Results 19,381-19,400 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the Minister for his response. What spurred me to raise this issue was a comment made by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, with whom the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform works in close collaboration. He led the public at large to understand that in the event of a "Yes" vote in the recent referendum, there would be an "easier" budget. In light of the Minister's...

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister set out what he sees as the logic of the Minister for Finance's position. I take a contrary view; I think he was being rather deceptive in his clear articulation that there would be an easier budget after a "Yes" vote. Out of curiosity, did the Minister realise that the Minister for Finance was going to make those comments? The target of 7.5% is contingent on a number of...

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is the Government that will not raise income tax.

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: What did the Minister for Finance mean by an easier budget?

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I need the Minister to answer the question, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Budgetary Process (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It was a clear question.

Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I believe I have the floor, Deputy Martin.

Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: As I am sure the Taoiseach is aware, at approximately this time of year, Women's Aid publishes its annual domestic violence figures. Over 13,000 people called the organisation's helpline last year. Some 2,000 of those calls disclosed emotional, physical and sexual abuse of children in their homes and this represented a 25% increase on the previous year. Some 3,000 callers said that...

Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: When does the Taoiseach propose to deliver on the programme for Government commitment? When can we expect the introduction of the reformed consolidated domestic violence legislation, and when will we get some indication that the Government will fund the services in question to an adequate level?

Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: So the Taoiseach cannot give a date.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am glad the boys have simmered down. This morning we have a tale of two reports. On the one hand there is the troika's sixth review of Ireland's bailout programme, which has yet again been given to parliamentarians in the Bundestag and leaked to the media before Members of this Dáil or the public in this State have had any sight of it. On the other, there is an ESRI report which was not...

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: He should acknowledge to the hundreds of thousands of families across this State who are struggling to make ends meet, some of whom are in work and some of whom are on welfare, that the Government is responsible for that. Finally, I ask him to reassure us that this Government has not attempted in any cynical way to use the ESRI as part of a strategy to drive down welfare rates in the next budget.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: We need that reassurance to be given to the Dáil today.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I want the Taoiseach to understand that struggling families do not want his recognition, understanding or empathy. They want the Taoiseach and his Government colleagues to take responsibility for the circumstances in which we now find ourselves. More to the point, they want to see action that yields results for them and their families. As the Taoiseach said, the ESRI is an independent...

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is a shoddy and misleading piece of work. I ask the Taoiseach to make it clear to the Dáil and the people who are viewing this session that he understands well that those who are living on welfare are not doing so by choice and, more to the point, are not living the high life. That is simply not the case. A low income is a low income. People are struggling as a direct consequence of...

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I take it from the Taoiseach's comments that he continues to have full confidence in the ESRI, its independence and its capacity to give thought-provoking and useful information to policy makers. I would raise a question mark over that. I think this document was incendiary and misleading. I also believe it will be used-----

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----and has been used by some people-----

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----to argue for further hardship and further cutbacks-----

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----aimed particularly at those on welfare.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Mary Lou McDonald: I ask the Taoiseach to assure the House-----