Results 9,981-10,000 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is what the legislation does.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: No, but it amends the FEMPI Act 2013 and extends for two years-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----the suspension of the operation of incremental payscales in respect of any public servant-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----not encompassed by the registered collective agreement. That is what it does.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 10:In page 9, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"(7) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this section shall provide for decreases in the pensions related deduction of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas or Ministers of the Government".

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 16:"(8) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this section shall provide for a reduction in Public Service Pension Reduction of former members of the Houses of the Oireachtas or Ministers of the Government.".

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 18:In page 13, lines 31 and 32, to delete “in a collective agreement” and substitute “in collective agreements”. These amendments are to take account of the separate sectoral agreements which exist in the public service and not to reduce it down to simply one collective agreement.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 19:In page 13, line 33, after “2013” to insert “or in a sectoral agreement”.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: General Scheme of a Public Sector Standards Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sorry I was not present to hear the initial contribution but I was attending another meeting. I presume the legislation in the US in respect of whistleblowers would penalise vexatious or malicious endeavours, just as it does here. If not, it would be a recipe for bounty hunting. The advice to look to international best practice is very good and we should follow it. In many instances,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: General Scheme of a Public Sector Standards Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to put a question to Dr. Byrne. I do not wish to create the impression that I am offering size as an excuse.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: General Scheme of a Public Sector Standards Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: The issue of connectedness is a problem in the Irish system. Judge Alan Mahon recognised it, the dogs on the street know it, the old school tie, where one lives and with whom one associates, the issue of conflicts of interest - not least in recent controversies - is writ large, and there is the use of insider information, which term I use softly not necessarily in its commercial sense. How...

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Across the country, thousands of families are living in fear of losing their homes. These are hard-working families, who bought average family homes and are now being dragged through the courts by their lenders. These are the very same banks that were bailed out by the taxpayer. Last year, 7,100 families had court proceedings lodged against them. Over the past nine months of this year,...

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: It has been successful in that endeavour. The figures speak for themselves. Before this Act became law, banks lodged between 50 and 100 court actions every month. After the Act became law, the number exploded to between 500 and 1,000 per month. That is a tenfold increase. The Tánaiste opened the floodgates, then she sat back and, once again, let the banks call the shots. As a...

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I hope the Tánaiste is not trying to shift the blame and suggest that it is non-engagement by families that is causing this difficulty. I set out clearly for her the consequences of the legislation, the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013, that she championed and brought through this House. The figures demonstrate the consequences of those actions. The Tánaiste is...

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: The banks I asked the Tánaiste about regard, for instance, voluntary surrender or eviction - the euphemism is "repossession" - as sustainable solutions for families in mortgage distress. In what framework could anybody understand voluntary surrender or eviction to be sustainable solutions for any family? We are faced already with a chronic housing and homelessness crisis right across...

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is about writing off large portions of unsustainable mortgage debt.

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: If the banks continue blatantly and brazenly to refuse to go down that line, we will see not only thousands more court actions lodged-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----but a tsunami disaster for families across the State and many other families evicted and rendered homeless. Aside from the tea and sympathy, will the Tánaiste tell me when she will put the reins on the banks?

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: When will the Tánaiste intervene? When will she ensure that these families have some form of recovery and some form of certainty in the form of a roof over their heads?

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Legislate for it.