Results 6,001-6,020 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Third Report of the Constitutional Convention - Same-Sex Marriage: Statements (17 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: At the outset, I wish to take a moment to commend the work of the Constitutional Convention and its members. They have truly been a breath of fresh air in our democratic process. We in Sinn Féin believe that the work of the convention should continue and its remit extended to consider myriad constitutional matters that require consideration and reform. I would also like to commend...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: We know that.

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is far below what is required.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Magdalen Laundries Issues (18 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 19. To ask the Minister for Health when he will conclude his consideration regarding the provision of medical services to women, eligible under the Magdalen Laundries redress scheme, who reside outside the State [53979/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 213. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units that have been tenanted in 2012 and 2013 from the 4,000 units identified by National Asset Management Agency in 2011 as suitable for social housing; and the targets for further tenanting from these units for the remainder of 2013 and for 2014. [54870/13]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree that representatives of NAMA should be afforded the opportunity to come before the committee. I am heartened by the fact that its representatives are willing to come before us. We also need to bring in representatives of the Department of Finance. I advise that we invite them in tomorrow for the simple reason that we must give committee members the opportunity to have in their...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I presume Ms Daly would like to hear from him.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It was with some astonishment that the committee got word of this pension issue at the end of our last meeting. I wish to clarify the point. As with all other public servants, the fact that the scheme is underwritten by the State does not discount the obligation of the employee and employer to make a contribution to the scheme. Is that so? Furthermore, it is fully accounted for in line...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Ms Day has clarified things absolutely. I imagine the approximately 180 staff whose pensions are managed by Ms Day must have been rather troubled to hear the public commentary in respect of their pensions, given the grave difficulties in so many pension funds.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to put a question to Mr. O'Brien from the HSE. I understand that the HSE pension section in Manorhamilton deals with these matters. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: What is Mr. O'Brien's relationship to the pension section? Is Mr. O'Brien the line manager?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: When did that happen?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Therefore, up until three months ago Mr. O'Brien was the line manager for this pension section in Manorhamilton. Is that the case?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. O'Brien is the head of human resources. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I find it astonishing that Mr. O'Brien, as the person in charge of human resources for the HSE and as the person who, until three months ago, had direct line management responsibility for the pensions section in Manorhamilton, was not in a position to clarify all of this at our last meeting. Mr. O'Brien will recall when the issue of the pension arrangement arose and can look back on the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate all of that information from Ms. Day. However, I put it to Mr. O'Brien that I find it extraordinary, whatever about the confusion around the term "fee", which I accept, that in public session at an Oireachtas committee hearing in respect of this pension issue, Mr. O'Brien could give no account or context in respect of the matter. The word that went from this committee which,...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I accept that the issue of the fee was a curveball and that Mr. Kiely misrepresented the position. However, as the national director of human resources, Mr. O'Brien would or should have been aware of the manner in which pension contributions were made by section 38 organisations. Mr. O'Brien should certainly have been aware that if there was any mention of a fee, it would not be in line...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. O'Brien should have been in a position to know that no fee was appropriate and that there would be no cause for any fee for the administration or handling of this pension matter. More to the point, given the fact that the HSE has been immersed in consideration of section 38 organisations, given that audits have been done and given that it has been a matter of public comment, I would have...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am unsure whether accidentally or deliberately Mr. O'Brien is missing my point.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration (19 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I accept all of that but Mr. O'Brien should hear me all the more clearly. I would have thought, and still think, given the turn of events of the last committee meeting and given the fact that Mr. O'Brien is in charge of human resources nationally - and pensions are a significant subset of that function - that he would be in a position to explain to the committee precisely the mechanisms and...