Results 6,681-6,700 of 21,149 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald
- Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I have taken the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's advice and I have spoken in general.
- Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: People have, therefore, have had enough of light sentences for these crimes and there is a real and immediate challenge. As legislators, we must respond rationally and effectively to what is a very grave deficiency within our criminal justice system and the Government must lead that response. We need to build public confidence. We need a mechanism to deliver consistency and accountability...
- Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: All of us appreciate and value the independence of the Judiciary, the separation of powers and the necessity for an independent Judiciary. The Tánaiste will notice that I have not advanced an argument in respect of mandatory sentences for that very reason. It is our job, however, to reflect truthfully the level of public disquiet that arises in high profile or other cases, particularly...
- Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: The leniency of the sentence handed down in a high profile sexual offences case earlier this week has, rightfully, disgusted and angered people. The abuser groomed a young girl, bombarding her with thousands of text messages, many of which were sexually explicit. He then sexually abused her when she was only 16 years old.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: While it might be better to raise this issue when discussing the work programme, will we deal with the issues that arose around the Eversheds memo and the legal advice received now?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Chair.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate that.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: This correspondence came to me, and not only as a Member of the Oireachtas. It was clear from the correspondence that it was intended for this committee and I have forwarded it on. It is the case that it is not our business to start delving into the individual circumstances and disputes that may have arisen between any nursing home and HIQA or any other agency. I need a bit of guidance...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely not.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Just so that we are absolutely clear, I am more than happy with that because we need to deliberate on how we advance that. I do not take from the intention of the correspondence, and it certainly was not my intention in forwarding it, to trespass in any way-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: -----on anybody's statutory independence.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Yes, absolutely.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Chairman action that now?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: And then give a broader consideration to the correspondence.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: The committee received and discussed correspondence specifically related to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, not least from my colleague, Deputy John Brady. I return to the Chairman's remark that we are "it" when it comes to regulation.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I think the term used was "regulation" but I will not quibble with the Chairman over that. While I understand the idea of benchmarking best practice and giving a bualadh bos to Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board which appears to be doing things right, I am not sure it is the most useful investment of our time because ultimately the committee is an accountability platform....
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I understand the logic. If we had infinite time, one might consider doing it but it is not a summit on ETBs.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: We have a particular function.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Members will recall that we had invited Nursing Homes Ireland to appear last week and it regrettably declined but indicated in its correspondence a willingness to appear. I thought we had agreed that we would take it up on that. I think it was on the suggestion of Deputy Catherine Connolly, if I am not mistaken, that we would write to Nursing Homes Ireland and invite it in. It required...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (26 Oct 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I support the Vice Chairman's proposal but is there a reason why the advice cannot be circulated?