Results 18,641-18,660 of 21,260 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: What they had to say was nothing short of a disaster for Ireland and I imagine that privately, the Taoiseach was probably angry with them. If he is not, he should be. The Taoiseach tells us that the pace of initiative and negotiation from the Department of Finance has been hectic since June. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the same Department of Finance welcomed the statement of these...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who received out-of-hours emergency care services through the Crisis Intervention Service each month since its establishment; the county in which they normally reside; the type and location of care placement that was found for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40719/12]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services (26 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of disciplinary actions initiated against staff who were involved in cases subsequently examined by the Independent Child Death Review Group; the results of these actions; if further reviews have been undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40718/12]

Magdalene Laundries: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I move:That Dáil Éireann: notes that this motion has been drawn up with a survivor centred ethos; agrees with the State’s position, as articulated in Dáil Éireann in February 2002, that abuse occurred in the Magdalene Laundries, that the abuse was an appalling breach of trust and that the victims of that abuse suffered and continue to suffer greatly; ...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: In fact, a number of the appointments to the Bench which took place under the Government have had political links with Fine Gael or the Labour Party.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does the Taoiseach have plans to bring forward legislation to ensure judicial appointments are truly independent and free from political interference?

Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Given those remarks, the Taoiseach might consider assisting the Garda Síochána in order to provide sufficient resources for their task. I planned to ask a question about the ministerial order in respect of responsibility for primary care but the Taoiseach has informed the House that the Minister, Deputy Reilly, has reassured him that this has been laid before the House. However,...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----if that is, in fact, the case. I refer to the comments this morning of Mr. Justice Peter Kelly of the High Court. He referred to appointments to the Supreme Court which he said were purely political, in his view. He further stated that the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board has not worked in making judicial appointments truly independent.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Raising interest rates is certainly not helpful.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Taoiseach for that reply. It was remiss of me, a Cheann Comhairle, not to welcome the meeting on 12 October and to commend you for your activities in bringing that about.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is important that the Economic Management Council, EMC, engages continually with the banks. Yesterday, we got the news that Bank of Ireland has hiked its interest rate by half a percentage point. The net effect of this is that people who are just about meeting their mortgages are put under huge pressure and moved into the terrain of mortgage distress. Without warning and without any...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland Issues (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Taoiseach for confirming his willingness to meet with the Ballymurphy families. We will take him up on his offer and we will be in contact with him to set a date for such a meeting. I also thank him for articulating the view that there cannot be a hierarchy of victims. As republicans, we are very supportive of and absolutely recognise the necessity for a broad truth recovery...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland Issues (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: As a number of questions in the name of my party leader are being taken with this group, the Ceann Comhairle might indulge me by allowing me in a second time, if necessary. Has the Taoiseach been kept up to date with what happened at certain parades in north Belfast over the summer? He will be aware that tensions have been very high in the North, and in north Belfast in particular, since 12...

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach does not have to convince me of the value of primary health care centres, which are the right model to pursue. However, that is not the issue at hand. Let me clarify that this is not personal to the Minister, but it is very clear that where a Minister for Health who presides over the public health care system and who has taken decisions to reduce bed numbers and close public...

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Taoiseach did not answer my question in respect of the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall. She made the serious charge in respect of the selection of these primary health care centres. She said in this House that the decision making lacked transparency. Clearly, she had a very different understanding with regard to the criteria than the Taoiseach has articulated or than the Minister...

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: Did that include Deputy Shortall?

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The credibility of the Minister, Deputy Reilly, was dented and completely undermined long before his latest stroke. The involvement of the Minister for Health in private medicine and nursing homes at a time when those services in the public sector are being cut back and, in many instances, closed raises the most fundamental issue as to his suitability to hold the ministry. He clearly has a...

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: No sooner had they done that then the most recent farce played out-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----that is, the addition of these primary health care centres which just happen to be in the Minister's constituency. The Taoiseach stated that the issue of need was not the only criterion and said there were others. He mentioned competition and GP co-operation. Was the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, aware of those additional criteria, and did she accept them, or is it the case, as...

Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do not know whether to laugh or cry when the Tánaiste extols the priority the Government attaches to job creation and then refers to the damning figures in today's newspapers. The initiatives the Government is taking are failing.