Results 13,881-13,900 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I note that despite the fact that the Taoiseach may have changed, the same robotic, out of touch, insensitive politics still remain in place under the new regime. The Taoiseach seems to have great faith in the bin companies and the waste operators. He tells us that he is establishing a watchdog. He accepts that there is no price regulation. Good for him. He needs to remedy that and he...

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sure every pensioner in the land is dancing.

Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have a question on the same issue.

Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: This morning the story broke in the news that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has carried out raids in conjunction with the European Competition Directorate on the offices of insurers, brokers and Insurance Ireland on suspicion of price fixing. I note and welcome this development as drivers and businesses have been ripped off for years. We recently learned that in 2015,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The decision at the weekend by the British Government to exit the London Fisheries Convention will have serious implications for the Irish fishing industry. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade tells us that he only heard about it through the media. Was no one in government forewarned about this action? The British stance is obviously part of the hard Brexit Ms Theresa May appears to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Referendum Campaigns (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach has said that the Government will hold a referendum on the eight amendment next year. Can the Taoiseach please be more specific than that? We need a reassurance that the referendum will be put to the people early next year. It would be most welcome if the Taoiseach clarified that matter in the House this afternoon. The convention did, as the Taoiseach said, deliberate on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is the Taoiseach's intention to continue the practice of chairing all of the Cabinet committees. That is interesting to know. The function of these committees is to ensure that policy is developed and implemented which reflects the Government's programme for Government. This system and the time restrictions which are simply implemented really do not afford us the latitude to question...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications (4 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: 611. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average wait times in processing domiciliary care allowance applications; if she has satisfied herself with the length of time it is taking for a decision to be made; and if she will allocate extra resources to the section in order to process the applications in a more timely manner. [31530/17]

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Government is now over a month behind in allocating special needs assistants, SNAs, to schools for the forthcoming school year. This comes hot on the heels of an overwhelming number of appeals by schools regarding their special needs allocation under the new resource model. These delays are causing serious distress in families and communities. Parents of children with special needs are...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The figures the Taoiseach sets out and the percentage of the education budget allocated for special education, resources and supports are testimony to the need within the education system. The evidence of the Government's commitment in this area is fairly scant and mixed given that, year on year, families and children are left in limbo, as I have outlined. I am very pleased to hear there...

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The living wage technical group has stated this morning that the living wage in Ireland has risen to €11.70, a rise of 20 cent, as a result of the increased cost of living facing citizens and workers. As the Taoiseach knows, the living wage is evidence-based and the rate of pay a full-time worker needs in order that he or she can experience a socially acceptable standard of living,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Academics and experts.

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is the Taoiseach gainsaying the finding of-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I take the Taoiseach's point in terms of the changing of strategy statements because what is needed is sustained focus to deliver change. What is necessary also is a strategy statement that amounts to more than aspiration and that moves beyond rhetoric. The Taoiseach mentioned a better Ireland. That is fantastic. We can all sign up for that. The issue is whether Government and the Office...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach has no answer for me.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Taoiseach for his report on the conversation with President Trump. We are all familiar with the concerns on this side of the Atlantic about many of the policies and strategies being pursued by the Trump Administration. Immigration has been mentioned and we could speak about the partisan White House approach to Israel. Climate change is also on the long list. I should also say...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. It has been tried by others, including the Labour Party, which failed miserably. Mr. Trump is not a contributor to Sinn Féin and nor has he ever been. The Taoiseach can ask him about it on his next phone call.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Following the Taoiseach's conversation, is he any more hopeful about the attitude of the Trump Administration towards the 50,000 undocumented Irish living in the USA? Has there been a follow-up call with the Trump Administration since the Taoiseach spoke with the President? I have a concern and it is important for families here and people in the United States to know whether the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: President Donald Trump might be rather alarmed to hear he was in Sinn Féin. The Taoiseach should not create a diplomatic incident as it might not be wise.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: May I correct the record of the Dáil? It relates to a matter raised by the Taoiseach.