Results 1,901-1,920 of 21,426 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Private Members' Business. Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in Case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: As we heard in the course of this debate last evening, there exists strongly and sincerely held views on this issue in all parties in the Dáil, including my own, and among the Irish people. I commend everyone who has participated in the debate on the manner in which the debate has been conducted. While people may hold their own personal views, values and beliefs, we were elected as...

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 11: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on his Department's student projections that show student numbers at second level will rise significantly from today's total of 325,000 to around 383,000 by 2025, an increase of 58,000 or 18%; and his views that this will necessitate the employment of 3,000 additional teachers to at least maintain the current pupil teacher...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (19 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 60: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on figures released recently by the Teachers' Union of Ireland that show an 18% increase in student numbers between 2008 and 2011 in institutes of technology at a time when lecturing staff numbers have decreased by 6.7% over the same period with a further cut of 2% demanded for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the...

Public Sector Allowances (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 108: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has brought to Cabinet the findings of his Department's review of allowances and premium payments paid to public sector workers; and if he intends to make public these findings. [20540/12]

Public Sector Allowances (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is clear that the Minister does not believe allowances and premium payments fall under the definition of "pay" for the purposes of the Croke Park agreement. He will be aware that the public service unions take a different view. The teachers' unions - the TUI and the ASTI - and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have been quite trenchant in their defence of these payments as part...

Public Sector Allowances (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister referred to the additional payment of €17,000 that is made to "super-juniors". We have debated that matter. I repeat that I find it extraordinary that the Minister is standing over that payment-----

Public Sector Allowances (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----at a time when he is reviewing premium payments for other workers who are on far lower wages than the Ministers of State concerned. I find the Minister's answer unsatisfactory. On the question of whether the allowances and premia are part of core pay, he stated "Yes" and "No". On the question of whether new entrants alone will be affected, he stated "Yes" and "No". The Minister...

Public Sector Allowances (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It should be undertaken in a coherent way.

Public Service Increments (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider taking responsibility for the collation of cross departmental data on increments paid across the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/12]

Public Service Increments (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I tabled this question because the issue of increments has given rise to considerable public comment. In previous exchanges we established that cuts to or stoppage of increments would disproportionately affect people on lower incomes. I raise the issue not because I want the Minister to cut increments, but due to my astonishment at discovering that his Department does not possess the kind...

Public Service Increments (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister mentioned the issue of data on expenditure on local authority pay. It is astonishing that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government does not have that information. It is mind boggling particularly given that the Government has correctly placed such an emphasis on scrutinising expenditure. However, the Government cannot do that if there are big gaps in...

Public Service Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I could not let what the Minister said go. He struck almost a smug note when he said there were concerns about the large exodus from the public sector and its consequences. He has acknowledged the good work of public servants, which is correct, but could he also acknowledge the fact that public services are under significant pressure? It would be entirely misleading for us to have a false...

Public Service Staff (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----implying that the exodus had no consequences in terms of service provision. I ask the Minister at least to acknowledge that.

Semi-State Bodies (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The question was specifically related to State agencies, not commercial ones. I am working on the supposition that premium payments and allowances made to State agencies' CEOs are under review. Can the Minister tell us the total bill to the Exchequer in respect of payments to CEOs of State agencies? I am not referring to commercial bodies. Will the pay ceiling apply to the CEO of the new...

Sale of State Assets (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I share Deputy Fleming's concern about the fixed timing of the sale and the potential of it being a fire sale. The majority of people do not want to see a selling off of the family silver. I understand that the Labour Party had its party conference in the past week or so and that the party took a fairly trenchant view with regard to the sale of State assets and was against that. Has that...

Written Answers — Civil Service Management: Civil Service Management (24 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 309: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider the establishment of a head of the civil service. [20536/12]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (25 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 11: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans in response to the finding of the report, Person or Number?, that habitual residence conditions continues to fail to be applied fairly. [20599/12]

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Today, the troika completes its sixth review of the so-called bailout programme. I have no doubt that the Government will tell us that the main targets have been met and that the troika is satisfied with progress as we approach the programme's half-way point. No doubt the Government will tell us that all is well and rosy in the garden.

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: What progress are we really making? Yesterday, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, told the finance committee that growth projections will be revised downwards yet again. Little wonder, given the wrecking ball that the Government has taken to the domestic economy. The total number of people on the dole queue is 434,800, 14.3% of the workforce, and 100,000 households are in mortgage...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Perhaps the Tánaiste can tell the House whether the Government has discussed the prospect of a second bailout with the troika. Maybe he can also tell us whether it has discussed the issue of a stimulus. It has mentioned how jobs are the way out of poverty, which we accept, but if this is the case, why has the Government turned its face against stimulus?