Results 15,321-15,340 of 21,206 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The fiscal advisory council did not have any private conversations or consultations with the Minister for Finance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is at official rather than ministerial level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: For the purposes of clarity, the fiscal assessment report states: Extended projections out to the end of the decade indicate that the most difficult phase of the adjustment [cutbacks] should be broadly complete in 2015/2016. Modest increases in nominal expenditure should be feasible post-2016, while meeting all domestic and European fiscal rules.The council, as a body, is satisfied that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Professor McHale is happy to put that on the record at this point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: For the lay person that is an interesting and sophisticated analysis, and I have no doubt it is very valuable, but Professor McHale cannot say that modest increases in nominal expenditure should be feasible post-2016 because as he has elucidated in his report, there are far too many uncertainties and variables. Would that be a fair comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is all down to the growth figures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Professor McHale might now refer to growth and the scenario I put to him-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is Professor McHale saying that essentially we are reliant on GDP growth to sort out the 0.5% structural target?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: As we have one minute left Professor McHale might continue on the question of growth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2013: Discussion with Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am left to wonder what is the endorsement range for the Government in respect of the advice the councils provides it. That range would seem to be pretty narrow. I wish to put five questions to our guests. I will try to get through them in the 12 minutes available. On the advice the council gave in respect of the precautionary credit line, reference was made to levels of advice offered...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 104. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the transition arrangements for the new public sector sick leave scheme to be implemented from 1 January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52291/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (5 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will immediately publish his legislation for the new public sector sick leave arrangements. [52351/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB Accounts (4 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he signed off on ESB management's decision to redesignate the company’s defined benefit pension scheme to a defined contribution scheme. [51694/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB Accounts (4 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 24. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he signed off on the ESB’s annual accounts for 2010, 2011 and 2012 [51692/13]

Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have been waiting for Report Stage of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013 for several months now. It appears the reason for the delay is the Government’s decision to piggyback legislative changes to public sector certified sick leave arrangements, due to be implemented in the new year. This matter was the subject of a Labour Court...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (3 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the supports that are available to support the return to work including covering the costs associated with respect to returning to work in the self-employed sector of persons who have been out on long-term sick leave. [51792/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (3 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 256. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the potential sources of funding from the European Investment Bank for social housing build, social housing refurbishment and social housing energy efficiency retrofitting or any related schemes; and the applications his Department has made or encouraged local authorities to make to access such funding. [51736/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (3 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 257. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions that have been held within his Department or between his Department and any local authorities or other related bodies on the subject of local authorities establishing arms-length companies operating as housing associations for the purpose of drawing down funds from the Housing Finance Agency and-or the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 309. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide medical care for women who were admitted to and worked in the relevant Magdalene Laundries but who currently reside outside the State; and if this medical care will be delivered in the country within which they reside, if not in this State. [51840/13]