Results 1-20 of 24 for ("irish language" gaeilge) speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority Act (2022) requires that institutions seek to promote the Irish language. The Department distributes recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement directly to the HEA's designated higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous institutions, each Higher Education...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: ...agency has yet to be decided. We will, of course, fulfil our obligations. We need to consider what we call the agency in the context of promoting it internationally but I am very conscious of the Irish language piece. I am happy to engage on that point as we take the legislation through the House. I am sure the issue will also come out at pre-legislative scrutiny. I am also happy to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: ...has to be done to meet our country's needs. I must reflect on how best to do it, but I would be happy to have a conversation about how to engage with the sector on horizon scanning as regards the provision of Irish language courses in the context of the legislation and of where we want to get to as a country with our official and native language. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh is right. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The Higher Education Authority Act, which was enacted in October 2022, requires that higher education institutions promote the Irish language. As autonomous bodies, each higher education institution is responsible for its Irish language strategy, including the expansion and teaching of university courses through the Irish language. The Department distributes recurrent funding to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: ...higher education institutions. The HEA distributes this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal allocation of this funding, including expenditure on Irish-language education initiatives, falls to the individual institution. The Higher Education Authority Act (2022) requires that institutions seek to promote the Irish language. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to the promotion of the Irish language, and I recognise the vital role which the further and higher education system plays in promoting our language, and in ensuring that there are sufficient graduates with competence in Irish to meet skills needs in this area. Reflecting the importance of the language in the higher education system, the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...of statutory commitments to Gaeilge and those commitments to Garda members who have joined the organisation through the Irish stream. I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language. A new Irish Language Strategy was published in March 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen Irish language services within An Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and academically independent and each Higher Education Institution is responsible for its own Irish language strategy. Information would need to be sought from the HEIs directly. However, my Department is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services to its customers, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (1 Dec 2022)

Simon Harris: ...Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 to ensure the improved provision of public services through the Irish language. The Act was strengthened in 2021 in order to significantly increase the quality of those services provided in Irish to the public by State bodies. It is important that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Harris: .... This group will provide oversight, guidance and direction on the development of the Policy. The Policy will contribute towards achieving the aims of the government's 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language. As of 2021/22 there were 59 courses in HE delivering Irish language tuition or delivered through the medium of Irish, a total of 1,779 students. This includes students who are...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2022)

Simon Harris: ...is a provision in sectoral legislation for independent dispute resolution to resolve any disputes and student unions, together with staff associations, are required to be consulted on the preparation of any dispute resolution processes. This Bill has been significantly strengthened in respect of the Irish language. We brought forward more amendments after engagement in the other House,...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: ...work he has done on this matter. I assure the House that we as a Department have liaised closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, including the director of the Irish language in the Department, on bringing forward our amendments to ensure we are in line with the policy of the Government and our collective policy on the promotion of the Irish...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Harris: ...39, 58, 59 and 62. The reason I list them at the start is to indicate that I am now bringing forward a further eight amendments on Report Stage in order to strengthen the provision relating to the Irish language in the Bill. 6 o’clock I am sincere when I say that I enjoyed our Committee Stage discussion, particularly with Deputy Ó Snodaigh. We have made cross-party...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: ...institutions of higher education that are not universities, technological universities, institutes of technology or the National College of Art and Design. This amendment proposes to include the Irish-language requirement in their development plans but for what are mainly private and not-for-profit institutions. We generally attach conditions through funding. These institutions may not...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, line 27, to delete “(including the promotion and use of the Irish language)”. My amendments and those of Deputy Conway-Walsh endeavour to achieve the same aim, relating to the promotion and use of the Irish language and strengthening its provision across the sector, although we may have different views on how best to do it. Amendments...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: ...amendment. The rationale behind my amendment is that when a Minister is considering who should be on a board and what background and expertise that person should have, the promotion and use of the Irish language would now be specifically included as one of the criteria that can be considered. As one who has had the honour of being a Minister for a few years, I know the significance of...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: The Deputy might qualify on many. The amendment will make the promotion and use of the Irish language visible to the Minister of the day when he or she is going to fill the board. It will very much put that on his or her radar. I believe it is quite significant and Conradh na Gaeilge does too. I am pleased we have been able to do that. That is the agreement bit. Where I do have a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: ...the Board shall be appointed by the Minister [of the day] from among persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have sufficient experience and expertise relating to". The promotion and use of the Irish language is there; that is the change. I have thrashed this through with Conradh na Gaeilge a few times. Far be it from me to speak for it but I believe its concern is that while it may...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Simon Harris: ...line 36, after “strategy,” to insert the following: "including policies relating to social, economic, cultural and environmental development and sustainability and the promotion and use of the Irish language,". This is to provide that the Minister shall in the preparation of the strategy for tertiary education have regard to policies relating to social, economic,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (8 Mar 2022)

Simon Harris: The Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to the implementation of the Official Languages Act and provision of Irish-language services, and the Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) is of high importance to Ireland and the life of the language in this country. It will ensure that Irish speakers can interact with the Government and...