Results 14,641-14,660 of 20,822 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I did not interrupt the Minister of State, so I ask him to let me finish. The limits on profits have to be looked at too. We cannot allow big companies not to pay to charities what they are supposed to pay them. It was mentioned that they are not doing that. If that is the case, then it is for the Minister of State's Department and An Garda Síochána to enforce that legislation....

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: The Deputy mentioned people who were jumping on a bandwagon and that we were being lobbied by-----

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (4 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: -----"sharp-suited lobbyists" and we were jumping on the bandwagon. Deputy Thomas Byrne might clarify who he was talking about, because I do not know who he was talking about. I resent that because, as a former Member of the Deputy's party, I was never in the Galway tent but there were many sharp-suited and shady individuals in that tent and we know where that got us. I will not take that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: The business this week shall be as set out in the report of the Business Committee dated 5 December 2019. In relation to today's business, it is proposed that No. 14, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Universities Act 1997 (section 54(3)) (University Authorisation) Order 2019, back from committee; No. 15, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: Smoky Joe.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: The programme for Government is rich in its support for agriculture and agroforestry. There are huge concerns among farm and forestry contractors and, indeed, many farmer-landowners, over the desperate delays in getting tree-felling licences. This is going on for too long and I believe there is a serial objector out there as well holding it all up. We need to change the legislation here. ...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister of State should check his facts as well.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I support Deputy Naughten. I also am concerned that a particular insurance company would sell these policies. People are presenting at a hospital and they are not being covered. We have the same situation in South Tipperary General Hospital as that in Roscommon. It may be unintended but there are all kinds of issues around insurance. Surveys have shown that only 22% of people ever change...

OECD Report on SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland: Statements (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to share time with Deputy Michael Collins.

OECD Report on SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland: Statements (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy to speak on this matter. SMEs are a critical part of our overall economy, as the Minister said. While corporation taxes and the high visibility of the multinationals get almost all of the attention, it is our SMEs that generate most of the work in this country. SMEs are particularly important for the labour market in Ireland, no more so than in the Minister's county of Monaghan....

Rent Freeze (Fair Rent) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to apologise on behalf of our colleague and good friend, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, who is absent through no fault of his own. I take this opportunity to declare that I am not a landlord and never have been. Unlike some of the previous speakers, especially the members of Solidarity-People Before Profit, I do not demonise every landlord. Are we going to drive all landlords out of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: 175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the new junior certificate Irish paper has been changed (details supplied); if so, if the long-term aim is that Irish will no longer be a subject for the leaving certificate in the future in view of the fact few will choose to study the subject for the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51236/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (10 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: 378. To ask the Minister for Health the ongoing support services and resourcing provided at University Hospital Waterford for patients who received stoma surgery and attend the hospital on an ongoing basis as part of the follow-up care; the nursing and financial resource allotted for such care at the hospital; the way in which this compares to other model 4 cancer centres nationally (details...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: Most of those go to Belfast.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: My question is on mental health services. We were delighted recently to hear the announcement from the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, that Jigsaw would be rolled out in Tipperary. Unfortunately, our delight has dissipated because we are now told that the main hub will be in Thurles, which we accept. Outreach centres were to be delivered in Clonmel and other areas but we are told now...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy to speak on this issue this afternoon. As I understand it, and in line with its June conclusions, the European Council will return to the issue of climate change with the aim of finalising its guidance for the adoption and submission of the EU's long-term strategy and focusing in particular on the target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. I ask the Minister of State for...

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy to contribute to the debate on this Bill. I commend Deputy John Curran on his work in advancing it. The Bill seeks to criminalise the purchase of a controlled drug from a child and to criminalise the act of causing a child to be in possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. It is appalling to think that there are people of such brutality and lack of conscience who would...

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: I am sorry. I am commending the Bill.

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: Go raibh maith agat. We are not giving the gardaí the tools of the trade. Drug use is increasing but the fear of being caught is decreasing. That is my point. Deputy Curran is doing an excellent job. He knows much more about this problem. I served in the Dáil with him in 2007 when he spoke about issues in Dublin city. We did not know what he was talking about at the time....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Dec 2019)

Mattie McGrath: The programme for Government is strong in its support for agri-industry. The Road Safety Authority, RSA needs be we reined in somewhat. I know of a contractor in west Tipperary who has been pulled in by the RSA and by An Garda Síochána twice and has been asked to have his trailer tested. He went to different test centres but the people there had never heard of such a test. He...