Results 9,881-9,900 of 20,768 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I appreciate that. I would like to ask about the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016. The Taoiseach said on Tuesday that parental choice will be central to any school divestment policy. Can the Minister for Education and Skills confirm that this is also his policy? Can he confirm that the wishes of parents and guardians, rather than any political ideology, will be foremost when...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: What about parents?

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I am also delighted to be able to speak on this legislation. I always described Deputy O'Dowd, who is in the Chamber, as the saner and more tame implementer of Irish Water under the towering figure of-----

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: -----Big Phil, the former Minister. We called him the enforcer. He left a mess behind. He is on his fat pension now in the EU and he comes back an odd time to the ploughing match and other events and tells us what he is doing for Ireland. It is a whole unmitigated mess. I opposed the setting up of Irish Water with might and main because there was no need for it in the first place. I...

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: It is still here. Freedom of speech and bullying-----

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, you can.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I am dealing with free speech-----

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: -----and freedom to work, and the right to work and the right to a fair day's pay for a day's work. I am just saying that people have to meet tonight in a yard of a hotel because two hotels have denied them entry because they are being bullied by members of a party that are here who took down 32 posters the other night.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: The youth branch from Trinity College took down the posters and put it up on Facebook.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I am not. You are the Acting Chairman. I believe in free speech.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I will.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: You are, so let me continue please.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, and I am talking about the right to exercise freedom of speech. We live in a democracy, thankfully.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I am, but you are taking my time.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: No, it is not. You are talking.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I will do my best.

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall. The Acting Chairman might give me a bit of extra time. We need the right to protest and the right to free speech. We need to hear all sides. In this debate, we could not hear from all sides. We never heard anything from the private well owners who have to pick up the tab. We are told now that the Bill makes provision for an ombudsman through...

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: It is amazing to see Deputy McGuinness backing him up but I know he does so in jest. Returning to my figures, that is an astonishing gap of almost €50 million which has still not been explained by any Minister. It has been taken out of the supports for the rural water schemes, the private well owners and private sewerage schemes. In Tipperary alone during the same period of 2011 to...

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: I am not against meters. I have just said that I am against the waste that means water is not used. I am not against meters. I have had a meter for 30 years. I have fitted many meters. I am saying that meters should be readily available to people so that they can see how much water they are using, just as they can do in the case of electricity. There could be a pay as you go system. I...

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Mattie McGrath: The Chair took 60 seconds off me.