Results 17,661-17,680 of 21,260 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Could the Minister provide the committee with the information, to best of his ability, as to what type of administrative cost burden the management and levying of fees imposes? I do not make this request in a vexatious or frivolous manner. It was a matter of some consideration and concern when these matters were considered across the water. It is something that should be factored in, but I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely. Some of the Minister's colleagues in government might be quite protective in that regard. However, I will give the Minister an example. In the case of the movement of troops through Shannon Airport, that type of information is of key public interest and I believe it is information that should be readily available. Does the Minister's legislative framework allow that type of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Mary Lou McDonald: I welcome this legislation. A big disservice was done in 2003 to good government and transparency in government by the then Fianna Fáil Administration. That said, the Labour Party gave a commitment in respect of the abolition of fees. The Minister has provided us with information which reflects that the charge levied meets only 4% of the cost involved, which as he stated is a tiny...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is a bit like the Government.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Shame on you. That is outrageous. True Independents are those who have absented themselves from that farce that we call a Technical Group because one is either an Independent or a party but there is a group of Members in the House who want their cake and eat it. When someone stands up to speak the truth, it hurts. I do not know any other Parliament where a group of people with nothing in...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Whatever the Minister of State's personal aversions may be, I well understand why he did not read out the sentence because there is no good news story. The story that €324 million will be required to run this place for the next three years will not be regarded as a good news story. I imagine the Government will not be too keen to tell this story too vigorously, to use the words from...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am disappointed that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, is not here for this debate. Whatever about my personal disappointment, it reflects the fact that the Government's approach is slapdash on the legislation and cavalier in respect of the sums of money involved. Essentially, we are being asked to put through a budget for the Houses of the Oireachtas for the...

Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I, too, believe that the handling of the primary care centres is something to which we will have to return in the new year.

Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sure it will be, but I feel incredible frustration with the Tánaiste. When questions of fundamental importance are put to him relating to the integrity of the decision making processes, he resorts to hyperbole rather than dealing with the issue at hand. This is a serious issue and it will not go away. I wish to raise two other matters. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission...

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste's monotonal response does not take from this scandal. I have in my hand the briefing document prepared for and used by the Minister at that meeting on 20 April. Explicitly in the document, black on white, there is a mention of a particular site, namely, 68-70 Dublin Street. This is the site in the town centre that is currently being used as a surface car park. I am...

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: We said at the time, and let me repeat it-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Let me say this-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and I said it at the time-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The wrong Minister resigned. The former Minister of State, Deputy Shortall-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----was punished for doing the right thing.

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: She was punished for standing by proper standards in public office.

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste awards another senior Minister by turning away his gaze and by not tracking the Minister's activities. This is a disgrace.

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is not innuendo. I have the document in front of me.

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am not working on the basis of innuendo or supposition.

Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have in my hand the briefing note that came from the Department-----