Results 14,261-14,280 of 20,735 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: I also wish to speak on this amendment and if the Government was serious, I recall I brought forward a Private Members' Bill, namely, the Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014, in which I made provision for an ombudsman to be appointed because there will be disputes by the dozen and more. Members know this to be the case in respect of utilities, as does anyone with experience on the...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: ----- disputes like this can be fractious and can be niggly at the start but with the situation-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, I am speaking on section 8, on dispute resolution, the customer and what is a customer in this Bill.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: It just goes to show the Minister's arrogance again. That is all it does continuously again.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: I might note the outcome. That is fine but I am just making the point, by way of illustration, of how disputes can turn nasty-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: ----- how an ombudsman is needed and how disputes can turn expensive. My point is that when issues arose with the county council, there always was a dedicated officer. A leakage form was available if there was a dispute, people were dealt with fairly and I salute the council officials who dealt with such issues. In this case, the customer is described in one situation by Uisce...

Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: There is a four month waiting list.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (16 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: 599. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of funding for water infrastructure provided to South and North Tipperary County Council over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47739/14]

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, am disappointed with the response to the various amendments and to the points that have been put to the Minister and the Minister of State today. With regard to the forum and the question of accountability, the Minister was asked directly in the last set of questions to which he replied if he had he met the local authority representative member associations. There were a number of...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: Yes. I am coming to the issue of a public forum. What will it do? Will it just meet and wrap up the Bill in nice paper and send it to people as Christmas presents, if there will be no engagement or involvement? We need accountability. The Minister's predecessor and the Government abolished local democracy.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: I am speaking about the forum.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: The public utility we are talking about is Irish Water and this will be a public forum for it piggyback on.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: Okay. I will speak about the forum. Its membership will comprise of a minimum of 12 and can range to 60. I am a member of a number of voluntary companies limited by guarantee and the membership of all of them is a maximum of 11 and a minimum of seven. Why are 60 people required on this forum and who will they be? The point I have made about the forum is that it will not listen. I am...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: They will be.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: We had town and borough councils.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: Yes. What will the forum do? It will be another talking shop. Will a person telephone the forum? Where will they find the forum at 5 p.m. on a Friday or on a Saturday or a Sunday? Who will be on the forum? It will be stooges of the Ministers, with which they have packed every other board since they came into power.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: Sorry, I withdraw the word "stooges". They will be plants which the Minister will appoint to do what he, and other Ministers, want them to do.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: Does he want to sit in the Chair today? He is getting a bit edgy.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: For a man who sits in the Chair, he is very petulant when other people are talking. I am addressing the Chair. I am not talking to him. I have no interest at all in him. The people of Cork will sort him out when it comes to it. I just want to say-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Mattie McGrath: -----the forum will be a talking shop. I, like other speakers, will not have one bit of respect-----