Results 13,121-13,140 of 21,204 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----who wants that review report, that it be given to him? Could she not also agree that the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner must hand on whatever information Tusla requires without delay?

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: And how is that relevant?

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: A Cheann Comhairle-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: A Cheann Comhairle-----

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste needs to withdraw that remark.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: And would you ask the Tánaiste to retract that statement?

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: As the Tánaiste may be aware, very serious long-standing allegations of sexual abuse by the late Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí, teacher and founder of Coláiste na bhFiann, became the subject of an internal Garda review in April 2013. The review was initiated under the watch of former Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan. The review was deemed necessary because of very serious...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do not think what I raised here seeks to create a Groundhog Day scenario or to second-guess last week's decision. The risk assessment is necessary and that was decided last week. I am merely pointing out that, from the start of that process, we have had an immediate and very sensitive difficulty in respect of the protections afforded to the whistleblower. He wrote to us. This has been...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: In part of the correspondence from Mr. Ryan in respect of his dossier, is his own legal advice from Mr. John Hennessy S.C. on the protection afforded him under the protected disclosures legislation, it is at variance with what we have been told orally by our adviser. This issue has come up at previous meetings. Has the committee done anything to reconcile those positions or get some...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The concern is that, even before carrying out the necessary risk assessment, there are not only two different views but absolutely conflicting views. Doctors differ and patients die. That is the nature of interpretation. However, the views are so radically different and the preliminary view taken will shape the nature of the risk assessment. That causes me concern. We do not want to...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Can I take it that we are going to ask for that second opinion? For the purposes of absolute certainty, no one here is doubting the good faith in which legal advice has been given to this committee. Our colleagues in the office of the parliamentary legal adviser should not take this the wrong way but we now have two contradictory views. For the purposes of carrying out our work, as...

Human Rights Budgeting: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am speaking in support of the motion and I commend Deputy Maureen O'Suilivan and the other Members who proposed it for using their Private Members' time to facilitate a debate on this important issue. Since I only have five minutes - and given that others have covered the detail so admirably - I will stick to discussing the broader issue. We need to ask more from our budgets than merely...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 91:In page 20, line 4, to delete “paragraph (a), (e) or (f) of”.This relates to the exemption of Deputies, Senators, MEPs and councillors from the requirement to obtain pre-authorisation by way of application to SIPOC if they wish to take up employment as a lobbyist within two years - the defined cooling-off period - of leaving public office. I do not think...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I disagree with the Minister. I do not think a two-year cooling off period is disproportionate, particularly since it does not represent an outright ban on taking up lobbying activities. It simply requires that the persons have clearance to do so. I know we have talked about cooling-off periods before. I think two years is appropriate. It does not represent an outright prohibition on...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 92:In page 20, line 5, to delete “one year” and substitute “two years”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 93:In page 20, line 10, to delete “one year” and substitute “two years”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have made the case. If we are arguing for open government and transparency in lobbying, we must include disclosure of not all but certainly some financial data. People need to know what has been spent by whom.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I understood it the first time.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 58: In page 10, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“(3) Compliance with the registration requirement by a charitable organisation issued with a CHY number by the Revenue Commissioners, or by an employee of such an organisation, shall not have any adverse impact on its charitable status, provided that the activities described in the returns under...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Committee Stage (25 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move amendment No. 61: In page 11, lines 7 and 8, to delete “or (if there is no such address) the address at which the person ordinarily resides”.This section sets out the need for a commercial address or principal address at which the person conducts business. I am seeking to delete the words "or (if there is no such address) the address at which the person ordinarily...