Results 16,561-16,580 of 21,260 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I wish to pose a number of questions which require simple "Yes" or "No" answers. We have established that Deputy McGuinness made an inquiry about his spouse travelling with him to Dubai and Canada. Did he make any subsequent request regarding his spouse accompanying on other trips?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: On trade missions or other trips.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Therefore, no in terms of trade missions and no in respect of any other travel. I thank the Deputy. Reference has been made to Deputy McGuinness' son and his working arrangements when employed by the Deputy. I think the Deputy has dealt with the issue of overtime in that regard. Have other members of the Deputy's family worked for or with him and had their salaries paid by the State?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The answer to that-----

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The purpose of this session - for the committee and those who employ its members, namely, taxpayers - is to ensure full information is obtained from Deputy McGuinness who is the Chairman of this body and a Member of the Dáil. I am concerned that we do not have any information on the London trip. I urge the Deputy to provide this information as soon as possible. With respect, I...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes, the Irish Daily Mail and the Irish Examiner too. Did I get everyone? People have referred to the credibility and standing of the committee. We have all noted the excellent job Deputy McGuinness has done as Chairman of this committee. I say this as someone who did not vote for him in the election to that position. What is really debilitating for the committee for it is to obtain...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: We do not have all day so we will try to go by the Vice Chairman's maxim on brevity. Deputy McGuinness initially gave the impression that when he made the inquiry about his wife travelling with him it was almost a casual inquiry which sparked a litany of e-mail traffic. I put it to Deputy McGuinness that on reading some of the correspondence one does not form that impression. I will quote...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I accept that.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am not questioning it. Deputy McGuinness has made it absolutely and abundantly clear. I absolutely accept that the issue of Deputy McGuinness carrying the costs was made explicitly clear and it is implicit in the documentation. I am not questioning that. I am suggesting that on reading the correspondence it strikes me that this official, at any rate, did not interpret Deputy...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Okay. Deputy McGuinness said-----

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am not gainsaying any of that.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will step us through the correspondence to keep us somewhat focused and with an eye on the clock. I put it to Deputy McGuinness that this official was an assistant secretary. Let us take that window into what occurred. It strikes me that the official did not view it simply as a casual throwaway consideration. Let us move forward to the correspondence of Deputy McGuinness. I understand...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate that and Deputy McGuinness has said as much. It was a casual request. Deputy McGuinness did not seek to coerce or pressurise any officials. That is his testimony. Let us fast forward to October. There had been a flurry of e-mails. Deputy McGuinness had sent correspondence and then he went back again, having been knocked back in respect of the trip to Dubai, and asked in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (13 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 18. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date by which he will conclude his consideration of an apology and redress for the small number of surviving men and women of Bethany Home. [28247/13]

Finance (Local Property Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am asking the Minister to repeal his lousy tax.

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Incidence (12 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister claims I am consistently disappointed. I will remain disappointed so long as Women's Aid produces reports that reflect such statistics. Not only I but many women and citizens will remain disappointed if the Minister continues to delay the introduction of consolidated domestic violence legislation. Will the Minister take the opportunity today to give a date for the introduction...

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Incidence (12 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is no capacity. The current services cannot cope.

Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence Incidence (12 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The facts revealed once again in today's Women's Aid annual report are shocking. They are not just shocking; they are depressing, because annually Women's Aid and other organisations release statistics which lay bare the reality of domestic violence in this State and the brutality that women and their children experience in their homes. We know that one in five women in Ireland will...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why is it preferable that the Minister make the appointment, rather than him identifying the appropriate appointing bodies to establish these panels? The Minister of State is right in that the professional bodies are concerned about being shut out of the process but more to the point, these are the expert groups.