national outpouring of fondness and endearment since the announcement of his passing yesterday. We extend our deepest sympathies to his bean chéile, Kathleen, his daughters, Crona and Suzy, and his grandchildren and wider family as well as to his colleagues in RTÉ, many of whom...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (5 Nov 2019)

Mattie McGrath: 77. To ask the Taoiseach the number of full and part-time staff employed in his Department; and the number of such staff being paid at the minimum wage rate of pay. [44853/19]