Results 581-600 of 21,383 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: All of a sudden, I am transported back to 2020. The Tánaiste spoke of a balanced programme. I have to say what is manifest and obvious: you have got the gender balance wrong. You are very male. Some of you are pale but you are very, very male. In politics in a representative democracy, we should strive to reflect and mirror the communities we represent, inasmuch as we can. I have...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank Teachta Farrell and Teachta Doherty for this nomination. Government, of course, is not about one individual but the person elected as Taoiseach, their politics, their priorities and their values undoubtedly shape the future of the country. The Taoiseach and, by extension, the Government, must lead from the front and by example, demonstrate in word and deed that the public interest...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and any attempt to railroad us will be met head on without fear or hesitation. We will stand our ground and we will always stand up for those who depend on us to fight their corner. The people of Ireland have worked hard and the State now has unprecedented wealth and resources: everything needed to build a fair and equal society. The State has never been richer but so many of our...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: Our work and our ambition for building a better, fair, equal and united Ireland has never been more important. We stick to that task with real belief, with renewed hope and refreshed determination. It is in that spirit that I accept this nomination.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not agreed. I want to raise again the issue of suspending the House for two weeks. It has been quite some time since the election. We all know that there are huge challenges facing the country and, indeed, an expectation that we all get down to work. I see no reason and no rationale for a further two-week delay. In fact, people will regard it as quite scandalous, given the...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do welcome the fact the Government has now, finally, acknowledged that there has to be a differentiation between Government and Opposition-----

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (23 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and that no TD can be in government and in opposition at the same time. I would further say that this is not a temporary arrangement for today. There has to be an explicit understanding that, procedurally and in accordance with logic and the value of democracy, that distinction is recognised and respected throughout all of our work. By the way, considerable time could have been...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: Ceann Comhairle-----

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: In order for us to fulfil our democratic mandate, there has to be respect for the Opposition benches.

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: Ceann Comhairle-----

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: Ceann Comhairle-----

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----which, remember, are elected here by hundreds of thousands of voters to hold this Government to account and express the democratic wishes and desires of those people and communities. I have seen brazen actions by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in past Dáileanna and Governments but this takes the biscuit. Rather than agreeing to temporary measures which afford these Government TDs...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is ridiculous.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Jan 2025)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is astonishing, after weeks and weeks of haggling among the parties that proposed to form Government over who would get which job, and how much they could increase the respective allowance for their record number of Ministers of State, that we find ourselves meeting on the first day of the Dáil and the first action of Government is to propose a further two-week holiday. This is...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is democracy. I respect everyone who voted in this election. I respect the choices they made on their ballot papers. My message to those who feel downhearted today is simply that it is okay to feel disappointed but they cannot and must not feel defeated. The working people of Ireland are no strangers to adversity. They know better than most that night is darkest just before the...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is rare, but the Tánaiste was actually right. Consistency did not matter, Micheál, although you have been consistent in this: of recent years you have been hell bent on putting Fine Gael back into Government. This time, you hope for another five years, to copper-fasten and lead to 19 years of Fine Gael in power. The Tánaiste is so committed to that particular goal that he...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----or indeed for anyone else, that their voices are equal, that their views are equal, that their hopes for the future are equal and that there are no second-class mandates and certainly no second-class voters.

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is no reason to believe that, having caused a housing crisis and made it worse, having sustained a crisis in health, having failed to deliver for working people, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, its junior partner, are in any position to straighten matters out. The parties that created these problems are not going to solve them. It is as simple as that. I was alarmed this morning to...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: Be aware. Be very aware that you will be judged-----

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (18 Dec 2024)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----on the big promises you made to get back into power at all costs. History tells us that campaigns are where Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael make their promises and in government is where they break them. It is a tale as old as time itself. We already have sight of what is in store should Micheál Martin and Simon Harris get this deal of theirs over the line with the manful help...