Results 861-880 of 21,404 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: When the Minister introduced this increase in pension age entitlement it was a cutback, or a savings measure. It would be disingenuous, therefore, to paint it as some type of affirmation for active aging. Comment was made on the enabling clause. I share the reluctance to give to the Minister those kinds of powers. I note also that the enabling clause, if I understand it correctly, applies...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Broadly speaking that is the case and it is not a desirable position. The Minister has repeatedly said he cannot touch the existing schemes. In the House he indicated this was because he would consider it to be unfair. He also hinted there may be legal issues concerning notions of legitimate expectation and so on. I would like to hear something more concrete from the Minister. If it is...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The term "pension levy" is unhelpful and misleading. It is extremely irritating for people who are being taxed in a particular way to have their contribution dressed up as a pension levy. The Minister has indicated, to the trade unions and in this House on two occasions, that he perceives the levy to be a temporary measure.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. However, if the Minister is going to inform the teachers' unions and, by extension, their membership, that this is a temporary measure, he must provide a timeline indicating when the pension levy will be lifted.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister has said on a number of occasions that he cannot provide an indication, but it is he who described the pension levy as a temporary measure. There is a need for him to address this matter. The suspicion is that the pension levy is precisely the same as the health levy in that it endures.

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to raise an issue which specifically relates to women in the civil and public service. Has the Bill been gender proofed? I raise this matter because many women and some men have what might be deemed to be disjointed careers. In other words, they might take time off from work to care for children or elderly relatives or for some similar reason. As a result of, their period of...

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Pensions in the public sector account for 13.9% of the total pay and pensions bill. As everyone is aware, the overall bill has increased by 66% since 2006. This figure does not take account of all those who will retire before the end of February 2012. The major problem in this regard relates to the existing pension regime and the fact that the Government still believes it is acceptable to...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yesterday, the Taoiseach ducked and dived as he tried to explain away the Government's inaction in respect of the 950 job losses at Aviva. Following yesterday's briefing, workers at Aviva are still in the dark and fearful for their jobs. It is not clear whether the redundancies will be voluntary or compulsory. The Government has done a great deal of talking about jobs but the only action...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Perhaps the Tánaiste can enlighten the House on why the Government has not directly intervened with Aviva management. Why has it not moved to secure these jobs? Does it intend simply to let 1,000 jobs, and possibly more, haemorrhage from this economy with no Government response or action?

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is all very laudable.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Government's response to the loss of jobs at TalkTalk and Aviva has been milk and water, to say the least.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: It strikes me that if the Government is not in a position to protect existing jobs, its capacity to create new work has to be questioned. The Tánaiste correctly said the workers have been treated despicably by management. I am glad he acknowledged that. Their union, Unite, has made it clear that the workforce is willing to consider any other cost-cutting plans. In other words, the...

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: A passive engagement from the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and others with management is not enough and neither is tea and sympathy for workers.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I want the Tánaiste to tell the House what precisely he, as Minister with responsibility for trade and investment, and his Government colleagues will do in the next 24 to 48 hours to ensure these jobs are not lost.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: What does that mean?

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is that the Tánaiste's message to the Aviva workers?

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am not being smart. I am very angry about this.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely.

Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: How can these jobs be saved?

Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Government has made much of the fast-tracking of legislative items to meet the demands of the troika. Will it afford the same priority to the protection of workers' rights? Specifically, when will it bring before the Dáil the industrial relations (amendment) Bill and the temporary agency workers Bill?