Results 20,721-20,740 of 21,307 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Statutory Fund: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (22 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Question 35: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give assurances that the statutory trust fund will not be used to replicate existing services that are in place to deal with persons seeking assistance on housing, welfare, and other social issues. [25096/11]

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: It was interesting to note the contributions of the Ministers, Deputies Rabbitte and Howlin, in which they claimed this motion in support of retaining the ESB in its totality in State ownership was made on a false premise. They tell us repeatedly that there is a new paymaster in town and apparently what the troika wants, the troika gets with no questions asked. As expected, the Minister,...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not a surprise to Sinn Féin that the Fine Gael Party is happy to kowtow to the troika. It shares the IMF's view of the world and is ideologically committed to small government and every man and woman for himself or herself. Prior to the election, the Labour party committed itself to State enterprises and stated categorically it would use commercial semi-State companies as a key part...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----into the North's infrastructure during his four year tenure, delivering improved drinking water quality. Labour Party Ministers should take note that all of this was done without introducing domestic water and sewerage charges.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: If they are concerned about social welfare matters in the North, they should address their analysis to their sister party, the SDLP, which holds the relevant Ministry in the Six Counties Executive. I am pretty sure the Minister, Alex Attwood, MLA, would be more than happy to take the Minister and his younger colleagues through their paces and explain to them, because they clearly require...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: I welcome the Minister's acceptance of the tenor of Sinn Féin's motion with regard to the contribution the ESB has made to the State since its inception in 1927. The company is self-financing, has paid €4.3 billion to the State in taxes and dividends over the past ten years and is an international leader in the energy sector. That it can borrow substantial amounts on the markets to fund...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is also the issue of the levels of debt the ESB is currently carrying and the impact this will have on the State's dividend and future bargaining power in deciding on the strategic needs of the State. Following the ESB's purchase of Northern Ireland Electricity, its debt levels were pushed to €3.9 billion. On receipt of proceeds from a third party investor, the State will have to...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Extolling the virtues of the ESB and its achievements within the current ownership arrangements, as the Minister has done, is all fine and dandy, but all of that will change, and change absolutely, if the Government sells off a stake in the company. I would like to address the defence by the Minister of the Government's policy with regard to the privatisation of Telecom Éireann and the...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, spoke last night of the harsh realities facing the State. His view seems to be that it is time to knuckle down and accept our fate. The McCarthy review of State assets was widely praised for its contribution to the debate on which assets to cash in, and Sinn Féin has this evening been given a rap on the knuckles for not...

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Of course, we in Sinn Féin believe the Government should honour commitments to its people. It should use the people's money to support job creation, get young people off welfare and into education, provide enough special needs assistants and hospital beds, and support and foster successful, innovative commercial semi-states that benefit all of the people-----

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and not holders of bad bank debt.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: To tell the people that the proceeds of the sale-----

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----will be used for investment in job creation is to sell the people a pup.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Even if Government secured the agreement of the troika to do so, it would be a fraction of the sale value. Real growth through job creation and a significant write-down of bad debt is the only way forward. The EU is getting it wrong and the Government is getting it wrong. It is now time for a different path.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Even at this eleventh hour, I ask the Minister to return to the commitment he made to the people when he went before them and was duly elected. He and his colleagues promised they would oppose privatisation and that they would use semi-state companies-----

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----in a way that would serve the long-term strategic needs of this State and its people.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Now he and his colleagues are on the brink of making a colossal U-turn.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: Their decision to privatise part of the ESB is wrong-headed and short termist, and I think they know that. What they know above all, I am sure, is that the decision they have taken flies in the face of promises made.

ESB and Disposal of State Assets: Motion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: For God's sake.

Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Whip needs to do more that consider holding a debate. The emergency summit happened in July. The House was supposed to receive a report on it. I understand that the recess intervened. It is important for Deputies to have an opportunity to debate these matters in the House. There is public anxiety about developments in Greece, Italy and further afield. It is important for the House...