Results 6,981-7,000 of 21,149 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: And then broke it.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Yes, but the Taoiseach appointed those people to this unit.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: And if they were in London?
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Given that there would be no change of policy or direction from this Government on the Taoiseach's watch, it was probably inevitable that he would dedicate his efforts instead to a change of tack in terms of spin, presentation, the look of the thing and how it sounds to the public. From the Taoiseach's response I have no sense as to the relationship between this strategic communications...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I am struck by the almost laissez-faireapproach of the Taoiseach and Government in the area of health. Did I hear correctly we were given a date for the last meeting but no date for the next? The number of people on hospital waiting lists in August increased for the month by 3,500 so we now have almost half a million people awaiting outpatient treatment. The Minister for Health tried to...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: In May the Supreme Court ruled that the absolute prohibition on asylum seekers pursuing employment, as provided for in section 9(4) of the Refugee Act 1996, is unconstitutional and the Government has until 30 November to respond to the court-imposed deadline. In addition, last week retired judge Mr. Brian MacMahon, who produced a Government report on direct provision two years ago, urged the...
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: AIB is carrying losses of €3 billion. Calculated out over 20 years, that is €150 million in tax forgone at a time when we desperately need more revenue. The reason the banks have this arrangement is that a Fine Gael Government decided to allow them to carry 100% of their losses and to write it off in that way. While that is the technicality of it, what matters here is the...
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Can the Taoiseach respond and give us the figures for the Bank of Ireland please? How much are we forgoing for it?
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: We would actually answer questions.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I wonder if the Taoiseach could answer my question.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: It is certainly not. He clearly needs a bit more practice.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: To reassure the Taoiseach, our pre-budget submission also balances the books.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: But it makes different choices and those choices are about supporting communities and families and building public services. The Taoiseach's set of choices is very different to that. I asked him about tax forgone or lost this year and over the coming years and he did not answer that question. I will try something novel here. I will answer the question for the Taoiseach if that is of assistance.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Yesterday, the Taoiseach told us that his primary aim in budget 2018 is to balance the books. He expressed this as a priority - indeed almost as a virtue - in response to my question about the need to provide real investment in order to slash the crippling cost of child care in the State. Meanwhile, at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: That is not in the scope of the work. It is the north-west inner city.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: At last.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: Does the Taoiseach know what the housing list looks like?
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Communications (26 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I am sure Deputy Varadkar's election as leader of his party and subsequently as Taoiseach attracted very considerable interest in India and, I do not doubt, a very considerable and justifiable pride. Our two countries have a long tradition of friendship and engagement that goes back for generations, as we know, including during the efforts of India to secure its independence from Britain....
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)
Mary Lou McDonald: I acknowledge that the appointment of Michael Stone to chair and to lead the implementation board is very welcome. I have met with Mr. Stone and have formed the view that he is very much in the business of getting things done, which he will have to be. Notwithstanding the work done by Kieran Mulvey, which I also acknowledge, the report essentially amounts to a listing of a number of...