Results 10,161-10,180 of 20,725 for speaker:Mattie McGrath
- Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: It is with O'Leary in the grave. That is what the Government wants: nothing in rural Ireland, a wasteland. We have announcement after announcement here and there about this, that and the other. The Minister can smile and laugh all he likes. We have the Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with...
- Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Next thing, we will be ploughing up the hill.
- Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I am pleased to speak in the debate. I am delighted to see triúr Airí anseo. Tá súil agam go bhfanfaidh siad agus go mbeidh siad ag éisteacht. The issue of climate change is unavoidable. Whether we are discussing agricultural policy, methane emissions or the use of land for forestry, we simply cannot get away from this debate. I am aware that it one of those...
- Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I am a member of the Business Committee and we work very hard. We will not accept the blame. Deputy Ryan is also a member of the committee.
- Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: We can discuss this all day tomorrow. The Minister, Deputy Ross, is dealing with an urgent Bill.
- Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Yes, but it was Éamon de Valera who founded the party.
- Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Indeed they do. I ask my Fianna Fáil colleagues to scratch their heads and think more deeply about what they are signing up to in supporting the motion. They should be more than just a mudguard for the Fine Gael-led Government. Mudguards collect dirt and often fall off, are driven over and wrecked. We must have proper consultation and a proper debate on this proposal. A previous...
- Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I do and I do my best all the time.
- Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I have no masters, only the man above, thank God. I speak with him every day and he supports and sustains me, thank God. I have no masters in the political hierarchy telling me to do this or that. Mention has been made of the Ministers of State, Deputies Halligan and Finian McGrath. They are like spinning tops now because they have spun so much from the policies they stood for when I...
- Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I do not know what one might call them. We were pretty jumpy two weeks ago and we thought the water pipe had burst and was severed forever but the supply has been mended for the moment. The frost is coming and it could freeze the water and the pipe could easily shatter. We could be out knocking on doors in the few weeks after Christmas but the Government would be happy enough to have...
- Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I too am delighted to be able to speak on the motion. When I was young we fed the hens presto. When I heard PESCO discussed at the Business Committee I thought the reference was to presto. PESCO is Permanent Structured Cooperation. Nothing is simple or laissez-faireabout this. It is a permanent process. The Government is pulling a fast one. The Ceann Comhairle chairs the Business...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: In the wrong place.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: The Tánaiste comes from a farming background and there is a commitment in the programme for Government to support our agricultural industry. The banks, especially AIB, are persecuting and not engaging with, farmers and contractors who have serious borrowing issues and are before the courts. They refuse to deal with people like me and other Deputies or any intermediary. They want to...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Countless cases.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Policy.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: It is stuck in a bog.
- Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I would like to make a point of order in the interests of fairness and ensuring even-handed treatment of all Deputies and groups. Once or twice when I called for a vote the Leas-Cheann Comhairle or other Cathaoirligh asked for ten Deputies to stand to allow the vote to proceed. We just had a vote, which I believe the Government forced, the result of which was Tá, 66 and Staon, 46. Why...
- Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Regardless of who called it, why were Deputies in favour of the vote not asked to stand?
- Social Welfare Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (6 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: Gabh mo leithscéal.
- Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2017: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Mattie McGrath: I, too, welcome the money and thank the Minister for announcing the allocation of an extra €80 million, bringing the total to €1.2 billion. It is a wonderful industry in which many people are employed. Like previous speakers, I am very concerned about doping or drugs being used. That practice must be rooted out and we must come down heavily on it because those involved are...