Results 2,841-2,860 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure increased visitor numbers by 2015; if he will outline his efforts to meet the targets for tourist numbers and job creation as outlined in the tourism section of Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45128/12]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Project (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made on the LUAS BXD development [45133/12]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am happy that it is noted and published. I have subsequently been in correspondence on the procurement practices and I am awaiting a response. I have not heard anything. I will revert to the Chairman. I will raise the matter again if necessary.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Exactly. That is perfect.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Deputy O'Donnell is assuming that all soldiers are men.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I welcome the delegates. I wish to ask about specific allowances. Archaic language was mentioned. The chaplain's housekeeper's allowance is €1,868 per year. Where an additional maidservant is required, the payment is €842 per year. I am intrigued by these figures. Fourteen individuals are in receipt of these allowances. Does Mr. Howard see the allowances?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Hallelujah for that. I am greatly relieved. The allowance that received most publicity was for underwear and night attire for female personnel. Drilling into the detail, one sees that abolishing this outrageous payment for 377 recipients would yield just under €13,000. This best reflects how a level of sensationalism can take hold. It is useful to have this information before us....

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Some of us. Not all public service employees are subject to the rigours and demands which military service entails. I do not accept that as stated this had to continue or should continue just because the Defence Forces is looking over its shoulder at other areas of the public sector. That is badly conceived. It does not add up. It is an easy task to identify the exceptionality around the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Where were those linkages historically between the military service and the public and Civil Service?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The net point being as follows, namely, the State should not be underpaying people to the extent that it does and then trying to take the bad look off it through the system of allowances, which then come under pressure and put the individuals concerned and their families under further pressure. I understand that all of this needs to be negotiated and debated among the Defence Forces and that...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: In Mr. Howard's view, how inclusive will the process be?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is entirely appropriate. The difficult circumstances of individuals and their families must also be considered. There is legislation concerning the minimum wage and thresholds below which nobody should fall. I very much hope that will form a very clear part of the agenda and perspective of the State as it pursues those discussions.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 1:In line 4, to delete “6 months” and substitute “immediately”.The reason I have brought forward this amendment is I am concerned this legislation which the Minister has rightly described as reforming and necessary must come into effect without undue delay. The Minister knows the Ombudsman’s office has been calling...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: As there are many amendments being discussed together, perhaps it would make more sense to start with amendments Nos. 25 and 26 and work backwards. On amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 25, there are some who argue coherently that any body which is fully funded or in receipt of substantial public funds should not be exempt from the gaze of the "Ombudswoman" or "Ombudsman". If one thinks...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and if I am not mistaken, perhaps within a day or two the report on St. Patrick's Institution was placed in the public domain. It writes large the reason, above all else, examination of this area should not be exempt from the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman. I hear what the Minister is saying about an alternative procedure, but let me put it to him in these terms. The experience and...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 25: In Part II, paragraph (f), to delete subparagraphs (i) and (ii).

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 1 to Seanad amendment No. 26:To delete paragraph 100, “Residential Institutions Redress Board”.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the savings that would be made if there was a salary cap of €100,000 on employees in local authorities. [46080/12]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date 2012 of the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by his Department, anybody under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the nature of the work concerned; the fees paid to each consultant and if the matter...