Results 7,601-7,620 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: It may interest Ms Burke to know that they discovered they were inefficient and expensive. The experience here, in terms of many large regeneration projects, was that they were utterly unreliable and that because of that particular funding model, a lot of people in dire need of social housing were left in the lurch.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: We can debate that at a later stage. Does IBEC have an issue, in principle, around direct funding from the Exchequer for the provision of social housing? Has it considered that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: As I said, Ms Burke's submission was very interesting and bar the €385 million hole, it was very useful. Could I ask each of the contributors about equality budgeting? It is something we asked Government to consider. It has considered it and said "No". The notion is that one measures the impacts of decisions taken on the taxation and spending sides on key demographics. Very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Did either Mr. Keogan's son or daughter-in-law make observations or objections in respect of these concerts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Have they previously objected to Croke Park events?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I understand the position is that Croke Park can host three events annually under its planning permission without requiring the rigmarole of the full licensing procedure and, thereafter, it can go through the standard procedure to apply for whatever number of events. Is that the position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Confusion had arisen due to a view that it could only hold three events. The first three events are covered by a short circuited procedure and thereafter Croke Park is required to go through the standard procedure. I thank Mr. Keegan for that clarification. Notwithstanding the lunacy of selling tickets in advance of obtaining a licence, I ask to him clarify whether that is standard...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with Mr. Keegan that the prospect of holding eight events at Croke Park year on year would represent an over intensification of use of the stadium. My only conflict of interest is that I represent the vicinity in which Croke Park is located and my son is a fanatical hurler for Naomh Fionbarra in west Cabra. I am sure Mr. Keegan is aware that Cumann Lúthchleas Gael accepted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: There was no objection from any of the statutory organisations. I would have thought, in arriving at the decision, that would be a significant factor. Mr. Keegan repeatedly cited his concern for residents and their views. I appreciate that he has to take account of the views of those who live in the vicinity of the stadium but let us examine the matter more closely. There were at least 11...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: If we are to believe what we read in the media it appears that, based on a sample, An Garda Síochána reckon that up to 40% of the observations submitted were dubious or fraudulent. How does Mr. Keegan account for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: In terms of verifying objections or observations in a case like this, the sole verification procedure is to send an acknowledgement. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does Mr. Keegan consider that to be sufficient?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am not asking about resources; I am asking whether he regards it to be a sufficient verification for objections.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: It raises more than that, given that repeatedly in Mr. Keegan's submission he has pointed to the concerns of residents and the objections that he received as, arguably, the key reason for his decision. Arguably, that is what it boiled down to for him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. Keegan repeated the number several times, not only in his statement before us but also in the public domain.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: He is the person who initiated the argument around volume rather than quality. I have a big concern, and I suggest he should have similar concerns, that he does not have an adequate procedure or process to check authenticity of objections lodged. I do not deny the right of any resident to lodge an objection but given the weight he attached to the objections, surely he had a duty to ensure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: There was no such implication.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The only implication in my question is that if Mr. Keegan attaches such a level of importance to public submissions and if he is going to make decisions that have big implications for the community and this city on the basis of those submissions, he is duty bound to ensure their validity and authenticity. That is the inference of what I am saying and I hope he is crystal clear on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Concert Licensing: Dublin City Council (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: According to Mr. Keegan's script, Dublin City Council brought 11 instances to the attention of the Garda. Given the lack of a robust procedure to follow up on such submissions, not to seek fees from people, but to ensure their validity, Mr. Keogan cannot, with any level of confidence, stand over taking the decision he took on the basis of the submissions. That is my strong view, and I...