Results 15,841-15,860 of 21,257 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yesterday was just like every other day for thousands of families struggling with mortgage distress. Some are facing eviction like the family in Kanturk in County Cork. There are many others who will be facing the same scenario. Yesterday was also the day that the Governor of the Central Bank, Professor Patrick Honohan, appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public...

Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: If that obnoxious, macho attitude was characteristic of the bankers and, let's face it, the system including the political system of the time, it would also be fair to say that what is characteristic of the system today is a "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" approach to mortgage distress. The Government is happy that progress is being made and the Minister stands up and gives his...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Status (26 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 52. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the development of the new National Children’s Hospital [40049/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (26 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 55. To ask the Minister for Health the additional support that will be provided to the three existing children’s hospitals pending the completion of the new hospital at the St. James' site, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/13]

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Consider a child who starts in junior infants class with a speech and language difficulty. If the difficulty is unidentified and untreated for two years, it will become a real and substantial problem for the child. Additional supports will be required for the child, which means the costs are increased. Alternatively, scarce resources are overstretched. This type of situation is happening...

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister's recent claim that a cut of €100 million would be within what he termed the outer reach of potential cuts to the education budget for next year will be of little comfort to parents and even less to their children. Regardless of whether it is €50 million or €100 million, an already overstretched and inadequately resourced education system is to be undermined...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: While I accept the need for legal underpinning, would it be more appropriate to provide for this in separate legislation? The issue of appeals has been raised. Staff in the public service have shown a willingness and ability to move and adapt. The Minister acknowledged the contribution public sector workers have made in a time of economic crisis. Many of them believe they have taken a...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Sinn Féin also supports this legislation, which is timely and straightforward. Significant redeployments have taken place across the public sector over the past three years. The Minister referred in his opening remarks to some 10,000 redeployments. Removing the remaining legislative barriers to further redeployment across the various sectors across the public sector and Civil Service...

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely. There is a thought. The Government's narrative on the reason we need enhanced mobility in the first instance and the Minister's interpretation of what a reformed public sector should look like, are at variance with the intent of this Bill. The Minister has told us time and again that a key element of his reform agenda is a reduction in the size of the public service. By 2015,...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister has been making soundings about forced job losses for teachers.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Sometimes I do not know what plane or planet the Taoiseach is on. However, I wish to ask him about something different, namely, his programme for Government's commitment to end long-term homelessness and rough sleeping. He will know that yesterday Dublin Simon Community revealed there has been an increase of 88% in the number of people forced to sleep rough. Will the Taoiseach set out for...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Which Minister?

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Taoiseach intervene with the teachers?

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Taoiseach intervene, therefore?

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: So the Taoiseach will not intervene. He could have said that at the outset.

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That happened after the rejection of the Croke Park agreement. The Government intervened then.

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach is washing his hands of the matter, which is interesting although not surprising.

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Parents of secondary school students are very concerned following the ASTI's rejection of the Haddington Road agreement and the very real possibility of industrial action commencing on 2 October. I do not know about the Taoiseach but I do not believe for a second that any teacher wants to strike or to engage in industrial action. Teachers want to teach and deliver the best education to...

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Government address the concerns of parents? Will the Taoiseach intervene to ensure this crisis is resolved?

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Taoiseach intervene to ensure there is no industrial action on 2 October? Will he ask his colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, to desist from his threats and suggest to him that it might be better to adopt a more reasonable and constructive approach?