Results 4,421-4,440 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to highlight one section of people who are suffering, the carers. Perhaps the most mean-spirited cut in the last budget was the €300, 19%, cut in the respite care grant. At the time of the budget the Government could not defend on any level that nasty cut and to this day nobody with a bone of decency in them could stand over it. The cut, which will save the Sate only...

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Really.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Government's problem is that it has again had to adjust downwards the growth projections. That gives the lie to the claim that its strategy is working. The Government has also had to revise upwards the unemployment projections, so the Tánaiste should not come in with his own fairytale that all is well, because it is not. By the way, nobody ever contested the fact the budget deficit...

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Whatever about the Tánaiste's fairytale-----

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----it is no fairytale for carers because home help hours have been cut by more than 1 million hours in the system in 2012 and prescription charges have increased, but the salt in the wound was the mean cut to the respite grant of €300, or almost 20%, which would yield a saving of €26 million.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste boasted about the breathing space, so he should use it, and when he stands up again I ask him please to address the issue of carers and the respite grant. It might interest him to know carers have launched a campaign, Give Carers a Break, which sets out in very stark terms the effect this cut to the respite grant has had.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The campaign video features Carolyn, who cares for her mother, and Antoinette and Sam, who care for their daughter and sister respectively.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: They set out in very clear and real terms - there are no fairytales - the effect this particular cut to the respite grant has had on their lives.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: They have cut back on heating and food. This is real material damage to the lives of carers and those for whom they care.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I ask the Tánaiste very simply to reverse this particular cut. It is only one of the cuts which has hurt carers.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: For €26 million I ask the Tánaiste to reverse this cut, which I do not believe he could ever stand over, even in the budget.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is why you have cut them, is it?

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Then your listening skills are poor.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have. We do it every budget cycle.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: What about the respite grant?

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: No, you have not. So your answer is that you will not reverse it-----

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and you understand the work of carers.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: A Cheann Comhairle-----

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Can I raise an issue?

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I presume when we ask a question-----