Results 17,581-17,600 of 20,825 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Energy Security: Motion [Private Members] (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I thank iar-Seanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill, my daughter Mairéad and iar-Seanadóir John Hanafin for their help in putting the motion together. I make no apologies for the motion we have brought forward today. We will take no criticism from the Minister of State or the absent Minister who was here at the start. Why is it that he has fled like snow off a ditch when questions...

Energy Security: Motion [Private Members] (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: The Government is not funding mental health services but it is putting huge pressures on people's mental health. They just cannot cope with the ever-growing cost increases. The Government says we cannot interfere here, we cannot interfere there. The people own 95% of the ESB. I salute the ESB outdoor staff and indoor staff whom I deal with during outages. They are very effective and very...

Energy Security: Motion [Private Members] (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I have ten minutes, please. In fairness, I have ten minutes and I would like to use them. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, used his full ten minutes, so I am entitled, as it is our motion, le do thoil. The Minister prevaricated and presided over one disaster after the next. As I said, it just not feasible or anything else. The Minister shamed the oil companies and oil investors...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: It is in your hands.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: And a war.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: When?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: They do not have them now either.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: The Government will not even talk to it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Every person and citizen in this country was rightly concerned by what they saw happening in west Dublin the other night. There is a situation in Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary whereby we do not have enough gardaí. We are in a frightful state of lack of numbers. Community policing is the only way to deal with these issues. I welcome the newly appointed Sergeant Denis...

Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire Stáit. We are delighted to see him back in harness. Whatever he does this time, I ask him not to let anyone try to attempt to take it off him. He was a capable and engaging Minister the previous time I dealt with him from 2007 to 2011 and since then, and I wish him well with the portfolio. ...

Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Okay. I am delighted to be able to speak briefly on Second Stage of this important legislation, which is badly needed. I look forward to the Minister passing and enacting it because the pernicious activities that go on with online content are quite shocking. As adults, we can deal with it but we have seen horrible cases in the past. As we know, people have been under very significant...

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to speak to amendment No. 2 and related amendments Nos. 10 to 16, inclusive. Amendment No. 2 relates to infrastructure, pedestrians, cyclists and CCTV. In case the Minister calls us “climate change deniers” and everything else - we are not - but we cannot put the cart before the horse and that is what the Government has done here. The Government has put the...

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, and lithium. Where are these mined from? The Minister has issues and hang-ups with fracked gas and bringing oil in from Barryroe. He has issues about LNG storage. Does he not mind child labour? I am shocked and appalled by the Members in this House who will not even refer to it. Child labour is used to mine cobalt for these batteries. The children are seven and eight years of age....

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I am disappointed that the Minister did not reply to some of the questions we asked him. We asked him to tell us whether we are right or wrong.

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I know. I am disappointed that we did not hear. These amendments are fine. It is a shame that any Member would put down any such amendments to try to undermine and dismiss the elected members of local authorities. I know the Deputy himself was a member of Limerick local authority for some time.

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: All right, whatever. It is a pity. They work hard, they do not have many powers and their powers have been eroded. This beggars belief. We want to bring in powers to empower or overpower An Bord Pleanála and there is not a mention of it this time but there are question marks over An Bord Pleanála. I speak to engineers regularly in Tipperary County Council and Waterford County...

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (21 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Where does that kind of thinking leave us in this Parliament? The biggest attack here is on the elected members and their powers, which are limited enough. We cannot have a road straightening for safety if we have a bad bend. We put up with it all summer, every summer that we cannot cut the briars. The bushes hanging out and briars could take the eyes off a cyclist or tear their face. We...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Budget Statement 2023 (27 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome many aspects of the budget, to be honest. I accept that. However, the Government is playing a very dangerous game with people's taxes and the extra taxes from foreign direct investment, FDI, companies. It is great that we have that money but it may not be there next year while the budgetary pressures will be. Those tax revenues may not be available in 2024 while demands on the...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Budget Statement 2023 (27 Sep 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Santy came.