Results 16,681-16,700 of 21,260 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: One could call them fines.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Ms Feehily has clearly set out the chronology for PAYE workers, occupational pensions and social welfare recipients. That will be the run of it. I am simply asking if that is the same running order she envisages in respect of notification, engagement and perhaps, although I hope it does not come to it, imposition of levies or fines?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Unless they persist in not engaging with Revenue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Revenue will take it if they do not pay it. Is that the bottom line?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is nice to see Ms Feehily in again to discuss these matters. The use of the term "voluntary compliance" strikes me as odd and misleading in circumstances in which the Revenue Commissioners has set out clearly that non-compliance will meet with deductions from wages, social welfare payments or bank accounts. I note the reports in the media which suggest that the Revenue Commissioners...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: That may well be the case in terms of the statutory interpretation, but the interpretation by the public at large who are having this tax levied upon them is that compliance is many things but it is far from voluntary, because the consequences of non-compliance are very serious indeed. Will it be PAYE workers first?

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: A bit of solidarity in the Chamber. I thank the Acting Chairman. I proposed an amendment proposing an alternative Long Title. Sadly and like many other amendments, mine was ruled out of order. In the midst of this financial emergency, it sought to highlight the need to address the considerable pay inequity within the public service. Were the Minister serious about crafting legislation...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The union's leadership has come out strongly against the agreement accompanying the Minister's legislation because it believes that additional hours and the freezing of increments for its workers, who start on the grand salary of €22,000, constitute a bridge too far. I would wager that there is not a clerical officer within the service who believes that visiting more hardship on that...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: No one would imagine that undermining the collective bargaining traditions of the State, as the Minister is doing by introducing this legislation in a pre-emptive strike against trade unions and their members, was in the public interest. Clearly, it is not. If the Minister had full confidence in the deal as set out by the Labour Relations Commission, LRC, and the trade union leaderships, he...

Topical Issue Debate: Crèche Inspections (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with the Minister that the last thing one would want to cause is widespread panic because my children, like those of many others, have had very positive experiences in crèches. I am gobsmacked at the fact that crèches which clearly have broken the current HSE guidelines and into which there is a Garda and a HSE investigation under way would still be open today. If the...

Topical Issue Debate: Crèche Inspections (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: As shocked as people were watching last night's programme, we all understand that these are some of the consequences for society when caring roles are relegated to second class. I am sorry to say that in many of the decisions taken by the Minister's Government, that trend of undervaluing carers and carers' work has continued. The programme clearly illustrated huge deficiencies in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Family Income Supplement Eligibility (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will direct her Department to begin a public awareness campaign to highlight the availability of family income supplement. [25716/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Rates (29 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 27. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has had any discussions with the Department of Education and Skills regarding potential changes to child benefit payments. [25717/13]

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister has moved with indecent haste to introduce this legislation. I was interested in his comments, in that he described it as part of "the Government's policy of restraint and prudent budget". There was a complimentary glow to that depiction. The agreement has just been published, some union leaderships have taken a judgment on it and not a single union member has been balloted on...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: One is taken to the station.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that special educational needs supports have been withdrawn from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1, on the basis that the supports are only provided to primary and special schools, yet this school has a roll number as provided to all primary and special schools, compiles the annual statistical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mobility Allowance Decision (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 686. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that following his decision to abolish the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant, disabled persons in Dublin central are no longer able to attend rehabilitative training services, access to the wider community has been severely limited increasing social isolation and their independence and dignity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Grant Expenditure (28 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 641. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to a crisis request by the Health Service Executive to house two vulnerable children, the Sancta Maria Respite care facility on the Navan Road, Dublin 7, has now had to withdraw all regular respite care for children and adults for at least a four week period until such time that the physical layout of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (23 May 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: 2. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department officials have completed their preparation on legislative measures to reduce the public sector pay and pensions bill; and when he intends to publish this legislation. [24804/13]