Results 15,641-15,660 of 20,822 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 165. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider tax breaks and reliefs for workers who have incurred additional individual travel costs due to the reduction in carpooling to work during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41331/20]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 215. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if gastropubs and restaurants have been provided with advice or recommendations regarding the reopening of the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41326/20]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 306. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the online passports processing service will be operational again given the backlog of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41466/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts her Department and the NCSE are making to address the lack of ASD units in primary schools in south County Tipperary; her plans to develop new ASD units in primary schools in south County Tipperary; and the details of same. [41506/20]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mobility Allowance (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 534. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made to develop a new or alternative scheme to the mobility grant scheme which was suspended in 2013. [41249/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmers Scheme (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 814. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the definition of "young farmer" in Ireland includes an upper limit of 35 years of age whereas the EU policy objective is 40 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41426/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: 870. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the reopening of the local improvement scheme for 2021; the level of funding available for Tipperary County Council for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41327/20]

Mental Health Policy: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: This is a very important issue. As others have said, services were strained before Covid ever arrived on our shores, but the onset of Covid has had an enormous impact. We have no way of assessing its damage because people are cocooned or unable to access medical centres, which have great pressure on them. Tipperary is particularly challenged, as the Minister of State will be aware. I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: There are a lot of inconsistencies and anomalies in the Covid lockdown. I appeal to the Taoiseach to do something for yoga classes. I met with Lara Slattery of Sukha Wellness Centre in Cahir on Monday. She has a wonderful studio that would fit 14 people in pods safely, hygienically and everything else. The Irish Federation of Yoga Teachers held an online Yoga Supports Health day on 28...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: It can be done safely.

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, welcome the measures in the budget that were helpful. It has been a very challenging year, as we know, for everyone from the cradle to the grave but especially for older people, those of pension age and, in light of the work they do, family carers. Indeed, research carried out a year ago found that there are hundreds of children - children who should be at school or out playing and...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Well said.

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Minister for engaging. I worry that the money and supports are not getting down to ground level, that is, to ordinary musicians who might not have the wherewithal. Significant funding is going to certain groups. I raised this at the Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht when Fáilte Ireland appeared before it. It is a big agency and has...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy that the Minister has said that she will examine this and listen to the carers because they need to be listened to with regard to when the payment is made. I already welcomed the increase in the payment. Unfortunately, the reality is that it is meant to be spent on a holiday but it often has to be spent on getting extra hours of private care, on facilitating some very necessary...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to support Deputy Naughten on section 12 because this is discrimination against large families. The children of such families need to be fed, clothed, looked after and educated as well. It is discriminatory and I would like to see the Minister address this point because we are supposed to treat all of our children equally and it is very important...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: On the very same issue, as outlined by Deputy Naughten, it is discrimination. The Minister said she was disappointed with our use of the term. It is basic, naked discrimination against large families, especially considering the impact of carbon tax, which we are to have for the next nine years. It was forced through, or voted through, in the Finance Bill. Large families have lots of...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: JobPath leaves much to be desired. Turas Nua and Seetec are not private companies per se, but they are acting like private companies. This is the wrong formula. They get paid when someone is referred to them and when someone gets a position. I have dealt with some awful cases where mental distress has been caused by the abuse people received and the hardships they were forced through...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Cá bhfuil an tAire Sláinte? Tá sé as láthair arís. It is like: “Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmad? Tá deireadh na gcoillte ar lár”. Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan an tAire? Cá bhfuil sé? He is never here to deal with serious debates. That is no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Frankie Feighan, but the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to raise the disgraceful and diabolical decision to close St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir that was made on a whim yesterday morning. On 27 April, I raised this with the Tánaiste. I raised it in the House again on 1 July, 11 August and in September, October and November. At 7.20 p.m. on Sunday last, I got an email from Ms Barbara Murphy indicating that the HSE...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: That is a typical reply. It is waffle from the HSE. Why were we not told that in the email that I received last Sunday evening? The wonderful staff that were there have been deployed elsewhere because of Covid. They put their shoulders to the wheel in the belief that they would be sent back to St. Brigid's. The building might be old but it is in pristine condition, with a new wing added...