Results 9,061-9,080 of 20,875 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

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...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome Lucia and her family. I thank and salute her for her bravery and tenacity over many years. It is appalling that citizens have to go through that. I include in my comments two young men from County Tipperary - Mr. John O'Brien and Mr. Pat Esmonde - who were killed off Helvick Head seven or eight years ago, a matter I have raised in the House. There was no proper investigation by...

Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: The Taoiseach's eye is not on the ball.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: It is 11.30 p.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: That is just insulting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I have been involved in rural transport since as far back as 1999. I thank two people in particular, Fr. Gerard O'Connor and Fr. Pat Condon in Waterford and Tipperary who led it nationally and came up to the transport forum. The rural transport system is doing well in the limited areas where it is provided. I must declare I am a board member of Ring a Link, which operates in Tipperary,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I am. This is applicable because they cannot get a driving test. They pay €600 for lessons but if they apply for a test in my county they must wait six months. If they fail it, and they might fail it not because of driving but because of a fault the tester sees in the car, which is debatable, how will they get to college? How will they get to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Sorry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: There are lots of colleges with courses at night time. A lot of colleges of further education have evening courses. I am making the point it is so discriminatory against rural dwellers. I will be going to a different building in this town to make sure it is stopped because it is discriminatory against people I represent and I will not stand for it. The Minister can laugh if he likes and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister is not often at the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: No, I do not because he leaves it after voting, does not listen and will not engage with us. I have engaged with the Minister over the years and I thank him for coming to Tipperary. I am not saying he should know everything about rural Ireland or that I should know everything about Dublin, because I do not. It is a broad brief. Money, however, is being wasted. The Minister railed against...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: We know he has and I accept his bona fides that he will try. I raise issues that €100,000 or €50,00 would fix but not a bob is available. The money is not there and he knows that as well as I do but one sees €460,000 against €2 million wasted on consultants and incidentals. The public are not fools. It is outrageous.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister did not accuse them of filibustering but he accused us of doing so. He said an awful lot worse than that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I know what I am talking about.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: We live in a democracy society. What has that go to do with the Minister's insulting money?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: Thank God we have freedom. The Minister would have all the rural dwellers locked up at night if he could.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister has plenty of experience of that, if he wants to go there. He has plenty of experience of locking people up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Bus Services: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: I apologise, Vice Chairman. I must return to one comment. I welcomed the money and I told the Minister my feet are worn from working on rural transport, something I am passionate about. I welcome any increase and I acknowledge it. I just said that €460,000 would not operate the logistics of the scheme never mind the scheme itself. That is all I said.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Transport (29 May 2018)

Mattie McGrath: 133. To ask the Taoiseach the number of ministerial cars or vehicles in operation in each of the past six years; and the costs associated with same. [23355/18]