Results 20,561-20,580 of 20,934 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Special Educational Needs: Motion (12 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I do not accept that.

Early Childhood Education (12 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 23: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the future of the early childhood care and education scheme. [19977/11]

Early Childhood Education (12 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I congratulate the Minister on her appointment and wish her well with her important portfolio. I thank her for her response and am pleased to note she is committed to what is and has been a very good scheme. The uptake of the scheme tells its own story. I am pleased that helpful training courses are being provided for staff.

Early Childhood Education (12 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister is committed to continuing with the scheme and, hopefully, it will be expanded over the years.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (6 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health when the required surgery will take place at Waterford Regional Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [19113/11]

Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (6 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to be able to contribute. I do not come from a marine county, although I am not too far away from one. I will support the Bill, like most members of the Technical Group. I welcome the appointment of Deputy Coveney as Minister in this area. I compliment his late father on the positive actions he took in the past in this area. I know it is an area that is close to his heart....

Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (6 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Deputy Browne might want him in Wexford, but he can always stop off in Clonmel on the way. He has a good feel for the industry. Fishing, agriculture and licensing should be closely linked. The Foreshore Act 1933 requires that a licence must be obtained from the State in advance of any works on State owned foreshore. It applies to jetties, slipways, marinas, fish farms, coastal wind and...

Order of Business (6 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Never.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 101: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of foreign aid given to Botswana in each year since 2001. [18442/11]

Hospital Services: Motion (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: While I do not have as much speaking time as I would like, I thank the Minister for coming to visit South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. The Minister made great promises as to what he would do with the HSE and while he has removed the board, little other change has taken place, although I do not blame him for all of that as he inherited many of the problems. I ask the Minister to...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Coming from my constituency, I thought the Acting Chairman would not be as hard on me. Obviously, what Deputy Ross said about working in the constituency does not always work. I welcome this Bill, but I am concerned that many of the promises made about real political reform have been abandoned. The measures in the Bill only tinker with the notion of political reform, although I welcome...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I know it is even bigger, but it might not have the population.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: As the Acting Chairman knows, where Tipperary leads, Ireland should follow. We must retain our two constituencies. I will not have any influence in that respect, but the process should be fair. I want ordinary people to be represented on the commission in order that the people can have confidence in the commission that will set out the constituencies and how candidates will be elected to...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, but I do not want to exert undue influence. Ordinary people from all walks of life should consider this, as citizens should also be involved.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: My goodness. I believed the Deputies were great buddies.

Programme for Government (5 Jul 2011)

Mattie McGrath: All of them were yellow.

Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome this Bill and compliment the Minister on taking a reasonable and sensible approach. I also thank him for visiting my constituency some time ago to see the greyhound track and the facilities provided there. Lest we get carried away with condemnation and so forth, it is a very valuable industry as well as an important way of life, certainly in south Tipperary, west Waterford and east...

Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I do not know whether the Minister is laughing in jest or in support but the south east is entitled to have a representation made. At least the Minister travelled there and saw it. Under the previous Administration I was very involved in many animated discussions about the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill and the welfare of greyhounds. I was born and reared on a farm and the welfare of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (29 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 117: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the higher education grant applications forms will be available. [17828/11]

European Council Meetings: Statements (29 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: The European Council meeting was an opportunity for the Government to stand up and be counted in the national interest. We have been good Europeans, as has been recognised over the years, with Ireland being held up as a role model for other countries. We benefited from EU membership but we also paid a great deal. Now we are paying dearly for the mistakes of a small minority. It is very...