Results 5,061-5,080 of 20,725 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. Tradition cannot act as a veto on legal responsibilities. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, did not even stay for the full debate. He probably would not have been here at all only he had to correct the record about something else. The Minister of State referred to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Roads Act 1993. As...

Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Title of this Bill, the Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2018, might be a bit misleading. As the Minister will know, I introduced similar legislation in 2018 in an effort to bring together different communities. The horse is a wonderful animal. I am glad to see Deputy Gino Kenny is here because I know he has an interest in these...

Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I apologise for missing my slot earlier. I have not yet mastered the skill of bilocation. The traffic is very heavy so I ran the last part of the journey. I will be as fit as Ronnie Delany for the Olympics. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, well in her portfolio. I know she will make genuine efforts to help with mental health in a caring way and will budget...

Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Minister of State for listening. I raised this issue on Questions on Promised Legislation, and so have other colleagues throughout the House, to try to deal with credit unions. While this is a miscellaneous provisions Bill, it is important that we deal with the credit union aspect of it. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le gach credit...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Students in third level and their families need to pay for accommodation along with enormous fees . The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has given no instruction to the colleges to return. I ask the Government to consider some kind of support packages for struggling families and students who have paid enormous accommodation costs as well as college...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to raise the disgraceful and diabolical decision to close St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir that was made on a whim yesterday morning. On 27 April, I raised this with the Tánaiste. I raised it in the House again on 1 July, 11 August and in September, October and November. At 7.20 p.m. on Sunday last, I got an email from Ms Barbara Murphy indicating that the HSE...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: That is a typical reply. It is waffle from the HSE. Why were we not told that in the email that I received last Sunday evening? The wonderful staff that were there have been deployed elsewhere because of Covid. They put their shoulders to the wheel in the belief that they would be sent back to St. Brigid's. The building might be old but it is in pristine condition, with a new wing added...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Cá bhfuil an tAire Sláinte? Tá sé as láthair arís. It is like: “Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmad? Tá deireadh na gcoillte ar lár”. Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan an tAire? Cá bhfuil sé? He is never here to deal with serious debates. That is no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Frankie Feighan, but the...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: JobPath leaves much to be desired. Turas Nua and Seetec are not private companies per se, but they are acting like private companies. This is the wrong formula. They get paid when someone is referred to them and when someone gets a position. I have dealt with some awful cases where mental distress has been caused by the abuse people received and the hardships they were forced through...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: On the very same issue, as outlined by Deputy Naughten, it is discrimination. The Minister said she was disappointed with our use of the term. It is basic, naked discrimination against large families, especially considering the impact of carbon tax, which we are to have for the next nine years. It was forced through, or voted through, in the Finance Bill. Large families have lots of...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy that the Minister has said that she will examine this and listen to the carers because they need to be listened to with regard to when the payment is made. I already welcomed the increase in the payment. Unfortunately, the reality is that it is meant to be spent on a holiday but it often has to be spent on getting extra hours of private care, on facilitating some very necessary...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to support Deputy Naughten on section 12 because this is discrimination against large families. The children of such families need to be fed, clothed, looked after and educated as well. It is discriminatory and I would like to see the Minister address this point because we are supposed to treat all of our children equally and it is very important...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Minister for engaging. I worry that the money and supports are not getting down to ground level, that is, to ordinary musicians who might not have the wherewithal. Significant funding is going to certain groups. I raised this at the Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht when Fáilte Ireland appeared before it. It is a big agency and has...

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Well said.

Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, welcome the measures in the budget that were helpful. It has been a very challenging year, as we know, for everyone from the cradle to the grave but especially for older people, those of pension age and, in light of the work they do, family carers. Indeed, research carried out a year ago found that there are hundreds of children - children who should be at school or out playing and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: There are a lot of inconsistencies and anomalies in the Covid lockdown. I appeal to the Taoiseach to do something for yoga classes. I met with Lara Slattery of Sukha Wellness Centre in Cahir on Monday. She has a wonderful studio that would fit 14 people in pods safely, hygienically and everything else. The Irish Federation of Yoga Teachers held an online Yoga Supports Health day on 28...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: It can be done safely.

Mental Health Policy: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: This is a very important issue. As others have said, services were strained before Covid ever arrived on our shores, but the onset of Covid has had an enormous impact. We have no way of assessing its damage because people are cocooned or unable to access medical centres, which have great pressure on them. Tipperary is particularly challenged, as the Minister of State will be aware. I...

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Act 2019: Motion (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Horse manure.

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Act 2019: Motion (8 Dec 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I too welcome this motion. Certainly, we cannot invest the €500 million at this time to be used in the rainy day fund. It is foggy tonight but it is raining every day. I think the Minister is in the fog and is hiding behind his mask because he has handled this economy appallingly with his Thatcherite policies by allowing the banks to run away and do what they like, like a runaway...