Results 1-20 of 4,427 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald in 'Dáil debates'

Order of Business (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The business for tomorrow has not yet been agreed so I suggest we take as a matter of urgent public interest tomorrow the debate on the Moriarty tribunal report. I understand the Taoiseach wishes to long-finger the matter, and I appreciate he has not the chance to read the report in full yet but outside this building, the report and its implications for the political class, not least a...

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: There was a time when the term "eurosclerosis" was in vogue, but it seems to have gone out of fashion recently. The pace with which European institutions have responded to the crisis, not just in this State, but across the Union, has been sclerotic. Having been slow to react, the nature of the reaction is not only questionable, but destructive. I will focus most of my remarks on the pact...

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Fiscal discipline. The Taoiseach stated-----

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: That was not clear. The Taoiseach referred to the strongest legal underpinning, so I wanted to clarify.

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: None the less, even to elevate the principle in that way is incredibly dangerous. If one elevates fiscal discipline and fiscal shrinkage to a point of principle, it will have immediate impacts in terms of public service provision. While there must be balance and discipline, a keen eye must also be kept on the provision of public services and citizens' quality of life. The difficulty with...

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: No one in this House - actually, I am not so sure about that - commends reckless spending.

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is a way to deal with this issue in a manner that does not cut the legs out from under services that are already struggling, yet still understand that the citizen and citizens' welfare, not economic dogma, have primary position in the State. May I finish my speech?

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Certainly, but the Taoiseach must prove there is a case for the kind of legal underpinning he suggested for so-called fiscal discipline.

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I hope I will get them.

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: For citizens, terms such as "fiscal discipline" often translate into real life as cutbacks, hardship and, as my colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn stated, struggling to meet basic household bills. The proposed strategy poses a further dilemma at EU level. How can the reputation of a financial area be made more solid by rewarding bank failure and not bank success? How can we trust the EU to...

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is a danger that European policymakers will believe their own propaganda, namely, that the pact constitutes a resolution of the euro area crisis. It is nothing of the sort. If anything, it will exacerbate matters. In fact, Merkel and Sarkozy may fan the flames of the euro crisis. For our purposes, the greater danger is that the Government and the Taoiseach will buy into the...

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not agreed to.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I want to raise an issue relating to the Order of Business. The Taoiseach came before the House on Tuesday-----

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: This relates to timing. If you do me the courtesy of allowing me to make my point I will establish how that is the case. The Taoiseach briefed the House on the Government's approach to the EU summit, which will commence this evening.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: On the question of timing-----

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Ceann Comhairle did not allow me.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is a point of order.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his outstanding generosity in allowing me to speak. The objection is the basis of the time allocation. Time must be cleared for the Government to give an account to this House of how and why a negotiating position, strategy and approach that was outlined in great detail to this House as recently as Tuesday has now completely changed.

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Not alone has the issue of burden sharing been kicked down the road-----

Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----but the interest rate is now also off the table.