McGrath, Mattie

Leaders' Questions (Continued)

Nearly two and a half years ago, this Government took office with the hopes and dreams of a nation behind it. Like some great prophet, the Taoiseach announced that he was entering into a covenant ...

The Taoiseach has failed to keep faith with the promises he made and the defined mandate on which the Government was elected.

I wonder if the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is waiting to milk another cow. He has his hands out there.

You will be like that very soon, at a graveside. The Government has failed to keep the promises it made. Hardly any group has suffered more from those betrayals than the young people of our count...

Empty vessels make most noise.

When he goes back to Longford, he will get his answers from the people he promised on the pro-life issue.

The Taoiseach's so-called covenant has failed to prevent us from losing an entire generation of our young people. This week, the Taoiseach spoke eloquently about Ireland's EU Presidency. I comp...

Who is the Taoiseach trying to cod? What hope can any young person have that the Taoiseach or the Government will be able to deliver on this grand promise? Ireland has almost the highest youth un...

I am not being allowed to continue.

I know the truth is bitter but it should not be that hard to sit on. I am entitled to ask a question, am I not?

Go raibh maith agat.

The pizza boy is back. Will the Minister give a commitment today and demonstrate his seriousness in tackling this issue by bringing to the Taoiseach a proposal to create an office with the sole re...

That is the past.

If that is the best that Ministers can do, they should all stay in bed in the morning.

What people want are sustainable long-term jobs, of which the Minister promised 70,000. Despite this continuous mantra about the last Government, the Minister saw the books before he came into off...

We all know that the live register numbers have fallen due to FÁS and JobBridge training programmes, as well as the back-to-education scheme.

Nobody ever employed anybody by offering €72 after somebody is taken on for 12 months because it is a pittance. The Minister does not understand what makes employers tick. The sooner the Minister...

Order of Business

How can we take this Government seriously when it cannot even deal with relatively straightforward issues such as applications for third level education grants? The SUSI system is a shambles. Tho...

I am not yet finished. The Government has broken all of its promises. The Taoiseach reneged on his commitment to the families of those killed in the Omagh bomb and to the Stardust victims' commit...

Members of the Government backbenches can laugh all they like. However, they can hide but they cannot run.

The Government can neither run nor hide.

There is no place to run.

Run like a rabbit in the fog lights.

It is a matter of trust. The young have lost trust in this Government. Why is it that one in four of our young people have to leave our shores? It is a tragedy. Will the Government establish a ...

That is what happened, the Government never started.

In spite of the Government.

How many full-time jobs have been created?

Pat yourselves on the back?

That is just papering over the cracks.

What about SUSI?

Live horse and you'll get grass.

Order of Business (Continued)

Voted No

It is eviction legislation.

Boot-boys.

It seems as though he can get something right.

Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (Continued)

Voted Yes

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (Continued)

Voted No

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (Continued)

I came especially to support my colleague, the Minister of State, from Tipperary.

Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members]

I also wish to support this Bill because I do not believe there is any regulatory impact assessment of public spending and, as for all the Bills being passed in this Chamber, one is more draconian ...

Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (Continued)

I believe there is a cartel in the public service that has its hands on the power and is associated with Ministers. It does not care about the ordinary people. It does not care about Tony Rochf...

I am looking across at a Labour Minister of State and I see Labour Party Deputies who talk about standing up for ordinary people and small business people, the backbone of this country. This man...

I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, to bring some sanity to the situation. Legislation was rushed through this House and guillotines were used and what is the Government doing? Abo...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed)

Voted Yes

Criminal Law Matters

Asked the Minister for Justice and Equality: if his attention has been drawn to the presence of the Anglo Irish Bank tapes; the date on which he was made aware of their presence; the action he has taken since being made aware of their presenc...

Hospital Waiting Lists

Asked the Minister for Health: the reason there has been no orthoptist services available in Our Lady's Hospital Cashel, County Tipperary since December 2012; when will the previous orthoptist be replaced in Cashel; where are pa...