Results 16,481-16,500 of 21,260 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Order of Business (25 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will the Taoiseach confirm that the Cabinet today considered Mr. Justice Quirke's report on redress for survivors of the Magdalen laundries? When does the Government intend to publish the report? Will the Taoiseach give us an update on the Government's position on the recognition of, and provision of compensation for, the Bethany Home survivors?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Symphysiotomy Report (25 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 82. To ask the Minister for Health if he will give details of the membership of the Steering Committee on the Walsh review of symphysiotomy; the names of the members; the date on which they commenced work; their terms of reference; if they have concluded their deliberations; the moneys that have been expended by his Department to date on the production of the draft Walsh report, and the final...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (25 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 143. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Drugs Advisory Group has not met since January; if it is to be replaced by a new structure; when this new structure will be in place and fully functioning; if he will outline the terms of reference and details of this new structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30389/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (25 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 559. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a Health Service Executive recommendation of speech and language therapy for a young child (details supplied) in Dublin 7 will not be implemented for at least one year due to a waiting list for such therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30172/13]

Other Questions: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: In the Haddington Road agreement we just discussed, there is a paragraph on the use of external consultants by public bodies which states:The staff side have expressed considerable concern at what they believe to be excessive use of external consultants in the public service. The Government, for its part, shares these concerns ... The recent procurement reform programme to achieve between...

Other Questions: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: My intention is not to enter into a debate on the merits or otherwise of the use of consultants but very substantial savings are envisaged in the order of €250 million to €600 million, according to the agreement. It is also indicated in black and white that savings in consultancy contracts would be a key element of the programme, and the Minister does not contend the fact. I...

Other Questions: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: If I were to ask a parliamentary question citing a particular year, would the Minister be in a position to provide us with the figures?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with the Minister and I welcome the confirmation that there will not be any possibility of a trade-off between a larger up-front payment that might cause damage to that revenue stream for good causes. I had asked in a parliamentary question that the new formula be applied to the most recent revenue figures we have for the national lottery, although I appreciate that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is Question No. 22.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Applying that formula gives a figure that is €11 million less.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is all the more reason why the terms and conditions of the licensing arrangement must be robust. If we are to move into this new arrangement, which I continue to oppose, all the more reason for the Minister to ensure there are strong incentives to grow the business. It would be a slap in the face if we were to be down €11 million for the good causes next year. I urge the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is not a person in the country, much less in the public service, who does not understand the state of the public finances and the economic crisis, not of their making, into which we have all been plunged-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----but it does not add up to say that the only mechanism available to the Government to fix this hole in the public finances is to target members of the Civil and Pubic Service Union, including clerical workers who looked at the Haddington Road agreement and felt that, given everything they have endured in the past few years and the fact that they are very low-paid workers, an extension of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have been raising the case of the CPSU consistently.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 5. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if following the recent launch of the competitive process of the new National Lottery licence if the current level of good causes funding will be maintained. [29865/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for that answer. He has set out that under the new licensing arrangement, 65% of gross gaming revenue will be directed towards good causes. What I am trying to establish is a certainty that the level of funding for good causes will not be damaged by the new regime, which, as the Minister knows, I opposed in the course of our debates. We will not open that up again....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 2. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to impose additional reductions in pay and changes to working terms and conditions to those public sector workers who through their unions do not sign up to the Haddington Road agreement. [29864/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Haddington Road Agreement Savings (20 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for taking this question now and I apologise to the Minister and colleagues for my late arrival into the Chamber. In this question I am trying to establish, for the purposes of clarity, that the Minister intends to make operational those contingency measures, as they are called, in the emergency legislation in respect of those trade union members who do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is ideological.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of State Assets and Quarterly Review: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: For the purposes of clarity, that is an ideological position.