Results 6,441-6,460 of 20,746 for speaker:Mattie McGrath
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: The forum is a talking shop. We are discussing a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 60 members but the Minister has powers to approve who is on it. It is like the peatlands forum. Volunteers - genuine people from the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's part of the countryside - gave their time free of charge on that forum while other people from agencies got paid and took expenses. That is the disgusting...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: Yes. What will the forum do? It will be another talking shop. Will a person telephone the forum? Where will they find the forum at 5 p.m. on a Friday or on a Saturday or a Sunday? Who will be on the forum? It will be stooges of the Ministers, with which they have packed every other board since they came into power.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: Sorry, I withdraw the word "stooges". They will be plants which the Minister will appoint to do what he, and other Ministers, want them to do.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: Does he want to sit in the Chair today? He is getting a bit edgy.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: For a man who sits in the Chair, he is very petulant when other people are talking. I am addressing the Chair. I am not talking to him. I have no interest at all in him. The people of Cork will sort him out when it comes to it. I just want to say-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: -----the forum will be a talking shop. I, like other speakers, will not have one bit of respect-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: I am not looking for any jobs for the boys. Deputy Buttimer is craving for them. One can see that every day of the week. He has been passed over so many times now, he will be like a-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: He is goading me.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: I am not a lick, like some people. I come here to represent the people and give my views as best I can. I can use robust language too and I thank the Minister for withdrawing any remarks he thinks he may have made last night. I am able to take it and to give it as well. The Commission for Energy Regulation has been an abysmal failure, with the ESB, PSOs, the charges-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: I know that but I have to-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: I am addressing the amendment. The CER will look after the forum. The Minister told us yesterday and on other occasions that he sets the prices. We were told the CER was to set the prices but it has been relieved of that role by the Minister. I am addressing this very amendment, a Cheann Comhairle-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: -----now that you are here.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: I was but I was being interrupted and being goaded. I will try my best-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: -----as I promised.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: Between the two of us, I hope we will get it fixed eventually. There will be a minimum of 12 on the forum.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: We help each other out all the time, despite what people might think. Deputy Healy is right that the Minister is not listening.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: I support it because the CER is directly mentioned in it. He thinks he will appoint people but he will be relieved of that duty as well. He was to set the charges but he was relieved of that duty by the Minister. He will also be relieved of the duty to appoint members to the forum, whether 12, 34, 35 or 60. This is a worry I have. We are talking about a forum and we are closing the...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: What is he looking for?
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: Sorry, I know that.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)
Mattie McGrath: It states a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 60. Getting the right people is the problem. The people who understand things - the volunteers and the community enablers - should be on this forum. They would be willing to give their time voluntarily if they were listened to. Pioneers, including Deputy Fitzmaurice, a new Deputy, who pioneered group water schemes know how hard it is to work...