Results 19,521-19,540 of 20,934 for speaker:Mattie McGrath

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I am delighted to note the return of my constituency colleague from Tipperary South, Deputy Tom Hayes, even though he has not spoken on the Bill.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: However, he is whispering continually. I once used to like a band called Big Tom and the Mainliners. However, this is like Big Tom, Big Phil and the Chancers because they are not addressing the Bill. They are trying poppycock and giving Members gobbledygook. Moreover, a public meeting is to be held in Dundrum, County Tipperary, which has been organised by Deputy Tom Hayes and which the...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív is dead right. When this legislation is enacted, all householders will be obliged to meet the standards laid down. Moreover, as Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan noted, all householders want to meet these standards. All Members seek is for the Minister to put his money where his mouth is, by giving grant-aid to all householders to upgrade to the highest standards possible....

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: If Deputy Tom Hayes wants to hold a public meeting, the public should be allowed to attend. It should not be a public meeting mar dhea, for Fine Gael supporters in Dundrum, County Tipperary. Everyone should be allowed to come and ask questions and the Minister should answer the questions put by the public.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister should define what he means by "financial hardship".

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: A Cheann Comhairle, I got-----

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Yes.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I did no such thing.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: We know that.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The Minister can fund Deputy Tom Hayes's scheme in Golden and my scheme in Newcastle.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: You should clip his wings.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: It is a guessing game.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: It cannot and will not.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Can pigs fly?

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: It is a smokescreen. The Minister did not want to bring it in.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Yes.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: They had no choice.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: Ba mhaith liom fíor-fáilte a ghabháil le muintir Chonamara atá anseo inniu. I support Deputy Collins's amendment. I will not go over what was asked of the Minister by all the previous speakers but we cannot buy a pig in a poke. We cannot say "everything will be all right, Jack" and if we sign up to this, the Minister will look after us. Does he intend to have a slush fund so he can...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: The last speaker is dead right. The Minister was elected on a basis of trust, which is being quickly eroded. He must build the trust of the people but he is undermining whatever he has, so the people do not trust him. He is coming here and being flippant, arrogant, less than fair and dishonest. He is telling us that we are scaremongering and that it is Deputies Ó Cuív and Mattie McGrath...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Mattie McGrath: I am speaking to the amendment. I am asking the Minister to indicate what standards will be used before he allows any inspections. He is talking about a consultation after the Bill is passed. The Minister can make flippant remarks about the last Government but he has been here a long time. Why did he not raise this issue over the past 30 years and get it sorted?