Results 6,601-6,620 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Order of Business (18 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I refer to another matter I attempted to raise with the Taoiseach earlier, I am advised inappropriately, because I was not asking the questions. Therefore, let me now ask the Taoiseach about this matter pertaining to promised legislation from the Department of Health on foot of the Quirke recommendations for the Magdalen women. I remind the Taoiseach that promises were made and agreed in...

Order of Business (18 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is not what I have been told by the Department of Justice and Equality.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: When the two whistleblowers on the penalty points scandal stepped forward into the public light, having been frustrated in their efforts to bring the matter to a conclusion within the Garda Síochána, the instinct of the Minister for Justice and Equality was to rubbish these two men. He did so publicly. He did, of course, allege that they refused to co-operate with internal Garda...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Damage has been done to the Garda Síochána, to accountability and to whistleblowing within that organisation. The chief author of the damage is none other than the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter. The mystery is that the Taoiseach stands by him regardless, as do all members of Fine Gael and Labour. This causes much public bewilderment. The same Minister is...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I suggest that the Taoiseach relieves Deputy Shatter of his duties. With regard to the most serious allegation, that of bugging of the GSOC offices, I suggest the Taoiseach does the right thing at this point and uses the legislation available to him to establish, as a matter of urgency, a fully independent and functioning committee of investigation.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: All the evidence to date indicates very clearly that the Government has no interest in effective systems of oversight or governance. The Taoiseach has established that very plainly in public view. It is astonishing that the Labour Party and Fine Gael are to be allowed to be complicit in Alan Shatter's activities, which are aimed at undermining whistleblowers within An Garda...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I believe I speak for a great many people when I say I cannot for the life of me understand why Alan Shatter has been allowed to bully, ballyrag and bad-mouth Garda whistleblowers. For the life of me I cannot understand why the Taoiseach would be complicit in his actions, which are clearly aimed-----

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----at playing down, setting aside or even whitewashing issues in respect of GSOC.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is how serious this is. If the Taoiseach cares about public confidence, he has no option but to establish a fully independent inquiry with this High Court judge which arms him with all the powers to call and compel witnesses and papers and come to findings of fact. That is the single act that will put this matter to rest. The Taoiseach knows this and I cannot understand why he has not...

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is that the best the Taoiseach can do?

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I asked about an independent inquiry.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Independent.

Leaders' Questions (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: In Alan Shatter? No.

Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I raised with the Taoiseach yesterday the outstanding commitments made by the Government to the surviving women of the Magdalen laundries. As the Taoiseach knows, a full year has passed since the Taoiseach apologised on behalf of the State to the women, yet, since the apology only one sixth of those eligible for payment under the redress scheme have received any. Pensions, health care and...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The response of Government backbenchers from Fine Gael and the Labour Party to the motion has been predictable, I would say depressingly predictable. They level an accusation at Members on this side of the Dáil that we set out to disrespect the men and women of An Garda Síochána. They level an accusation at those of us on this side of the House that we question the integrity...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: A pattern has been established within the Government, both among members of the Cabinet and on the backbenches. The Minister has moved to minimise and trivialise the alleged bugging of the GSOC offices. He took precisely the same approach to the Garda whistleblowers. While that is his form, he does not and did not act alone because it is now clear that the Alan Shatter approach to the...

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The legislation required to construct a proper independent inquiry is available to the Government.

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: In the course of this debate it has been cited time out of number. Why does the Government not use it?

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why does the Government not want an inquiry in which a High Court judge, with all of his or her integrity and expertise, would have available to him or her the full range of powers necessary to get to the bottom of this issue? In the midst of the Government's bluster and blunder, it has failed to answer that simple question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Feb 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I congratulate Mr. Reid on his appointment. The reports look well and I am certainly very interested in the Minister's narrative on cultural change. I have a question that may be a little left of field. Was the Minister a party to any discussion on the defence of the Louise O'Keeffe case in the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the State?