Results 9,041-9,060 of 20,873 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Referendum of 25 May: Statements (Resumed) (31 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, he did. I was not allowed to go to that meeting yesterday. The Minister will find out. I spoke to his top person and was told there was no problem but then that person came back to me and said the Minister did not want me there. Is that the way he is going to move forward? We are used to this kind of deceit and trickery from the Minister. I will be reasonable and understanding....

Referendum of 25 May: Statements (Resumed) (31 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I am happy to make a few remarks, although I am less happy with the outcome of the referendum. We now know that more than 1.2 million voters voted "Yes" for the removal of the constitutional protection of the life of the unborn child. They voted "Yes" to a Government proposal that I still believe will be seen in the fullness of time as an historic lost opportunity to choose a better way....

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: On a point of order-----

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: There is.

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I am not referring to Standing Orders. A point of order was raised a few minutes ago when Deputy Collins was speaking and I am making the point that we have been speaking to the amendments. If the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, was here he would know. Where is he? He has hardly gone to the Lebanon.

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Yes.

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: It is not agreed.

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Vótáil.

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: It is fraught with danger because if the boards of management do not have the resources it will be an issue. We must remember that the vast majority are voluntary boards made up of volunteers from all kinds of backgrounds. It is a big stick to beat them with without giving them the resources. We have to give them resources. They do not have resources and we know what an onerous job it is....

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: In Ireland some 90% of primary schools are under Catholic patronage. Factors such as emigration and the increasingly secular population has led to demand for more diversity in school patronage. The 2012 report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended a policy of divestment, which is the transfer of a school from a denominational patron to another patron. I...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Sorry?

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Are we on amendment No. 37?

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Is that amendment related to school patronage?

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I am glad to see the Minister is doing his best to work with the Opposition to approach this issue in a common sense and cohesive way. As Teachta Byrne said, it is not all about school admission policies. It must be about nurturing our teanga freisin. I did not quite understand what the Minister meant when he mentioned that pupils would not be taken in - na daltaí ón...

Education (Admission to School) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I support Teachta Catherine Martin, too, on the amendment, but we have to be very careful. There is a large number of Gaelscoileanna. While there are areas of the country that are still Gaeltacht areas, there are others that are not but there are people living in them who are interested in having their children educated through the medium of Irish. Therefore, we have to be very careful in...

Residential Tenancies (Greater Security of Tenure and Rent Certainty) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: This motion was proposed by the Labour Party. That party was in government and Deputy Kelly was Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for a long time, yet they built nothing. It is all about supply. It is not about demonising landlords as happens so much of the time here. There might be a few rogue landlords, maybe a good few. The vast majority of landlords,...

Topical Issue Debate: Sports Capital Programme (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: He should be here to take the matter.

Topical Issue Debate: Sports Capital Programme (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: He is probably out in the dining room.

Topical Issue Debate: Sports Capital Programme (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I am not happy with the answer. The cost of the proposed upgrade of the gymnasium and tennis courts came to in excess of €88,000. An application for this funding was made to the sports capital section of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The committee looked for 95% funding, which would have meant a grant of approximately €83,000, if successful. However, the...

Topical Issue Debate: Sports Capital Programme (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this important issue. The Canon Hayes Recreation Centre in Tipperary town is struggling to stay open. The centre has been a vital part of this, and the wider, community for more than 30 years. It has been a tremendous community resource and a monumental success for the development of sport and recreation in this area. The...