Results 20,221-20,240 of 21,307 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Sale of State Assets (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reconsider the Programme for Government commitment to sell off commercial State assets taking into consideration that neither the IMF nor the EU have demanded the budgetary measure nor does the Memorandum of Understanding explicitly call for the privatisation of State assets. [35357/11]

Sale of State Assets (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is a great pity. We have debated this matter before and I believe the Minister is making a great mistake and that his thinking is short term. Should the Government proceed in these matters it will amount to a fire sale of valuable strategic assets. I am consistently baffled that the Minister describes the disposal of a 10% share of the ESB as playing with a non-strategic asset. The...

Departmental Agencies (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for confirming in the previous answer that the decision on the ESB, whatever the percentage, was that of the Government alone and not the troika. I have read the Minister's report. Is the Minister seeking to introduce a cutback in terms of fees for board members for these State agencies?

Departmental Agencies (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. The Minister makes a general argument about increased efficiencies and cost savings but he has not detailed these anywhere. I refer, for instance, to one of the decisions made, that is, the case of the Ombudsman for Children. I wonder at the wisdom of this given how central, sensitive and successful the office has been. Is it wise to amalgamate even back office functions with another...

Departmental Agencies (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with the Minister's last points. Did he consult with the Ombudsman for children in respect of the amalgamation?

Departmental Agencies (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Did the Department?

Departmental Agencies (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Only limited consultation with the actual agencies took place.

Departmental Agencies (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does the Minister not think that is a flaw? The Minister is standing over this report. He has provided a list of amalgamations and so on. No rationale is provided in the report. I am concerned that the Minister does not have, in his headed paper, an analysis and confirmation that a minimum of consultation happened with the agencies in question. I am surprised he would stand over the report...

Ministerial Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for his reply. He indicated that in "a small number of cases" he has sanctioned appointments at above the appropriate point on the pay scale. Can he provide specific figures in this regard and indicate in respect of which Ministries these sanctions were granted?

Ministerial Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is fine.

Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for that answer. I am glad that engagement is under way. He is probably aware that we launched our pre-budget submission this week. Broadband infrastructure is a very obvious absence from the Government's capital expenditure programme. For the purposes of developing broadband and wind energy infrastructure, and as part of our capacity to provide stimulus for jobs, we...

Constitutional Amendments (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does this mean that the constitutional convention is a matter for the Taoiseach and not for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform?

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of the current Secretaries General who will benefit from added years and special severance payments on retirement. [35177/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 45: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the private rental properties leased by him; the location of each property; the annual value of each lease; if each lease is subject to an upward only rent clause and the name of the landlord in tabular form. [35251/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 46: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of former Secretaries General in receipt of public sector pensions whilst currently employed in a public body and/or State agency. [35787/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 49: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the private rental properties leased by him; the location of each property; the annual value of each lease; if each lease is subject to an upward only rent clause and the name of the landlord in tabular form. [35250/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 83: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the private rental properties leased by him; the location of each property; the annual value of each lease; if each lease is subject to an upward only rent clause and the name of the landlord in tabular form. [35248/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 94: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of former Secretaries General in receipt of public sector pensions while currently employed in a public body or State agency or both. [35784/11]

Written Answers — Budgetary Measures: Budgetary Measures (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 105: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the policy measures he intends to put in place in tandem with the Department of Finance to tackle the competing budget components of significant expenditure cuts and the continuing decline in tax revenues arising from the current and previous Government's austerity programmes. [35358/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 Nov 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 107: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the private rental properties leased by him; the location of each property; the annual value of each lease; if each lease is subject to an upward only rent clause and the name of the landlord in tabular form. [35255/11]