Results 13,301-13,320 of 21,204 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have three matters to raise. First, I notice the symphysiotomy redress scheme has been announced today. Will time be made available for a discussion of this in the Dáil? Second, can I have an update on the terms of reference for the commission of inquiry into the mother and baby homes? Is the Tánaiste in a position at this stage to give even an indicative date for the...

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste's job is to go back to the drawing board. Let us reopen the debate around how we fund infrastructure.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is her job to back off from those families and slagging me or anybody else is a pathetic attempt to divert attention that is fooling absolutely nobody.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is the real world. If she has any sense of what the real world looks like she will abolish those charges.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The people I represent cannot pay.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is not enough. It does not work.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: No, you are not.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is pathetic.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: On Tuesday, when the Tánaiste stated that a family of two adults and two children should pay less than €200 each year for water, Government sources immediately rubbished her figures.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Despite the positive spin from the Tánaiste and Taoiseach after this morning's meeting of the economic management council, it is clear that they have not yet resolved their issues. The Tánaiste stated again that she is satisfied with progress and more work remains to be done. The only progress report people want to hear is that the Government is abolishing domestic water charges....

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The only thing the Tánaiste is very anxious to do is to make a pretty lame attempt to distract attention from the central issue.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: To give her some constructive feedback, if she believes her comedic effort at a world tour cuts ice with people watching these proceedings, she is very much mistaken. In the real world, people do not have €200 or €100 to pay for their water. The Tánaiste is correct that I am not in that position and I do not claim to be in that position.

Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: However, I represent countless people who are in that position. They are people on small or fixed incomes, pensioners and those struggling to pay their rent or to meet their mortgage payments. There are people for whom it is a trauma to get money to buy a pair of shoes for their children. That is who I represent. They have told me categorically that they do not have any money to pay for...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate the challenge and I note the consultative phase and also the Meet the Buyer event which will be held shortly. I hope to attend that event. The Minister of State referred in his response to the practice of breaking contracts into lots and making them accessible. He referred to encouraging SMEs and micro-businesses to form consortia to give them...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I hope the consultation period will be successful. A number of issues were raised within the stationery sector, including concerns to do with quality levels and the health and safety standards required in respect of stationery provided to schools, including primary schools. The sector has brought these issues to the attention of some of the Minister of State's colleagues. I ask that when...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: 7. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure full compliance with all legal obligations under labour legislation by companies awarded public procurement contracts, with respect to their use of subcontracting, in view of impending requirements under the new EU rules agreed in January 2014. [42059/14]

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: This question relates to public procurement. The Minister of State will be aware that I have taken a considerable interest in the matter. I am concerned, not least because of a number of very well publicised cases in which there has been evidence and allegations of flagrant breaches of labour law and exploitation of workers. I had cause to speak again yesterday with the workers who are in...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I welcome that consultation, which is indeed prudent. I welcome that at call-for-tender stage a company may be required to specify what part of the contract it does not intend to perform itself but intends to assign to a third party, which is significant. The company will also be required to inform the public purchaser of the names and addresses of such subcontractors, thereby providing a...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is very important - I am sure this will be reflected by those with whom the Minister of State consults - that we make the correct policy choices, and in so far as adherence to labour law and the rights of workers are concerned, they need to be watertight and robust. JJ Rhatigan and Company has approximately 50% of school building contracts at construction stage awarded by the Department...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: 8. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to increase access by indigenous small and medium enterprises to public procurement contracts, in view of the impending requirements under the new EU rules agreed in January 2014. [42056/14]