Results 8,801-8,820 of 20,768 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: No, it would not be becoming. I do not think it was. I am of the view that it was simply the time or the Christmas period about which they were thinking. I know the Minister has put a great deal of effort into this, as have Deputy Bailey and the officials. I thank all the officials and the staff of the House for being so patient with us for the late nights. I got a message from the...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: That is what I am saying. It is like a sticking plaster. It is like when I got a puncture on the front wheel of my bicycle when I was going for a date one time. Perhaps the Minister has never cycled, but I have done so. I often carried someone home on the handlebars too, with no light on the bike. In any event, when I got the puncture to which I refer, there were six pin holes in the...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: It was seven unless the Government has changed it. It applies to seven different parts of various Departments.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: What is the blockage? Where is the delay?

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: I am. Ten years ago I was involved with the Irish Council for Social Housing. I built houses myself as part of a voluntary association. I should declare that, I suppose. I should have declared that I am not a landlord as well. I have one house, one wife and eight children. I am not a landlord and I never have been. I might be if I inherit a house. Many people inherit houses. I am...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: Do something about it. We are talking about it.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: Can I just refer to local authorities and the landbanks?

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: As to that building in Clonmel, I got a preplanning meeting for the businessman seeking a change of use from business to residential by providing five apartment blocks. These would be nice blocks in the centre of Clonmel. By the time planning fees and development and change of use charges were added up, his bank and his accountant laughed at him. They told him to forget about it. It was...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: Have I?

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: I accept that.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: I acknowledge and appreciate that. I gave the Leas-Cheann Comhairle a digout last week when his own crowd would not let him speak to support the music men. I know he likes the bit of tradition.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Mattie McGrath: I am all for Irish people having a home and being able to pay their rent. This is nothing only a racket, however, and it has been hijacked. I am not saying the Minister is inept, but the whole system has become inept in terms of dealing with it. We are talking ourselves silly. I watched the debate last night on the error that had been discovered. The hours people are putting in are too...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: The affordable child care scheme Bill is on the new legislative programme. The aim of the Bill is to ensure that all childminders would be registered with Tusla. Five counties in the country have no childminders registered with Tusla which means the proposed legislation will be inoperable. The proposal would put undue hardship on people who have cared very well for children, their own and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: Not judging by the Taoiseach's previous comment.

Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: What about the Independents?

Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: Beidh mé ann.

Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I wish the former deputy First Minister a speedy recovery I have met him a few times and I have always enjoyed my engagement with him. I ask Teachta Adams to bring the good wishes of all of us back to him this evening. We are in a very dicey situation and we cannot go back to the past as it is not an option. We have to be positive and look forward. The elections are in place but it is...

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I support certain aspects of the Bill. I do not agree with some aspects of it. The Bill proposes to provide for greater security of tenure by making all tenancies over two months Part 4 tenancies. I am not going to talk that much about the Bill. Before Christmas, the Minister spoke about rent certainty. Deputies Catherine Connolly and Danny Healy-Rae spoke about it. One could count on...

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I am not.

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Mattie McGrath: That is the problem. The Bill is trying to keep people in their homes and stop evictions. This county registrar is granting repossession orders like snuff at a wake or confetti at a wedding. They were doing so badly in Tipperary when she went to Wicklow that they had to bring her back because they were not getting enough repossessions. That is the policy of the Government and the previous...