Results 2,701-2,720 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and to top it all he will not even give a basic commitment, if he does not understand the criteria, to publish all of documentation for public scrutiny in order that the rest of us have the benefit of that information. Reform my eye.

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have raised the 15 centres.

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. We are raising the criteria that-----

Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I refer to promised legislation on upward only rent review. The matter is under review and there are some complications. The rental arrangements people have with the State and State agencies must be addressed. Regarding the Keane report, the Tánaiste spoke of his concern for people in mortgage distress. What is coming forward from the recommendations by way of legislation? I refer...

Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does that mean nothing is happening?

Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I want an answer, not a debate.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Availability (4 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a report on all new tax reliefs provided for in budget 2012 including the number of persons or companies who have availed of each tax relief; the total amount of relief awarded under each relief; and the number of jobs that have been directly created as a result of each relief. [42262/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the findings of a report published recently by the National Council for Special Education that the significant reduction in teaching posts in schools, including the 700 posts lost at second level due to changes to guidance counseling and the loss of more than 6,000 middle management positions as a result of the continuing embargo is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider his decision to cut a further €77 million from the education budget; and if he has considered alternatives measures to this further reduction to his Department's annual budget. [43114/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will recieve a decision on their application for a carer's allowance. [42860/12]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of impending budget cuts, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the energy bill for the public sector is estimated at €500 million a year; his futher attention has been drawn to the potential demonstrated by existing Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland and Office of Public Works led projects to...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I want to clarify one point in advance of Dr. McLoughlin's statement and I apologise to the lead speakers. I heard Mr. O'Brien's statement and scanned Dr. McLoughlin's statement. I hope that they have not signalled that the committee will be faced with extensive stonewalling by both of them. I have a number of questions that I wish to raise with them and I am sure that is the same for my...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do not want to harp on about the fiery start to this meeting but, given that both gentlemen are new to their jobs, I hope that their statements "pleading the fifth", to use the term, do not represent the manner in which they will proceed in interaction with Oireachtas committees. It would be a backward step to do so. When Mr. O'Brien's predecessor, Mr. Magee, appeared before the...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: My maths are correct so the HSE is looking at a potential overrun of €509 million. Deputy Harris asked about the €78 million that can be clawed back from savings through non-front line activities. That leads me to the conclusion that the HSE is looking to secure additional savings of €431 million to achieve a balanced budget. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: That brings us up to €438 million. That is a huge amount of ground to make. In pursuing this line of questioning, I take the view that too much has been hacked from the health budget. I would like the witnesses to help me navigate through the savings of €438 million. If I have understood them correctly, the figure will represent savings from the front line.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Do these policy matters relate to generic drugs and the savings to accrue from the private use of public hospital beds? Are these the tranches of policy in which the witnesses envisage the balance of savings to be made?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Can Mr. O'Brien amplify his response?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank Dr. McLoughlin for his contribution. He is stating that the shortfall, which in real terms, to achieve the balance target, is a saving of €438 million, can be made and will be made by year end. Is that the position of the HSE and the Department of Health?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am not asking for the figure to the euro and to the cent, but a simple mathematical exercise which I have undertaken - let me assure everybody that I do not claim mathematical brilliance - tells us that in real terms the overrun by year end will be in the neighbourhood of €509 million, which is more than €0.5 billion. There is €72 million in respect of cash management...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote Management and Budgetary Situation in 2012: Discussion with Department of Health and HSE (9 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Clearly, there are policy issues, but for both the Department and the HSE to come before an auditing committee one has to talk through the figures. Without getting into the fine detail of policy choices, they must at a minimum be able to reassure us that a balanced budget can be struck, and furthermore in the public interest, to assure people, I am not sure how they do this, that it will not...