Results 6,561-6,580 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald
- Order of Business (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste did not answer the question. When will the co-ordination group report to Government?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Unfortunately I had a prior engagement and could not be at the meeting last week. I was astonished at the decision taken by the committee. To go back to first principles, before we come to the CPP or any other body, the reason the evidence from Sergeant McCabe was taken in private session was as a precaution to ensure neither the committee nor the sergeant, wittingly or otherwise, stepped...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: That Sergeant McCabe requested the meeting to be held in private is correct. However, it must be recalled that was on foot of the committee asking him to take legal advice. It should be borne in mind that a legal adviser was present for the duration of the meeting. It is nonsense to suggest that somehow we could go to the final frontier in terms of our line of questioning. I believe we...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Chairman has made a proposition to get information from the CPP about the rights of the witness. A decision not to give this man a transcript of his evidence was taken in the absence of that clarification. My difficulty with the proposed course of action is that it still stands as a decision of the committee not to give Sergeant McCabe a transcript of his evidence, which was taken in...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Thank you.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: That is fair enough.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It is evident from the Taoiseach's stance that he has been brought to the position of commissioning an independent inquiry very reluctantly. It is also a matter of fact that we have clear cut information on the matter and it is on the record that the Minister was less than forthcoming in his account to the Dáil. His account of matters did not tally with the document he received from...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach knows full well that I was not questioning the independence of any member of the Judiciary, much less this judge, whoever she or he may be. Is he establishing this inquiry under the 2004 legislation?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: We have clarity on that. The Taoiseach is entrusting the setting of the terms of reference for this inquiry - it is an inquiry, not a review - to the Minister for Justice and Equality. Can the Taoiseach see how there is a difficulty not only for Members of the Dáil but for members of the public with that approach? The Minister, Deputy Shatter, has been deliberately evasive and has...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It is important that the Taoiseach clarifies and is specific on these matters this evening. I take from Taoiseach's remarks that he and his Government colleagues will be supporting the Sinn Féin motion when it comes before the House for debate this evening and for a vote tomorrow evening.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Was the Taoiseach listening to him?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: We have it. We know.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Will they call witnesses?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Can the judge call witnesses? Can the judge compel witnesses?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The judge cannot call witnesses.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: So it is not an inquiry.
- Other Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach has told us that the committee has met nine times since 2013. I would like him to confirm that.
- Other Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It met in January and the Taoiseach proposes that it will meet again in March. That does not suggest any great sense of urgency on the part of the Cabinet in respect of this issue. According to the Central Bank's figures more than 140,000 families are in arrears but those figures do not include buy-to-let properties. It seems to me the Government has made no real impact on reducing the...
- Other Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: This does not add up to a confident scenario. Why is this Cabinet committee not meeting until March? Is there not an argument for more regular meetings? What is being done to add a new dynamic and urgency to dealing with this issue? The Taoiseach has said time out of number, both here and elsewhere, that this is one of the great crises facing our people. If this is one of the great crises...
- Other Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: When the committee last met, was the issue of free GP care on the agenda? I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, who stated the Government's promised free GP care scheme might have charges attached. This runs contrary to the commitment of the Minister for Health that "free" will mean "free" and the commitment in the programme for...