Results 1,581-1,600 of 20,725 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Tá sé imithe.

Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Who was counting that night?

Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The Taoiseach has not answered my question.

Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: That is gombeen talk. I only want clean water.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I too am disappointed and concerned about the amendments and the tenor of the Bill. We can go back to the manifesto. The Minister of State is a business man. He understands the issue better than I or most Members. I appreciate that the Government intends to amalgamate the Competition Authority, the National Consumer Agency, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Commission for...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The small person is paying for that.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: While I appreciate the intent of the Bill, it is, as my colleague, Deputy Dara Calleary, pointed out, already out of date. I am not blaming the Minister of State for this, but some blame should certainly be laid at the door of his departmental officials who have a duty to keep themselves abreast of these matters and ensure legislative proposals are up to date no matter what Government is in...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Yes. It is being suggested that they could assist the Minister, Deputy Hogan, in the provision of remedial services as provided for in the water services legislation. They could perhaps be asked to dig up back gardens without machinery and re-lay them. These people must be made feel some hurt or empathy with the people they are blackguarding. If it is possible, they will find a way to...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome the Minister of State's clarification in regard to the number of staff in the authority. Deputy Flanagan referred earlier to the number of gardaí in a small village in Roscommon. Thirty nine staff would not be enough personnel to police one small town in this country on a 24 hour basis. That number of staff is totally inadequate and the big boys know that. At least two...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I did not say that.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister of State wanted more.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: We know that.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Briefly, I do not know the current price of concrete, although I should. However, I can confirm that last week, I paid €300, plus VAT, for 17 tonnes of washed sand. As washed sand makes up half the ingredients of concrete, I can imagine the price of the latter. It is not cheap and people are being fleeced for it.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: No, they are not.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Of course they are.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: However, they are only hanging on by their teeth.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: To be helpful to the Minister of State in view of the shortage of staff, I refer to the organisation called the National Employment Rights Authority, NERA. I have suggested for a long time that it should be called the national business support agency. The staff from that authority should be transferred or seconded to the Competition Authority because in they main they are engaged in...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Yes.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I compliment the Acting Chairman, Deputy Peter Mathews, for doing an excellent job. He is very placid, timid and effective. He should be in the Chair all of the time.

Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I hope the Minister does.