Results 7,201-7,220 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and on the other hand he is recognising that it is a second and higher threshold in terms of availing of the protections. I accept that we are not going to agree on this matter but in terms of lay persons who finds themselves in circumstances where it might be necessary or they might consider coming forward with an allegation or revelation, to ask for reasonable belief is one thing but...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am satisfied that as stated by the Minister this is the correct balance to strike. However, in the context of public exposition of this legislation in terms of official publications and so on it is important for workers that the appropriate channels are set out in plain language. Given not everyone has access to the wisdom of the Attorney General's Office it is essential the appropriate...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. I move amendment No. 23:In page 10, to delete line 36, and in page 11, to delete line 1.

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: It would be a little farcical and render the legislation null and void if provisions within it were to set out to paralyse the recipient of a disclosure. We all recognise this. That is not what my amendments are intended to do. This is not only about the investigation of an allegation or complaint but also about the revelation of the identity, or the protection of the identity, of the...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 30:In page 15, to delete lines 2 to 4 and substitute the following:“(a) the person to whom the protected disclosure was made or referred has ascertained, by way of express permission by the person making the protected disclosure, that she or he does not object, in particular if the person to whom such disclosure is made reasonably believes that this is necessary...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 31:In page 15, to delete line 7.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: This morning people are reading in the newspaper that the HSE is backing down on the issue of excessive salary top-ups for senior managers of voluntary hospitals and section 35 organisations, as they are called. The Tánaiste will recall that people were shocked in the recent past when they learned about the scale of the top-ups received by some of these individuals. They were even more...

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: This is not just an issue for the Minister for Health but particularly for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin. It is also one for the Tánaiste and the Government. I am sure the Tánaiste is no different from me in that public servants still write to him and recount the level of difficulty they are experiencing following a series of very...

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Government legislate?

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The facts are established.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: And broke them.

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: So legislate for it.

Order of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will time be set aside for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to make a statement to the Dáil on the resignation last night of the chairman of the West and North-West Hospitals Group, Mr. Noel Daly, and the serious conflict of interest arising from the Minister's original appointment of Mr. Daly as chairman of the group? In respect of the commission of investigation...

Order of Business (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Government publish the interdepartmental group's report?

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will happily withdraw amendment No. 45 in favour of amendment No. 44. I was going to point out that there was a typographical error in my amendment, but it is hardly worth saying this now. I am concerned about the issue of volunteers. I have no wish to labour the point or rehearse the argument, but I am pleased to hear that provision will be made in the guidelines. I accept absolutely...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I see merit in Oireachtas approval for the disclosures recipient. Given the stature of the type of person envisaged in the legislation, one would hope his or her appointment to the role would not be a matter of controversy, but laying the matter before the Oireachtas would probably be good practice and do no harm. Regarding Deputy Sean Fleming's second amendment, I have grave reservations...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: That would be extremely useful. Sinn Féin is very pleased that this legislative work is almost complete. I thank the Minister for taking on board some of the suggestions and congratulate him and the Government - to break new ground - on introducing this legislation. All of us understand it is critically important. It is important that those who can avail of its protections understand...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I respectfully disagree with Deputy Eoghan Murphy in respect of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges because I think there is an attempt to nobble our work. I do not think it is the first attempt by Government, whoever the personality or whatever level, to do so. There has been clear discomfort in the fact that, as a committee, we have managed to call to account, in respect of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: From the very beginning there has been a very narrow read of our terms of reference. I recall that when we had a discussion with the legal services here it was conceded that it was a narrow and conservative view of what we are ordered to do. There is a broader public interest issue here because there is a clear line of connection between section 39 bodies and funding authorities that are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Private Partnerships Expenditure (17 Jun 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: 69. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the PPP unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has provided him with an updated total cost to the State per annum of PPPs in the waste water sector, transferred from the local authorities to Irish Water; if he has ordered a value for money audit of these PPPs; if he is prepared to do so; and if he will...