Mattie McGrath

Three wars.

Freagair an cheist. Who are I-SEM?

I have it here. I-SEM.

The Taoiseach told me that a few years ago.

I am delighted to speak on this Bill. It is timely, and I support it. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026 cannot be viewed in isolation. If we are serious about reducing electricity costs, we must address the core structural issues that continue to drive prices upwards. Only by tackling these areas together can we deliver lasting reductions in electricity costs for households and busi…

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I welcome the members of Rotary Club of Clonmel to the Gallery, along with Councillor Richie Molloy. Yesterday, along with Councillor Niall Dennehy and Councillor Máirín McGrath, I met the new superintendent in Clonmel, James Hallahan. There is a deep sense of frustration at the ongoing neglect of County Tipperary regarding Garda numbers and Garda prese…

When will the Government have a measurable number of gardaí to put into rural towns and counties - I am talking about Tipperary here - and will he commit today to a specific plan to restore Garda numbers to Tipperary? I am not sure about this calling 999. Every person now is being told, and I heard this in my meeting yesterday, to ring 999. There is no replacement for connectivity with the local G…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue on a very important matter. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, but I am very disappointed there is no Minister or Minister of State from the Department of housing present. There is a housing crisis and we have a proposal to knock 52 almost-complete houses in Cashel, C…

There is no rationale. That is why the Minister for housing, Deputy Browne, is not here to take my Topical Issue. I handed a file to the Minister six to eight weeks ago in this regard. First, I thank Liam Campion, his wife and family. They are builders and providers who are building apartments - six-storey blocks - in this city today, as well as in Cork city. They have been building for nearly 50…

I thank the Minister of State for all his hard work in different parts of the country. I saw him manning the pumps a good many years ago in Athlone town. He has lived with flooding and he understands it. I also want to thank the late Teachta and iar-Aire Martin Mansergh, who did a lot in that Department. He passed away recently and we sent our sympathies to his wife Liz and family. He was a Minist…

The announcement by the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, regarding the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, national roads allocation for 2026 is expected next week. I urge the Taoiseach to prioritise the N24 Waterford to Cahir project. It is an essential piece of infrastructure for Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and the whole south-east region. We have just endured one of the worst yea…

-----expire on 11 April so funding is time critical-----

-----and delivering the first €3 million next week is vital.

It will be announced next week.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. It is vital the project gets €3 million this year, otherwise the contracts will end on 11 April and the work will stop. I have been around long enough to have noticed that it was halted in 2002 and 2012, at huge inconvenience to and angst for the landowners and property owners, along with land being sterilised and wide corridors. That has been reduced, thank Go…

I am back to the Garda numbers as well. The situation in Tipperary is appalling. The numbers are just so bad. We got four in the second last tranche but six experienced gardaí left Clonmel Garda station. We got four in Clonmel. One of those new recruits has since sadly left the force. We got one in this allocation. The superintendents tell me that they struggle to put out a patrol car. People are …

I issue a fíor fáilte do na daoine ó Limerick West and Croom Active Retirement Association. They are very welcome to the Dáil.

You might get a pass.

Go raibh maith agat.

We will.

I too am glad to speak on the Kenova report. I compliment the people who researched and presented it. We have had a long history here as well as in the North of Ireland and the UK. We are not so squeaky clean here. I compliment the Minister. Since he came into the Department of justice, he seems to have been making stellar efforts to have a more hands-on, open, honest and transparent approach, whi…

That was a very interesting contribution. It is a good day to welcome the transition year students from Coláiste Dún Iascaigh in Cahir and their teachers Rachel Burke and Anne Hickey. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit.

173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance given that the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, is due to conclude its affairs and wind down operations by the end of 2025, to outline the arrangements in place to ensure that any unresolved investigations or litigation, particularly those involving significant public funds, are fully pursued; the person or body that wil…

My question is about the wind-up of NAMA, which will happen in the next ten days. Who will assume responsibility for ongoing issues, irregularities and other issues, such as court proceedings when NAMA has been wound up? It will happen by 31 December. That is only ten days away. Will the Tánaiste make a statement on the matter?

I am worried that when there is alleged fraud taking place with the handling of money who will be responsible for the ongoing investigations into that fraud and irregularities and current cases; including two matters I have raised previously in this House, namely, the ongoing NAMA investigation into circumstances relating to Nemo Rangers lands in Cork, and the unlawful use by NAMA of the personal …