Mattie McGrath

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss rural planning guidelines, area plans and family homes. Deputy Séamus McGrath - To discuss driver licence reciprocal arrangements Deputy Eamon Scanlon - To discuss the daily transport charge for people w…

Ladies first, is it, Deputy Cummins?

I will point out to Deputy Ó Laoghaire that the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, was here and the Deputy was not.

The Deputy has made his point.

Ar aghaidh leat.

I also add my voice to the condolences for the great legend, Mick O'Dwyer, and offer my sympathies to his family and the GAA community. The GAA community does so much, as do rugby, soccer, boxing and all the different sports, to divert young people away from harmful behaviour. In my area we are lucky that the diocese of Waterford and Lismore provides a youth service that covers much of south Tippe…

Ar an gcéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach, an Teachta Ó Murchú, for allowing me to table this Topical Issue. I am disappointed that neither the Minister for Justice nor the Minister for Education are here. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, has responsibility for procurement, so she might be able to answer me. I refer to the whole situation of the procurem…

Much of what the Minister of State read out to me in that reply was simply untrue. Dundrum House Hotel - the famous Crowe family for generations has had that hotel - is the only hotel not only in Dundrum village, but in the whole west Tipperary community. That turns the Department policy on its head. We have the wonderful Cahir House Hotel in Cahir operated by Robert Scannell and David Walsh, its…

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Children with autism are being abandoned in south Tipperary. The HSE has confirmed that the waiting time for autism assessments is now in excess of two years. A total of 233 children are waiting for an autism assessment. Cara Darmody was told in the past that children could access assessments privately if the HSE continued to fail but that is not happening. Bey…

Bansha National School.

As a person who nominated and voted for the outgoing Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl, who did a fine job, I accepted the democratic result when Deputy Murphy was elected Ceann Comhairle. The treatment she has been subjected to - it has been outlined by my two colleagues, so I do not have to repeat it - is nothing but shocking. I had a school group up last week; thankfully they were not he…

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Cheann Comhairle. Déanaim comhghairdeas léi ar an vóta inniu. It is great to be able to talk as backbenchers on the first Private Members' debate for which we have time. Everybody should get time here. I am sharing with Government backbenchers, although Deputy Nolan and I are not in that category. I praise all the front-line staff, especially those in th…

What about Faugheen?

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State well in their portfolios. The explanations are very worthwhile given the discrepancies in costs. Some counties' totals are quite alarming. Obviously drainage and topography will mean a lot. I welcome the relaxing of the requirements relating to applications by individual households. The connectivity of the people in those houses on those little boreen…

87. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will address the funding shortfall for men's sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14353/25]

I ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to address the funding shortfall for Irish men's sheds, specifically following the loss of the IMSA sustainability grant, and to make a statement on the matter.

I am glad the Minister will meet with the Irish Men's Sheds Association, IMSA. It is a pity that when the Department reached out to it late last year, it was unable, but hopefully this will be sorted out and we will get proper, meaningful support for the many men's sheds throughout the country, especially in Tipperary. We have men's sheds in Clogheen, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Fethard, Mullinahone…

I thank the Social Democrats for allowing me some time on this important motion. I wish the Minister of State well in his position. He knows my position on this. My position is that the triple lock is sacrosanct. Our neutrality is sacrosanct. I was concerned about two years ago when the Taoiseach had a roadshow with hand-picked people to try to soften up the public for a change to our neutrality.…

Bogaimid ar aghaidh leis an Rialtas agus an Teachta Malcolm Byrne. I wish him well with his sore arm.

Anois, bogaimid ar aghaidh le Teachtaí ón grúpa Neamhspleách réigiúnach - an Teachta Gillian Toole, an Teachta Barry Heneghan agus mé féin.

Táim buíoch den Chathaoirleach Gníomhach freisin for allowing me time to speak here. I am not as enthusiastic as some people about the spending on our European military. Some people, such as the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Lahart, would say that it might help with our situation regarding illegal migrants here. Possibly, but I live in hope. We need to build relations with President Trump, the…

Go raibh maith agat.

Will you dance to my tune now, please?

Will I take one more question and the Minister of State can answer three?

The Deputy will get her chance. Deputy Lahart.