Results 5,261-5,280 of 20,701 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I remind the Minister of State and the House that Article 44 of Bunreacht na hÉireann asserts the freedom to worship publicly. However, under the restrictions imposed by the Government, public worship is now a penal matter. We are going back to the time of the Penal Laws and the pre-Famine period. I salute the Franciscans in Clonmel, including Fr. Michael Toomey, Fr. Brendan Crowley...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Under the new Covid restrictions, a priest can be fined, imprisoned or both for saying a mass in public. The same applies to any minister of any religion who holds a public ceremony or act of worship. This is drastic, draconian and unacceptable and raises questions about the constitutionality of the measures taken today. It is totally disproportionate. The regulations state that no person...

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: On a point of order, a few times this week senior Ministers came in. We had known for some hours that those Ministers were coming in and there were only a handful of us here. Have they no paper? Have they no printers? This is scandalous. This is not fair. He said so many things and he read out regulations. No one could follow them, in fairness. They should have the script. It is an...

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: He was coming in to make that statement.

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, has arrived and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is also present. I ask him to respond to the questions about the marts. Damage is being done to farmers and to those who want to sell from an economic point of view, but another angle is that it provides a physical outlet for people to go to. Not...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister went on at great length to describe how when he was in opposition he would have felt this legislation was draconian but this is what we need. Either he believes in it or he does not. If it is the mandarins in the Department who are looking for it, he should tell them he does not believe it. I, along with Deputy Michael Collins and others, asked the Minister earlier about...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Some Government Deputies wrongly accused Deputy Shortall of not supporting the Garda, so in case they try to do the same again, I want to put on the record that I support the Garda 100%. We have an excellent community division in Tipperary. It was stood down but is back up running now. I support Sergeant Ray Moloney, Superintendent Denis Whelan and all the inspectors in Cahir and thank...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I am glad to speak on this legislation. I wish the Minister well in his office. I worked with him long ago when I was in the same esteemed outfit as he is, but I took a different path since then, thankfully, and I thank the electorate for supporting me. I also worked with the Minister, when he was a Deputy, on the housing committee in the previous Dáil, and he was energetic,...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I did not see him, I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for telling me. The protections in this Bill must be extended until next summer along with the legislation granting the powers in respect of the lockdown restrictions. I felt that was too long and that next February would be enough. Why do we have two tiers in this regard, however? Why are we only protecting families in rented...

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I appreciate being allowed to speak a second time. I last spoke before the Minister had replied. He has shown steadfast unwillingness and belligerence with regard to all of the amendments. It is sad to see it suggested that an issue that has gone on for so long, nearly three quarters of century in places, should go on for a full century and that access to these survivors' records should be...

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I am speaking to the amendment. I am speaking to the fact that the Minister has rejected each and every amendment. With the Acting Chairman's permission, I am making the point, which I will not labour, that I am truly saddened to think that a Green Party Minister would act in this way. I do not see many of his colleagues around him or behind him. There are not many who have come in to...

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I again express my sincere horror that the Government and the Minister have set their faces against dealing with this issue in any shape, make or form. They have tried to convince themselves, because they need to convince themselves, that they are doing something for the good of the survivors. That would take some convincing, and if they can convince themselves of that, they can convince...

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: The Sinn Féin amendment has been dealt with but I am opposed to the substance of the motion and I wanted to call a vote on it.

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: It should not be there.

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I also want the record to be corrected on the assertion that the Business Committee agreed to this. It did not.

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: Where are they?

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I say first to Deputy O’Donnell that I have the height of respect for him. He was here and he did speak for his 11 minutes but there are many other Deputies who are not turning up. We cannot possibly follow through like this when one is part of a smaller group. This is not going to work. There are too many glitches and bad marks in this. The testing is...

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: No, but it is a tyranny.

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: I withdraw the name Adolf Hitler but we are being led into a cul-de-sac here-----

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act) 2020 - Part 3: Motion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2020)

Mattie McGrath: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, groups such as ours and other Independent groups want speaking time. This is continually happening. It has been happening all day today. It happens all the time that Government Members are not turning up for their speaking slots. If we were not here now, our speaking slot would be lost.