Results 20,501-20,520 of 20,768 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Written Answers — Foreign Investigations: Foreign Investigations (14 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: Question 199: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he will now take with the Botswana authorities to ensure a meeting (details supplied) takes place as a matter of urgency. [47235/10]

Written Answers — Foreign Investigations: Foreign Investigations (9 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: Question 73: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied with the progress of the investigation undertaken into the death of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Botswana; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46687/10]

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: I am pleased to speak to the Bill. I welcome the Minister and thank him for his forbearance and engagement with me and many other stakeholders in recent weeks and months. I am pleased to note that older people are fully protected and will continue to receive, at current levels, the State pension and other allowances, including free telephone, television licence and home care packages. In...

Social Welfare Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: That balance must be readdressed. I did not interrupt the Deputy who will know my views on this from our committee work. The balance must be fair and there must be incentives for people to go to work. We must first create an environment where people can work. The half-rate carer's allowance will continue to be paid to those who are full-time carers. The House can see that I wear the badge...

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: I said last night that I was ready to support this budget and I believed it to be in the best interest of this State. I do not want to play politics with this decision-----

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: -----unlike my colleagues across the floor of the House. Possibly the political thing to do would be to reject the budget, but I do not believe the interests of the people I represent would be served by putting politics before conscience. It is my priority to get the ECB and the IMF out of Ireland-----

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: -----and the only way I can see us doing that is to straighten out our finances. We have to get our house in order.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: We could be looking at a scenario where we would not have the funds to pay our public servants in March or April next year if we did not adopt this budget.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: There are elements in the budget that I welcome. I have had a number of meetings with the Chief Whip, the Minister of State, Deputy Curran-----

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: -----and with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. The Deputies opposite will get an opportunity to contribute. I am happy to see that some of my policies have been incorporated in yesterday's budget, including the commitment for 15,000 additional employment activation places, the employment and investment incentives for the financing of SMEs and the tax relief for home...

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: -----and the Student Support Bill through this House as well as many more Bills. I will back on board as long as I consider issues are fair-----

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: The Deputies opposite sought more pay all along the way in recent budgets. The Deputies opposite sought to ensure that people got more pay, more quangos and more people serving on boards.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: All they wanted was their own people serving on boards.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: We will see what their commitments are. I will not be lectured by some of my colleagues across the House.

Financial Resolution No. 34: General (Resumed) (8 Dec 2010)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome the change in regard to ministerial cars and other such changes. We have to tackle the lard. We went after the minimum wage which I do not believe was right but we must tackle the waste, bring down the maximum wage and enforce the provision in that respect religiously.

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (25 Nov 2010)

Mattie McGrath: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter concerning self-employed persons when companies go into liquidation. I refer to what happened to Pierse Construction in recent days where more than 1,600 sub-contractors were left penniless and their employees do not know what will happen. Most of these people have families and there are sad stories behind them....

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Nov 2010)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to share time with Deputy Niall Blaney. I am delighted to speak on the Bill this evening and I welcome the Minister for Social Protection, whom I compliment for his reforms and understanding attitude in the provisions of this Bill. He has also been understanding in interacting with backbenchers and the committee responsible for social welfare. We have had many engagements, some of...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (23 Nov 2010)

Mattie McGrath: Question 135: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of pubs that have had their licences renewed by the licensing office of the Revenue Commissioners, year-on-year since 2005. [43951/10]

Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2010)

Mattie McGrath: I have raised this issue to seek clarification on the current position regarding the acquisition of a site to facilitate the amalgamation of the Cahir boys national school and Our Lady of Mercy national school in Cahir, County Tipperary. I wish to know whether the site can be acquired by the State from the Mercy Order under the redress scheme. These are two major schools in Cahir town which...

Straitéis 20 Bliain Don Ghaeilge: Ráitis (18 Nov 2010)

Mattie McGrath: Cuirim fáilte roimh an tuairisc seo agus tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo againn inniu. Tá ról na straitéise fíor-tabhachtach don teanga, d'ár féiniúlacht agus d'ár gcultúr. I welcome the strategy and it is timely that we have the debate. The Irish language is an important element of our heritage and culture. It is unique to our nation. Tá na moltaí ar...