Results 18,741-18,760 of 20,934 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I expected him to be out canvassing but I am told he is not allowed onto the doorsteps. He is being kept away because the Government wants the referendum to pass.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: He was correct to call this a miscellaneous provisions Bill given that he lacked the courage to bring the real Bill or to deal with his own county. He is attacking my county instead. We will meet his county in September and, please God, it will be a fair game and may the best team win. Lar is back, by the way.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Of course I will be there. It is all in the interest of sport.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I know the Ceann Comhairle will protect me from the big Minister. The Taoiseach picked an interesting combination for local government reform. He has the nice, meek and softly spoken Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, and then he has Big Phil the enforcer - the Minister, Deputy Hogan - to do the heavy lifting. The plan backfired, however, and it has been abandoned...

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister will be split after this.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I am against it.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Of course I am. I am happy the way I am. This is not going to save money. As he cannot decide on a central headquarters he has decided to have two headquarters. It is a cop-out and a farce and it will not save any money. He announced in his local newspaper that he spent €1 million on hanging offices for Kilkenny County Council over the top of the Ard Ri in Waterford. I have the...

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: He is not being allowed to go near the voters because of all the penal taxes he imposed on them. Why did he give €1 million to Kilkenny? No other Minister did that. Kilkenny County Council never had offices in Waterford city.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: It is part of what is happening. That is why he called it a miscellaneous provisions Bill. He did not bring in the proper Bill because he it would expose him. I beg the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence. It makes a farce of his claims to be making savings. On 31 March it was reported in the newspaper that €1 million was being provided for offices in Waterford city for Kilkenny County...

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I am not listening. I will keep speaking because the Ceann Comhairle will look after me.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I will listen to the Minister any day. The Minister's bully boy tactics are a shameful betrayal of his powers. He is embarrassing all town councils. That will not bring savings. Reform is needed but he should not come in here with these proposals I do not know how many years after he was last a Minister. He had to resign and then he came back and got another shot at it.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: They are the facts.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Bí ciúin, I am speaking. Deputy Buttimer will have an opportunity to speak. The Minister is back in office and I meet his colleagues. He is a great man. He has water charges and septic tank charges. He has done the lot but everything was put on the back burner until the referendum is over. The people are not eejits.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The people know what is going on and they do not like it. The people of Carlow-Kilkenny do not like it either. Why can he open a competition for a dual manager for Limerick and possibly Waterford city and county while studiously avoiding the amalgamation of Carlow and Kilkenny, which was also recommended? It is blatant arrogance, nepotism and cronyism. He is blatantly looking after his...

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: When they retire he might appoint them to other positions. It is scandalous for retired officials to come down to Tipperary. I do not know where they are from. They might be good officials. I will not take that away from them but they know nothing about Tipperary. Where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows according to the old adage. Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach. The Minister should make...

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Go raibh maith agat. I too welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Second Stage debate on the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011. While I welcome the proposed amalgamation, we must ensure we protect what we have. We must not be afraid to amalgamate but must be careful how we move forward. On 27 July 2011, the chief executive designate of the QQAI,...

Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: On behalf of the Technical Group and the Independents, I support the motion. I welcome the fact that much progress has been made since the last extension was granted. The Minister indicated he would grant further time if necessary and I note the Minister suggests October as the completion date. It is a reasonable timeframe. According to the judge's letter, he has only one remaining...

Leaders' Questions (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The spindoctors will have it.

Leaders' Questions (23 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Maith an fear.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (22 May 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Question 427: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a domiciliary care allowance application review in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25452/12]