Results 4,561-4,580 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (23 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 2. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department officials have completed their preparation on legislative measures to reduce the public sector pay and pensions bill; and when he intends to publish this legislation. [24804/13]

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: One is taken to the station.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister has moved with indecent haste to introduce this legislation. I was interested in his comments, in that he described it as part of "the Government's policy of restraint and prudent budget". There was a complimentary glow to that depiction. The agreement has just been published, some union leaderships have taken a judgment on it and not a single union member has been balloted on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that special educational needs supports have been withdrawn from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1, on the basis that the supports are only provided to primary and special schools, yet this school has a roll number as provided to all primary and special schools, compiles the annual statistical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mobility Allowance Decision (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 686. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that following his decision to abolish the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant, disabled persons in Dublin central are no longer able to attend rehabilitative training services, access to the wider community has been severely limited increasing social isolation and their independence and dignity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Grant Expenditure (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 641. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to a crisis request by the Health Service Executive to house two vulnerable children, the Sancta Maria Respite care facility on the Navan Road, Dublin 7, has now had to withdraw all regular respite care for children and adults for at least a four week period until such time that the physical layout of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Crèche Inspections (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: As shocked as people were watching last night's programme, we all understand that these are some of the consequences for society when caring roles are relegated to second class. I am sorry to say that in many of the decisions taken by the Minister's Government, that trend of undervaluing carers and carers' work has continued. The programme clearly illustrated huge deficiencies in respect of...

Topical Issue Debate: Crèche Inspections (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with the Minister that the last thing one would want to cause is widespread panic because my children, like those of many others, have had very positive experiences in crèches. I am gobsmacked at the fact that crèches which clearly have broken the current HSE guidelines and into which there is a Garda and a HSE investigation under way would still be open today. If the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: A bit of solidarity in the Chamber. I thank the Acting Chairman. I proposed an amendment proposing an alternative Long Title. Sadly and like many other amendments, mine was ruled out of order. In the midst of this financial emergency, it sought to highlight the need to address the considerable pay inequity within the public service. Were the Minister serious about crafting legislation...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The union's leadership has come out strongly against the agreement accompanying the Minister's legislation because it believes that additional hours and the freezing of increments for its workers, who start on the grand salary of €22,000, constitute a bridge too far. I would wager that there is not a clerical officer within the service who believes that visiting more hardship on that...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: No one would imagine that undermining the collective bargaining traditions of the State, as the Minister is doing by introducing this legislation in a pre-emptive strike against trade unions and their members, was in the public interest. Clearly, it is not. If the Minister had full confidence in the deal as set out by the Labour Relations Commission, LRC, and the trade union leaderships, he...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is not fair.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I noted the Minister's commentary about the increments, where he corrected me and stated it would be better put if I had said that some increments should be protected. Would he care to enlighten us as to which of those increments should be rightly protected? In that remark, he seemed to concede the point. All of my amendments in this section were ruled out of order because they would...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----because they simply cannot bear the indignity of such a salary. The Government has a very low opinion of hospital consultants-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and medics if that is its view of them. I hope we can debate that amendment later.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It could have been reduced.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is desperate.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: How will he pay his bills?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Tell us about the reductions for clerical officers and real people.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: What does the Minister think?