Results 261-280 of 2,341 for speaker:Paul McGrath

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to a number of beds at St. Joseph's Hospital, Longford which are currently vacant due to a failure to negotiate agreed staffing levels at this hospital; the length of time these beds are empty; the effort that has been made to resolve the impasse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43304/06]

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Question 207: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will give details on the recent renovation and extension at St. Joseph's Hospital in Longford; the cost of these works; the completion date; and the number of extra beds available at this hospital as a result of those works. [43305/06]

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the bed compliment at St. Joseph's Hospital in Longford each year for the past five years; the expected bed compliment when beds in the recently renovated and new building section are brought on stream. [43306/06]

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: I also welcome the opportunity to speak on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006. I declare an interest in that I have been a member of the commission since its foundation three years ago. It has been an honour to work with my colleagues and the Ceann Comhairle, who acts as chairman of the commission, to organise and run the Houses. This has been a period of...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is under its budget.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: I thought we were talking about the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Not yet.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: We will worry about them.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: He is the Secretary General of it.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Hear, hear.

Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: The extended session.

Order of Business (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Is the Deputy's party on the list?

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: The Acting Chairman had the good luck of being in the Chair last evening when I was making my contribution. It must have been by popular acclaim that he was asked to return and listen to the rest of it. I welcome him.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Our social welfare code has two systems, namely, the benefit and allowances systems. The benefit system is insurance-based. One pays stamps into an insurance fund and when difficulties arise, such as unemployment or disability, one can draw on the fund and collect money based on stamps paid. It is like car insurance. Last evening I was critical of the Minister as there are issues arising...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: I know the Minister's potential for looking at problems and sorting them out. Based on the insurance system, I have a problem with a number of items. The first relates to stamps or benefit-based payments. If a man works for a county council, health board or any company and pays an A stamp but, Lord forbid, dies, his wife will qualify for a widow's contributory pension based on the stamps he...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Time passes quickly. Carers do a fantastic job and we must support them by bolstering the services available to them. The Minister said the respite grant was now payable to 40,000 carers, including approximately 30,000 in receipt of carer's allowances plus a further 8,000 to 10,000. There must, however, be more people who qualify for the respite grant and we must make more effort to help...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (12 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: It must be difficult for the poor Minister, Deputy Brennan, to come in here and have all this kudos heaped upon him. I could remind the Minister that a few years ago the esteemed Ceann Comhairle and former Deputy, Seán Treacy, was a bit surprised when he was stepping down and glowing tributes were paid to him from all sides of the House because the kind of bouquets thrown at him previously...

Written Answers — Public Service Charges: Public Service Charges (12 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Question 65: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to charges for water meters for farmers who have land holdings in more than one location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42576/06]

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (12 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Question 74: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will increase the level of grant funding from 30% to 35% of the cost of capital funding to local government for water and waste water treatment facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42575/06]

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (12 Dec 2006)

Paul McGrath: Question 196: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the waiting time for the processing of naturalisation applications, in view of the fact that applicants must have residency for at least five years; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties these long delays can have on families and in particular education access for their children; and if he will...