Results 11,081-11,100 of 21,157 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Grades (19 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: 91. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he has in place to improve the representation of women in higher civil service grades above assistant principal officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/15]

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: On the positive side of the ledger, it should be acknowledged there is a level of pay relief for low and middle-income public and civil servants. While modest, it is welcome. As I said earlier, it is not going to lead to a life of luxury or excess for any of those individuals concerned. When faced with that proposition, I understand why individual workers and their unions backed the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: No. Income over €110,000 in three stages will be fully restored. That is what the law states.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: That will come as a surprise to many.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 11:In page 14, line 6, after "2013" to insert "or in a sectoral agreement".

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for his clarification on the sectoral arrangements. I do not doubt that dealing with such a body of workers is complicated by definition. I raised the issue in relation to section 4 for the following reason. I acknowledge the Minister and his predecessor negotiated with trade unions but it was always on the understanding, or the threat, that agreement would be reached-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I stand corrected. The Minister is right. I apologise for that misrepresentation of his predecessor. In any event, in the Minister's case, it was a matter of negotiating on the absolute understanding that in the absence of agreement, he would legislate. There are echoes of this in section 4. Can the Minister confirm that in amending the 2013 FEMPI legislation, he is providing for an...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 10:In page 14, lines 4 and 5, to delete “in a collective agreement” and substitute “in collective agreements”. Members had a brief exchange on this matter on Committee Stage and I seek reassurance that this legislation will not render null and void other agreements outside of the Lansdowne Road agreement. There was some discussion on Committee...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is the Acting Chairman asking me if I am pressing the amendment?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am pressing the amendment.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 3:In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“(5) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this section shall provide for increases in the salaries of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas or Ministers of the Government.”.”.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 4:In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“(5) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this section shall provide for increases in the salaries of public servants in receipt of salaries in excess of €100,000 before the coming into effect of this section.”.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 5:In page 9, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:“(7) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this section shall provide for decreases in the pensions related deduction of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas or Ministers of the Government.”.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 6:In page 12, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“(8) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing in this section shall provide for a reduction in Public Service Pension Reduction of former members of the Houses of the Oireachtas or Ministers of the Government.”.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: There has been a difference of view about whether or not there is an emergency. I am in no doubt there is still an emergency and it is felt in households across the land. They are in no doubt that it is still an emergency to get the rent together, pay the mortgage, put a coat on the child’s back or get schoolbooks. That is the stuff of emergency. In that light, the intention of the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: They are both in the legislation.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thought I had set out my position very clearly, but I will rehearse it for the Minister because clearly he has misunderstood what I am saying. I am taking him on his word about the orderly unwinding of the FEMPI legislation. It was all about those earning under €65,000. He is on record countless times as saying this is what it is all about. The legislation is introduced and we...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: The argument I have consistently made which the Minister might hear if he unblocked his ears is that this legislation and his efforts ought to be about restoring income for those under the €65,000 threshold. From talking to people who work in the Civil Service and the public service and some of their unions, I know that this is what they understood this was about initially. That is...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I may be, but I will finish what I want to say.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Report Stage (18 Nov 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 2:In page 6, to delete lines 3 to 29. I am conscious today's debate might be a re-run of the discussion and debate we had at committee.