Results 14,921-14,940 of 21,498 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald
- Other Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It met in January and the Taoiseach proposes that it will meet again in March. That does not suggest any great sense of urgency on the part of the Cabinet in respect of this issue. According to the Central Bank's figures more than 140,000 families are in arrears but those figures do not include buy-to-let properties. It seems to me the Government has made no real impact on reducing the...
- Other Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: This does not add up to a confident scenario. Why is this Cabinet committee not meeting until March? Is there not an argument for more regular meetings? What is being done to add a new dynamic and urgency to dealing with this issue? The Taoiseach has said time out of number, both here and elsewhere, that this is one of the great crises facing our people. If this is one of the great crises...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach knows full well that I was not questioning the independence of any member of the Judiciary, much less this judge, whoever she or he may be. Is he establishing this inquiry under the 2004 legislation?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: We have clarity on that. The Taoiseach is entrusting the setting of the terms of reference for this inquiry - it is an inquiry, not a review - to the Minister for Justice and Equality. Can the Taoiseach see how there is a difficulty not only for Members of the Dáil but for members of the public with that approach? The Minister, Deputy Shatter, has been deliberately evasive and has...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It is important that the Taoiseach clarifies and is specific on these matters this evening. I take from Taoiseach's remarks that he and his Government colleagues will be supporting the Sinn Féin motion when it comes before the House for debate this evening and for a vote tomorrow evening.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Was the Taoiseach listening to him?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: We have it. We know.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Will they call witnesses?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Can the judge call witnesses? Can the judge compel witnesses?
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The judge cannot call witnesses.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: So it is not an inquiry.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It is evident from the Taoiseach's stance that he has been brought to the position of commissioning an independent inquiry very reluctantly. It is also a matter of fact that we have clear cut information on the matter and it is on the record that the Minister was less than forthcoming in his account to the Dáil. His account of matters did not tally with the document he received from...
- Order of Business (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste did not answer the question. When will the co-ordination group report to Government?
- Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely not.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It did not tally with what the Minister had to say.
- Order of Business (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: All of us looked with horror at the storms, not least yesterday. Over 200,000 homes are still without electricity. As we know the cost of the damage will run into tens of millions of euro. I wish to ask the Tánaiste about the national co-ordination group. I understand it is meeting this morning to assess the damage. When will the committee report to Government? When will the...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Following the evidence of the chairman of GSOC to the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions yesterday it has become evident that the Government has sought to mislead citizens about the bugging controversy. Let us be clear. To avoid surveillance, members of a Government oversight agency were forced to meet in cafés rather than hold meetings in their offices and to...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste is passing the buck, which is not all that surprising. Yesterday, it took a considerable period to have the Taoiseach admit that he had misquoted the Garda Síochána Act 2005. His first reaction when all of this came to public attention was to point the finger at the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and apportion blame there. That is what the...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: It appears to me now that is the style of this Government. The Government has now placed a question mark over its ability to oversee impartial, accountable policing in this State. This is the gravest disservice which the Government can do to An Garda Síochána. Can the Tánaiste confirm that no agency of this State was authorised to put GSOC under surveillance? Can he...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)
Mary Lou McDonald: Thank you.