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Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Jun 2024)

Mattie McGrath: To paraphrase the famed song for Kilcash, cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan uisce? Water, and the work of Irish Water, is an appalling problem in Clonmel, south Tipperary and all over the country. I welcome to the Gallery Geraldine and Paddy, one of my office staff, who is on to Irish Water continuously. All our staff are on to Irish Water, but it is like writing to the North Pole. The...

Hospitality and Tourism Sector: Motion [Private Members] (19 Jun 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I thank colleagues for their contributions. Ar céad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas leis an iar-Seanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill agus Triona O'Flynn in our office for putting together this motion. Tourism is a vibrant, dynamic sector that plays a vital role in Ireland's economy, as has been stated. It is the lifeblood of rural communities, providing employment and economic...

Committee on Public Petitions: Amendment of the Child Care Act 1991: Engagement with the Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice (13 Jun 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe. I welcome the witnesses and thank them sincerely for their ongoing work on behalf of the most vulnerable children in our communities and our country. The Constitution states that we must cherish all children equally. They are fighting a crusade on behalf of many mothers and some fathers to get objective, honest and proper care for their children....

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2024)

Mattie McGrath: We have a Bill of 750 or 800 pages we can hardly lift. Indeed, there is also a list of amendments, many of them tabled by the Minister. We are not operating in a silo here. I am speaking to amendments No. 195 and 196 in the group, in addition to other related ones. We are not operating in a silo. We have a housing crisis. We have a crisis with people emigrating. We have a shortage of...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Report Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I welcome the TFI bus routes. We have a new bus in Clonmel in the past six to eight months. It has been a huge success. I remember when we had not a bus and before Covid it was a private service. A lot of people worked very hard. I compliment Michael Moroney in the council and his team. It is a major success. There is one problem, and perhaps Deputy Ó Cathasaigh would like to...

Housing Situation: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...was watching the debate, but sin scéal eile. I will follow on from what Deputy Healy-Rae said about Sinn Féin and objections. Sinn Féin espouses what Deputy Ó Broin says and always listens to what he says about Housing for All, ideas, etc. I sat on the housing committee for five years, and they were the most difficult five years I ever had. Talk is great, but talk...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Universal healthcare is a healthcare system in which all residents of a particular country or region are assured access to healthcare. That is currently a pipe dream in this country, unfortunately. Our health system is broken, and I do not know what it is going to take to fix it. How are we getting the most basic things like providing our citizens with a decent level of healthcare so...

Delivering Universal Healthcare: Statements (15 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I too am happy to contribute to the debate. It was interesting listening to the former Taoiseach and former Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar. He provided some different insights. It is a very complex issue. I would not say for one moment that there are not good things happening in the HSE and in hospitals, as there are. I have been in St. Vincent's public hospital myself too many...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall mo chuid ama a úsáid. I wish the Minister of State well in her post and look forward to engaging with her. The whole situation is very sad. There is nothing more frustrating than young children and adult children waiting for services who cannot get them. Money is being pumped into the system. There is not doubt about that, but there...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I, too, will speak on this motion which proposes delivering homes at prices that are within the reach of working class people. The proposals suggest that new homes could be sold to eligible buyers for less than €300,000, with the exact price varying based on the size and location of the home. However, the motion does not elaborate on how Sinn Féin plans to deliver a fully...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Gabh mo leithscéal. The Minister of State is quite sharp on that. I am speaking as I did last week. We are on amendment No. 74, which I am totally opposed to. The Minister of State is trying to make his slipshod way out of this. As I said last week, from the start of the Bill, people cannot understand the Minister of State. He just will not listen to anybody. He has been captured...

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas le Brian Ó Domhnaill and Triona in my office and my colleagues for putting down this motion. On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I make no apologies to anyone for putting this motion forward. The Minister mentioned that a number of debates have been held. I think three of them were forced by us, after months of begging. We...

Weather-Related Supports for Farmers: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: ...tirim inniu. We have had good weather for the past week and it is so badly needed, praise the Lord, because we cannot do anything without God, in my opinion. The weather helps everything. I just spoke to my neighbour, Diarmuid McGrath, and he is setting the potatoes today. We will have potatoes for Christmas dinner. We will not be eating lettuce or something like that. I plead with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (23 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: As I said, Ireland has the opportunity to opt out or opt in thanks to the people voting a second time on the Lisbon treaty, and we achieved that the last time. Even a moderate like the Polish President, Donald Tusk, is saying he will not take any. The legal basis for Ireland to opt out of the migration treaty is contained under Lisbon, as I said. I believe this is a serious violation of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Go raibh maith agat. I apologise if my questions are repetitive. I was addressing other issues in the Dáil. Opting into this pact greatly undermines Ireland's democratic sovereignty by giving exclusive power to the EU to decide on our immigration policies. The pact includes a mandatory solidarity mechanism, forcing countries to choose between accepting migrants or paying hefty sums...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I am not sure if my other colleagues will be joining us. I am glad to be able to speak today on this as well. While it is of vital importance and very noble that we have a pension for employees who are not in the public sector, this is coming on top of so many other pieces of regulation and bureaucracy, especially for small businesses. I...

Disability Justice: Motion [Private Members] (17 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I compliment the movers of this motion, Solidarity-People Before Profit. Last year, the Minister tried to introduce a British system, which has caused uproar, and we know why. The Green Paper tried to tackle related issues, including the cost of disability and the low employment rate among people with disabilities, with a single policy change and it has not worked. Everyone will know what...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: I am very concerned about any plans to pause or review plans for ASD classes in rural areas. In a response to a parliamentary question the Minister for Education stated that, due to falling demographics at primary level, the Department "considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity ... in the first instance, before considering any applications for further...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: "Future Ireland fund" - yes, future Ireland indeed. Today, 10 April, is the 101st anniversary of the death in action of Liam Lynch, who fought in the War of Independence and the Civil War. I think of the ideas that man had, the noble man he was and of his many colleagues who gave their lives for freedom across the country from 1916 until that period. We see the democracy we have now and...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Taoiseach agus leis na hAirí nua. I wish them well. Like Deputy Nolan, I thank the Taoiseach for his work on SUSI, apprenticeships and other issues in his time as higher education Minister. I acknowledge that unlike what I said this morning about his abysmal time in health. Recently, it has not only been Fine Gael...