Results 5,101-5,120 of 20,854 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Motion (20 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: 3 o’clock I too am glad to be able to speak here today. I am really quite sad. The Minister and I have spoken about this several times. Indeed, I attended a number of briefings with him and the then Taoiseach throughout 2019 and earlier. I know the Minister has put endless hours, including hours of debate, into this matter. It is a massive blow to our economy, our agriculture...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I want to raise again the unbelievable closure of St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir by the Taoiseach, his Minister, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and to raise the refusal by the Taoiseach's and his Ministers to meet with Councillor Kieran Bourke, with the activist groups and with nurses and nursing staff there to explain why this was done in the middle of a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I also support that request. We have to get this sorted. As we know, it is a very sensitive issue. I hope it will be a case of third time lucky. I hope that all of us together can sort out this issue and that this very important cohort of students can be brought back into education with the agreement of all groups. We need some time to debate the...

Pay for Student Nurses and Midwives: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I note that the Minister has left the Chamber. With no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, this happens all the time when my group speaks. She is not interested in what we have to say. I am interested in the humanity of it. The Government does not respect nurses in general, let alone the student nurses. We saw Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party voting down...

Covid-19 (Higher Education): Statements (14 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I wish the Minister and the Minister of State the very best in this dynamic and interesting portfolio. Sixth-year students of last year and those in first year this year have had a very traumatic time. Their families have had a traumatic time. It has not been easy on any of those in the third level sector either. There are difficulties arising from non-return of fees. Parents have been...

Covid-19 (Education): Statements (14 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I know the Minister is doing her best but last week I left Government Buildings at 6.20 p.m., having been there from 4 p.m. meeting the Taoiseach. By the time I reached Bray, the Government's decision had been overturned. We were assured that special schools were going to reopen and that leaving certificate students were going to be brought back. However, within 20 minutes, that decision...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: The Tánaiste might be playing little games with Sinn Féin, but I want to go back to the banks. When is this Government going to deal with the banks? The Government removed the moratorium and thousands of small businesses and homeowners are now being threatened and intimidated. Many of them are trying to engage with the banks but they can get no clarity on what is going to happen...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: It is time that the banks played their part and that the Government showed some interest in making that happen.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements and Questions and Answers (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I ask the Minister why he refused to seal the airports and ports. He knows from his previous meetings with our group that I, as leader, have been asking why the ports were not sealed. It is now being done from 16 January. The Minister is closing the stable door when the horse has bolted. I believe that 54,000 or 56,000 people arrived here from England over the Christmas period and none of...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements and Questions and Answers (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to raise the issue of St. Brigid's hospital in Carrick-on-Suir. It was commandeered by the last Government at the start of the last outbreak and was deemed to be fit to serve Covid step-down patients. I note that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is present. Why was the hospital closed in the middle of a pandemic? Why did the Minister of State refuse to meet her own colleague,...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements and Questions and Answers (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to make a point of order.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements and Questions and Answers (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: That is not the question I asked. I said-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements and Questions and Answers (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: Why did HIQA deem it to be suitable for step-down patients during the Covid pandemic and then decide that it was no longer suitable?

Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I am sharing time with Deputies Michael Collins and Michael Healy-Rae. This report proves that history is a living thing, and unless we face it honestly, peace and the beginning of reconciliation will continue to evade us. I also welcome the apologies made by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister. I listened to their speeches. I also acknowledge today's apologies by the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I wish to return to the issue of St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir, which the Taoiseach and his Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and Minister of State, Deputy Butler, unceremoniously decided to close. The Taoiseach gave a point blank refusal to meet Mr. Kieran Bourke, a councillor on Tipperary County Council, and activists like Ms Catherine Foley, who was to push a bed to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: The HSE does.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: Window dressing.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, would like to wish everyone a happy new year. I am in the same vein. The great proportion of problems is with the leaving certificate and in the area of special needs education. We should set aside more time for the debate on education issues with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, tomorrow.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: 218. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers' scheme following the amendment to the Finance Bill 2020; and the date new applicants can apply for the scheme. [44823/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Third Level Costs (13 Jan 2021)

Mattie McGrath: 652. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a support package for struggling families and students who have paid significant accommodation costs to private providers and cannot receive refunds (details supplied). [44958/20]