Results 20,581-20,600 of 20,934 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (No. 3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill and I thank and compliment Fianna Fáil for putting it before the House. Fianna Fáil is calling on the Government to arrange for a referendum on adoption to be held at the same time as the presidential election. Most Opposition Deputies want that to happen. This Bill would give rights to children currently in foster care and...

Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to be able to speak on the Bill. It is timely, indeed overdue. The purpose of the Bill is to make provision for an effective and expeditious resolution regime for certain credit institutions at the least cost to the State, and goodness knows we have had enough costs, to amend certain enactments and for related matters. This is a wonderful aspiration and I welcome the fact...

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Instruction to Committee (23 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to share time with Deputy Catherine Murphy.

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Instruction to Committee (23 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to be able to speak on this important Bill. I am concerned that a proper briefing was not given to our Technical Group. I do not believe any briefing was provided to us, unlike what was stated earlier when the question arose. I attempted to raise the matter on behalf of our group, but was told by the Ceann Comhairle that because I was not in a political party I could not...

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Instruction to Committee (23 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I hope we will be successful but none the less we are not confident. We are building slowly and we will take a step back here and there. It is important to get it right. This is a very serious issue. I am glad to have this opportunity to speak on it but I am disappointed that our group did not get any briefing. We are in here discussing this on the hind hoof and that is not fair. I...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (22 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 93: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a social welfare appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16646/11]

Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I propose to share time with Deputy Catherine Murphy.

Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: The Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 provides for changes to existing legislation in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. The Bill seeks to amend and extend the terms of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999, the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 and the Value-Added Tax...

Irish Language (22 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 16: To ask the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will examine the possibility of twining small villages and towns in the Gaeltacht areas with villages and towns of similar size that were once a Gaeltacht area in an effort to revitalise the Irish language [16867/11]

Irish Language (22 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as an bhfreagra sin. I am delighted with parts of the Minister of State's answer. While it is not exactly the point I was making, I am delighted he has concerns for the language in Gaeltacht areas under the 20-year strategy. In my area, which was breac Gaeltacht until 1950, we are interested in revitalising the language. Tá...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome the opportunity to give my opinion on the renewal of the powers to address the gangland crimes that have become all too prevalent throughout the country, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Investment in restorative justice programmes and other schemes such as those that tackle juvenile crime and addressing the reasons people become involved in crime are important. I give my full...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to speak to this Private Members' motion. I want to introduce a reasoned debate on the issue. As an employer, I understand something of the issues involved, as well as dealing with my constituents. I agree with most of what my colleagues have said but the Minister, Deputy Bruton's intervention is timely. We must be reasonable because we are in a deep and serious recession...

Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I am speaking on behalf of the Technical Group and the Independents. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a ghabháil le muintir Lenihan, a bhean chéile Patricia, a pháistí Tom agus Clare, agus the Lenihan family go léir. The huge turnout of Brian Lenihan's constituents since last Friday was a true testament to the man who served them for so long. Brian was a man of immense talent and had a...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (8 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of the diabetes paediatric services available to children living in south Tipperary and west Waterford and also in the broader Health Service Executive area; if he will consider further developing local services in south Tipperary and west Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14582/11]

Spent Convictions Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and I compliment Deputy Calleary on bringing it forward. I was delighted to hear the Minister promise he will bring in his own Bill which will go further in some areas while being restrictive in other areas. As Deputy Jonathan O'Brien said, we should consider the community service legislation which was recently discussed in the House, in...

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I intend to share my time with Deputies Richard Boyd-Barrett, John Halligan, Finian McGrath and Healy.

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, am delighted to be able to speak here this evening on Second Stage of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill. Like many others, I am obviously disappointed that the Bill is being guillotined. As mentioned today, it is being rushed through under the auspices of or the time lines laid down by the EU-IMF agreement. However, that is becoming a catchphrase for many issues and I am...

Dáil Reform: Statements (2 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: In the previous general election the public voted in large numbers for both Labour and Fine Gael who are now the Government parties. They have promised us real reform. I look forward to engaging with the process also with my colleagues in the Technical Group and all Opposition parties. Not much zeal is evident for reform at present. It is difficult to get meaningful answers in the House or...

Dáil Reform: Statements (2 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I accept that. The party in Government, of which I was a part, set it up, before I was a Member. However, Fine Gael promised the system would be changed, but we have just changed seats here. Fine Gael has moved across the House and is carrying on the same old policy, with some cosmetic changes. It stood down the board of the HSE, but that is all. We could see that the other night when...

Government and Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2011)

Mattie McGrath: I too am pleased to speak to the Technical Group's motion. I thank my colleagues in the group for researching the issue and coming up with the formula used in the motion. Real reform is necessary in the House. I offer my congratulations to my neighbour, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan. I wish him well. I hope to meet him in September in...