Results 18,001-18,020 of 21,260 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: Notwithstanding the cuts, all the people he listed are all grossly overpaid. Staff in his Department at the most senior levels are grossly overpaid. There is an issue here of fundamental equity and fairness. The Minister is wrongly using the alibi of the old Croke Park agreement to hide behind. He is now moving into the successor to the Croke Park agreement a new agreement with the public...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: As the Minister correctly stated, the Committee of Public Accounts will today publish its report on allowances. A number of issues arose from that very useful examination, which will be evident to people who read the report. What was clear and accepted on a cross-party basis was the extent to which the phenomenon of low pay looms large within our public services. If the Oireachtas is to...
- Supreme Court Ruling in the X Case: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: Why is the Government so worried about it?
- Other Questions: Expenditure Reviews (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: The multi-annual framework is the way to go for the reasons to which the Minister alluded. In respect of the Department of Health, what plans does the Minister have to bring forward a supplementary budget? The House was notified of four such supplementary budgets. The documentation circulated to us indicates that a supplementary budget will be forthcoming in respect of health. When will...
- Other Questions: Expenditure Reviews (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for clarifying that there will be a supplementary budget. I will make an observation to the Minister.
- Other Questions: Expenditure Reviews (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: Putting in place a system of multi-annual budgeting and planning is the right thing to do but it only works if the Government funds and projects in an accurate fashion. The budgetary overrun in the Department of Health is huge. On the one hand, the Government proposes to cut more from the budget and on the other hand we are faced with the bizarre situation of a supplementary budget days...
- Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: Prolific.
- Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: I did not get to read all of Deputy Durkan's many questions.
- Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: I am surprised the Minister did not allude to his plans for Croke Park nua in respect of future savings. We have not yet had a briefing or account from the Minister on the approach but we have seen the notion of securing a further €1 billion in savings through that mechanism. Will the Minister take the opportunity to say a few words on that?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: There were cuts in back to school clothing and footwear allowances. The Minister cannot take those types of decisions and then claim that he has done any kind of a meaningful equality audit in the proposals. I accept the Government must have due regard for equality law in making policy and carrying out functions but that was not the point of my question. Beyond a token nod towards equality...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with the Minister about providing an opportunity to work for one-parent families, so why in God's name would the Government reduce the income disregard for those people? The Minister mentioned the universal social charge, but there are still people earning €17,000 who are liable for it. I asked the Minister, who is responsible for expenditure, specifically about the measures I...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: There is no answer.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: Really.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister is being flippant.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: That is my point exactly.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will equality proof the Government's Budget 2013 expenditure measures; and if he will publish the evidence generated as part of this pre budget proofing process. [51780/12]
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Budget 2013 (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: I raised this issue with the Minister in advance of the budget because the series of austerity measures that have been introduced have hit so hard. That is particularly evident in low income families and even in some middle income families too. The Minister is probably aware that the ESRI report on the distributional impact of budgets over recent years indicated that the 2012 budget, of all...
- Order of Business (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: Can the Taoiseach confirm that the McAleese committee report on the Magdalene laundries will be published before the Dáil rises for the Christmas recess?
- Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Salaries (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to review allowances paid to Oireachtas members. [51543/12]
- Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (21 Nov 2012)
Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to increase the public service pension reduction bands applied to high paid public sector pensions. [51542/12]