Results 20,261-20,280 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: If the Government backbenchers cannot listen to a sensible debate they might want to go outside and play with their Lego sets.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: In the North of this country my colleagues are arguing for the devolution of fiscal powers so the people of the Six Counties can make their own tax and spending decisions.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: As it stands, the Assembly is at the mercy of a block grant, which the Tory Government cuts at will.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: Services are constantly under threat in the Six Counties, while Ministers do all they can to protect them. Therefore, the Administration is faced with hard choices. Members have much to say in this Chamber about Sinn Féin in the North. Sinn Féin has protected the most vulnerable, those on low incomes and at risk of poverty.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: There are no prescription or water charges. A social solidarity fund has been established and the wages of lower paid public servants have been protected.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: It has made fair choices. The Minister could take a leaf out of its book. He says he has no choices, but he does. The European Union and the IMF want us to repay our debts, but they are willing to negotiate on the measures to be taken. The Minister said this, when it suited him, and they stated it, too.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Government chooses to follow a memorandum of understanding reached by Fianna Fáil. The Minister chooses to inflict the same level and types of cuts.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: Why does he protect the status quo? It seems from the carry-on of his party to date that his priority is more about elevating his own position of power than worrying about the little people on whose backs it climbed to get to power. The Minister says his budgetary measures are necessary, but what alternatives did he pursue? Tomorrow the Minister for Finance will set out the Government's...
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: We concentrated on taxes over spending cuts. Deficit reduction is necessary. How it is done is at the discretion of the Government. Did any Minister even once argue at the Cabinet that this balance was wrong? Is the Minister telling us the Labour Party which last year advocated a third tax rate of 48% and adopting a 50:50 approach on taxes and spending cuts now believes a higher ratio of...
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: Bhà gá le treoir dearfach ón Rialtas inniu. Ba chóir fáil ré leis an sean-pholaitÃocht, an pholaitÃocht a theip. Bhà gá le fÃs nua do mhuintir na hÃireann. Bhà gá le céim chun tosaigh, ach nà mar sin atá sé. Tá a rogha déanta ag Páirtà an Lucht Oibre agus is ionann iad agus an Rialtas a scrios eacnamaÃocht na tÃre seo.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: This should have been the day when real leadership was shown, when the failed policies of the past were left behind and the people could see, at last, a fair way forward. Today the Labour Party has made its choices and shown its hand. They are all the same after all. No one in the Dáil struggles on â¬200 a week, has sleepless nights and the feeling of dread in the pit of his or her...
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: The people know how hard it is. They make tough decisions every day.
- Statements on Expenditure (5 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister has shown he cannot take tough decisions. He will not lead from the front and cut from the top. This is a bad day's work. Shame on the Minister.
- Written Answers — Prison Visiting Committees: Prison Visiting Committees (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: Question 33: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he will publish new legislation covering prison visiting committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37926/11]
- Written Answers — Prisoner Releases: Prisoner Releases (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: Question 41: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who were rearrested within three months of release, six months of release and one year of release. [37925/11]
- Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: No, it is not agreed. I oppose the guillotining of the debate on extending the bank guarantee and request more time is devoted to it. I have no doubt the Tánaiste's colleagues in the Labour Party, particularly the newer Members, will need a lot of time to explain their support for this extension.
- Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: Given their very vocal commentary on the guarantee over the past three years, it is not acceptable to Sinn Féin to allocate such a short time to such a crucial debate on such a central matter which has been historically of concern to the Labour Party. More time should be extended.
- Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: I also object to these arrangements. Two hours is completely inadequate to debate in any serious way the statement that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will make to the House on Monday.
- Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: It also begs the question as to whether, when the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, gets to his feet on Tuesday, there will be a similar arrangement. It strikes me that this is a manoeuvre to shut down debate on the budgetary proposals. Far from being-----
- Order of Business (1 Dec 2011)
Mary Lou McDonald: The debate happens here, as the Minister, Deputy Howlin, well knows. It strikes me that far from being a Government committed to transparency and offering up the full facts, it is pulling a sly one to try to break up the budget and shut the debate down in this House. That is a disgraceful manoeuvre on the Government's part.