Results 8,821-8,840 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I join, I hope, everyone else in the Chamber today-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I join, I hope, everyone else in the Chamber today in sending out a strong message of support to the striking Dunnes Stores workers. I salute them in the action they have taken. At the centre of this dispute is the gross abuse of 15-hour contracts by Dunnes Stores management. I spoke to one woman whose story is very typical of her co-workers. Mary has worked in Dunnes Stores for 13...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why have these two crucial pieces of legislation to protect working people like Mary not been introduced? Has the Tánaiste raised these urgent matters with the Taoiseach? Why amidst her condemnation and words of support does she tell us in her next breath that we have to wait again for these two pieces of legislation? This is an emergency matter. The Tánaiste described the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sure people will be interested to know that the Tánaiste worked in Dunnes Stores once upon a time.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Exactly, but that is of little comfort or consequence to people who find themselves in the circumstances here and now.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: They cannot plan with any certainty their level of income from one week to the next. They are only one example of working people living in poverty. This is not by any means unique to Dunnes Stores; we are all aware of that. The Tánaiste urges the Dunnes Stores management and the proprietor to engage with the industrial relations machinery. The Tánaiste refers back to the 1996...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why not bring it in?

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why not bring it in as an emergency matter?

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: We all know that when it comes to other matters this institution can sit late into the small hours. Why not on this matter? Why not give the striking workers the certainty of knowing that the law will protect them, that Dunnes Stores can no longer act with impunity and can no longer snub its nose at workers like Mary, and her family, who, as I have told the Tánaiste, struggle from week...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does the Tánaiste understand the collective bargaining rights enjoyed in the North?

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does the Tánaiste wish to comment on that, not that it is of any use to the Dunnes Stores workers?

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Of course, we will. That is stupid.

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is still a voluntarist system.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not agreed. These matters, which were presented by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, came before a committee yesterday. One is of particular concern and relates to the refugee applications commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. This matter requires further discussion, consideration and debate. I do not think it should be rushed through in this...

Order of Business (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will have five minutes.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: As we rise for the Easter break, I want to return to the water services Bill or legislation which will allow the Government to deduct - essentially to pickpocket - water charges from wages, social welfare payments and pensions. When might we see it? The Minister, Deputy Kelly, has clearly signposted it. The Tánaiste was somewhat equivocal the other day on her position, but we know she...

Order of Business (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why the delay?

Order of Business (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not going to do it. How interesting.

Freedom of Information Act 2014: Motions (2 Apr 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Like Deputy Sean Fleming I oppose both motions. However, I wish to zero in on what I believe to be the most troubling development in respect of the motions, that is, the Minister's proposal to change the effective date of FOI for the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal from April 2008 to October 2014, which is six months ago. The Minister wants to create a...