Results 161-180 of 204 for speaker:Lisa McDonald

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I echo much of what has been said on this amendment which Senator McCarthy has indicated he will withdraw. This is a very significant area. Senator Walsh has given an example and there are many examples in ordinary life where fathers are really not that interested in knowing their child even though they are living down the road. Being a parent brings responsibility and for a long time in...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I oppose the amendment. I am not sure whether it will be pressed. I welcome the announcement that the community welfare officers will be transferred to the Department of Social Protection. That represents an holistic move. It is far better to have the staff within the one Department. We may need to examine the relationship between the RAS and local councils. I support the Minister's idea...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: It is noteworthy that, in respect of the PRTB, council houses are exempt. If they were brought within-----

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I know but private people are living in them. From my experience as a constituency politician trying to get councils to make improvements to houses, I believe it would be far more helpful to have them brought under the auspices of the PRTB.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: Nobody is suggesting the Minister is going easy on fraud. In fact, the opposite is the case. I support his notion that a change in the structure would be far better, rather than sending out inspectors to stumble on incidents of fraud. The Minister's example of back kitchen extensions is a good one. Perhaps if we had helicopters flying around the place, we would notice some of them....

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I wish to comment on the amendment which seeks to provide that where two parents or guardians have joint custody of a child, the child benefit may be apportioned between them. Generally speaking, joint custody does not mean that a child lives with one parent for three days of the week and the other parent for four days of the week. It is usually the case that a child lives with a parent...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2010)

Lisa McDonald: How is that relevant?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I call for a debate on waste in public bodies. Many examples in the HSE, FÁS and CIE have emerged in the last while. The whole system needs to be shaken up. When we speak about Seanad reform, the debates that do not take place or the legislation that is not brought before the House, it is very easy to blame the Leader. I am not sure where the blame lies, but all I know is that I do not...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: Last week I noticed that County Wexford Vocational Education Committee had been allowed to place an advertisement in the newspapers to run the school in Gorey when the people's choice, an Educate Together school, did not have a cent to spend. The vocational education committees need to be examined in a debate on waste. Yesterday it was brought to my attention that Allied Irish Banks was...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I am delighted the House has this opportunity to discuss VECs. Thus far, the debate has been a little unbalanced in that it is a discussion about the boards of the VECs and there has been great interest in how many elected members will be retained on the VECs. I do not know how relevant this is to the customers, as Senator Quinn put it, namely, the students and parents. Parents are voting...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: It is the truth. There are many Fine Gael politicians in that position. County Wexford VEC is controlled by Fine Gael. I do not think Fine Gael has served it very well.

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: The Senator should check the facts.

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: Absolutely. Senator Healy Eames said that one size does not fit all when it comes to vocational education. She argued that all the various VECs provide different services. I do not think that is fair. All children should be treated the same regardless of whether they come from Wexford, Cavan, Dublin or Galway. I accept there is a need to differentiate between inner-city communities with...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: Before Senator Leyden speaks, given what I heard from Senator Doherty, could I withdraw my use of the word "dross"? I did not intend it to be imparted in that manner. It came out accidentally.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I too welcome the efforts of Norah Gibbons and her committee in publishing the report and commend the bravery of the children of the family in supporting the publication of the report in the hope that this will never happen again. We have had the McColgan report, the Kilkenny incest report and now we have another report. I just wonder how much work has been done over the past three or four...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: This brings me to a second point, relating to NAMA.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: The people of this country do not seem to want people to be punished for their crimes. We are very capable of punishing people for some crimes, but not white collar crimes. I support Senator Walsh's call for a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: Can I just-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

Lisa McDonald: I listened to everyone else. I have been only speaking for one minute in comparison with others who spoke for five or ten minutes.