Results 4,101-4,120 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Naturally. The project has not gained planning permission as of yet. Our past experience might indicate that may not be as straightforward a proposition as people would wish.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes, we cannot be certain. I imagine the Minister will appreciate the levels of doubt that enter into the equation. Deputy Fleming is right. The carrot for public opinion in the Minister's moves to change the structure of the lottery is the funding for the children's hospital. Therefore, it is entirely reasonable for the Minister to indicate the manner by which he would hold and...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I was interested in what the Minister said about the office of the regulator which he is establishing. It should be noted that the new national lottery regime will involve the creation of another public body or quango, whichever way he wishes to typify it. He can correct me if I am wrong but I understood him to say that he would envisage this regulator at some stage taking on a broader role...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 10: In page 9, line 15, to delete "12 months" and substitute "24 months".The Minister has very strangely limited the cooling-off period to 12 months should the regulator complete his or her term of office or leave that position in advance of taking up any office, consultancy or employment where in the course of such office, consultancy or employment the person could or...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do not accept the Minister's explanation for his decision on the 12-month cooling-off period. I presume that when the Minister headed the Labour Party delegation in the negotiation of the programme for Government, he had reflected on these matters considerably and had sought some legal advice on the matter. The regulator's term of office is seven years; however, there is the capacity for...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not the least bit alarmist; I am conforming with the term in the programme for Government. I ask the Minister to answer the question. There is no need to be insulting.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: This is a regular feature of the Minister's response to me and it is very irritating. I do not know if it is specially reserved for women in the Dáil, but I find it very irritating.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: If the Minister resents it he should not behave in that manner. It is not complicated.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: If ever there was a patronising remark, that is it. I object to the tone of the remark. The Chairman is charged with ensuring a mature and appropriate exchange. The Minister does this time out of number. He attacks the style of the speaker when it happens to be a woman who is speaking. That is just a reaction.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: If the Minister would desist from that and simply answer the substance of my amendment-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is agreed.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have set out in a rational, factual and measured way the reason I believe a two-year cooling off period is not just appropriate but absolutely necessary. It happens to tally precisely with the commitment given in the programme for Government. This is a new office. This is a new departure if the Minister is successful in bringing forward the legislation in respect of the running of the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 22: In page 22, line 8, to delete “50 per cent” and substitute “55 per cent”.In the legislation the Minister has pitched the total value of the prize money at not less than 50% of the total moneys. My amendment proposes to raise that to 55%. The logic behind that is that the increased on-line sales, which will be facilitated by the new regime...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. That is fine.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: One of the major concerns for the taxpayers and citizens will be that the level of moneys going to good causes will be maintained. For that reason, I thought it appropriate that this proportion be named in the legislation. I would like to hear the Minister's views on that. The amendment was ruled out of order but I would find that helpful. Equally, in respect of the take for retailers, as...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have not seen it, no.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I presume this is a work in progress and that the Minister has not settled on a precise formula.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I take it as read that the objective is to maximise the revenue for good causes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister will have to settle upon some formula. How will we monitor how this plays out in practice? Let us imagine a scenario in which, despite the Minister's best efforts, the revenue stream decreases. Who will keep an eye on this? Will it be the regulator or the Minister?