Results 17,741-17,760 of 20,825 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Why would it not, with all the hot wind he is blowing?

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and the Taoiseach are behaving treacherously in respect of Irish neutrality. They should be ashamed of themselves. I listened to Deputy Cahill, my colleague from Tipperary, and Deputy Flaherty and their lovely grand talk. I do not want it to be raining down on top of them but what is going on is scandalous. The Government has abandoned the...

Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Acting Chairman. I appreciate his forbearance. We did not see this matter listed on the schedule. We thank the Acting Chairman for allowing us in to contribute to the Second Stage debate on the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022. That is a mouthful. I have great respect for the Minister of State. I have great time for him as a colleague, a...

Priority Questions: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: 79. To ask the Minister for Health the number of drug support workers in County Tipperary; the supports available for young persons with drug addictions in County Tipperary; the steps that will be taken to address the growing drugs crisis in County Tipperary; the measures that his Department is taking to work with An Garda Síochána and other bodies to break the cycle of more young...

Priority Questions: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: How many drug support workers are there in County Tipperary, what supports are available for young people there, and what actions is the Minister of State taking, along with the Garda, to deal with the growing drug and mental health problems, which are intrinsically linked, in Clonmel and across the rest of Tipperary?

Priority Questions: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Every town and city in the country has been plagued by drugs, but the drug crisis in my town of Clonmel, which is a fine town, has almost gone out of control over the past 18 months. This is sad. We have no mental health supports. We do not have one long-stay bed. Crack cocaine and heroin are openly available on the main street and its curtilages and unfortunate souls are seen begging,...

Priority Questions: Health Services (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I accept that good work is being done up and down the country, but we do not have the resources. We have to try to break the cycle. It is sad when more and more young people fall back into drug use after going through rehab. The housing and drugs crises are inextricably linked. This is a well-known fact and is accepted by all who review this matter. We must try to impact schools, which...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I am raising once again the savage impact of soaring energy costs on businesses. A family-owned supermarket in a small town in County Tipperary that employs 50 people has seen its energy bill rise from €7,500 per month to €18,900 per month, an increase of 152%. That is savage by any measure. Even with the welcome scheme the Government has announced, the temporary business...

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: The Deputy may not name people who are not in the House.

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to be able to comment on this Bill. I do not know if I have ever addressed the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, in this format discussing legislation. I wish him well as an Aire Rialtais and thank him for his co-operation and courtesy. Any time I contact him, or whenever anyone in my group does so, we get a reasonable response. That is very much appreciated by us and by...

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: It is Thursday. Go raibh maith agat. We have seen some quite successful court cases recently related to gang terrorism and everything else, and we have seen the latest developments concerning the witness protection programme associated with Dublin's gangland. Is there any chance that the Minister will pass on the idea of exploring similar arrangements regarding the murder in 1996 of...

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I was not sure, as the clock went off. I hope the lights are not going.

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I hope the power is not going.

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: Perhaps it is being spared.

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: It used to be WikiLeaks. SIPO needs to be given more power. It has power to regulate. As Members of the House, we make returns to it, as do councillors and public representatives. In fairness to SIPO, I have met it with my group and it has given us advice and a better understanding. I do not know how many years it is in place, but it did not exist when I was first elected. It is...

Coercion of a Minor (Misuse of Drugs Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: I too support this Bill. I thank and compliment Deputies Ward, Mitchell and Martin Kenny for bringing forward this legislation this evening. It is an honest effort by Teachtaí who have experience of what is happening on the ground. I mean no personal criticism but I sometimes wonder whether the system here is capable of understanding this massive problem with taking and dealing drugs,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: 253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the length of time that it takes her Department to put a new teaching contract into payment; the reason that it is taking up to eight weeks to pay teachers who take up new contracts; if she is satisfied that new teachers and teachers taking up new contracts are being left without payment for such long periods during a cost-of-living crisis;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (20 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: 314. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will carry-out a thorough national audit on those living with disabilities in this country which will help inform the Government on the needs of those living with disabilities, the level and extent of their disability, their needs for the future, the failings of the system and the areas with which they require most assistance; and if he...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: It was the Tánaiste.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2022)

Mattie McGrath: They cannot cope.