Results 14,881-14,900 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: 4. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the leader of the SDLP, Mr. Colum Eastwood MLA. [11217/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: 5. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagement with representatives of civic nationalism from Northern Ireland on 27 February 2018. [11218/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: I very much agree with the Taoiseach when he says civic nationalism and civic unionism need to have a conversation and also that he would meet the group which drafted that letter from the civic unionist side of the public discourse. I think it is extremely important and very heartening that this initiative has been taken within the unionist community. I met the Secretary of State, Karen...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: We are all concerned to ensure the European Union will hold the line in there being no hard border on the island and there being full protection for the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts. The indications are that our European partners understand this. Nonetheless, nothing is finished until it is finished and nothing will be achieved, in a legal sense, until it is written in a legal...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----which Deputy Micheál Martin disavowed, but it was on the clár and voted on. I do not want to be distracted by that piece of strangeness. The Border is 300 miles long and porous.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Europeans are very clear that they want to protect the Single Market which it seems trumps all else. Therefore, t he stakes are very high for us. The British have not come forward with what they view as the backstop. I seek reassurance from the Taoiseach. I do not blame him for the inefficiency and the messing of the British system. It would be unfair to do so, but we have a...

European Council: Statements (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to share time with Deputy Cullinane.

European Council: Statements (21 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: Since the Brexit referendum, Sinn Féin has argued consistently and vigorously for the North to be given a special status designation within the European Union. This is the only way to avoid the imposition of a hard border on this island and to ensure that our all-island economy and our peace agreements are protected. Special status means the North staying in the customs union and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (22 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: 42. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Office of Emergency Planning has carried out an examination of the potential for a rapid response unit to be deployed when necessary to co-ordinate offers of help and assistance to those experiencing hardship following a severe weather event as per the Programme for Partnership Government. [13244/18]

Death of former Ceann Comhairle: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes.

Death of former Ceann Comhairle: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Sinn Féin, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann agus cairde an iar-Cheann Comhairle, Seán Ó Treasaigh, a fuair bás ag an deireadh seachtaine. On my own behalf and on behalf of Sinn Féin, I extend sincere and heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends and, indeed, Labour Party colleagues of the former Ceann...

Leaders' Questions (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: In the past hour, we heard of the Government's decision to expel a Russian diplomat because of the nerve agent attack in England. I absolutely agree with the Tánaiste's statement that the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable. He is correct in that. I also fully understand the need to protect what is called national security, which is also correct. The...

Leaders' Questions (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: I suggest to the Taoiseach that it is not sufficient that he selectively brief his colleagues in Fianna Fáil on such a major development. This story, the abhorrence of anybody using chemical weapons in any circumstances, and not least the attack itself have caused unease and disquiet. I do not think that anybody would argue but that the State and Government have to take action where...

Order of Business (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will be brief. I am assuming that the Tánaiste misspoke on this matter. I would like the Taoiseach to confirm that. If not, how on earth does the Government propose to insert into legislation something which clearly contravenes the Constitution? I would also like to know when the legislative package or the heads of Bill that the Government is considering today will be published and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Papal Visit (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: 2. To ask the Taoiseach if his Department is involved in the planning for the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in August 2018. [12935/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Papal Visit (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: Far be it from me to interfere in the business of the Holy See and Pope Francis, and the point is well made that the separation of church and state is an essential part of any functioning, open and healthy democracy. In the remarks I will make, I do not intend to, and I hope I do not, blur that division. I want to raise, however, a point that has been made to me very strongly north of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Papal Visit (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: What about the visit to the North?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: 12. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent engagement with the President of the European Council, Mr. Donald Tusk, on 8 March 2018. [13850/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: I would be interested to hear the Taoiseach's answer to the previous questions. I wish to raise with the Taoiseach in as friendly a manner as I can, given apparently that is the ordre du jour, his remarks in respect of the withdrawal agreement at the European Council meeting last week. The Taoiseach stated - he may correct me if I am wrong - that he would rather have the right deal in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Mar 2018)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----in its failure to produce anything credible, workable and in legal text. The Disneyworld stuff around technological solutions has been dismissed at a European level, has been dismissed within the Dáil and is worthy of dismissal again, but it is a grave mistake to create an impression that we are fine about further delays until October. I actually agree with the Tánaiste.