Results 25,721-25,740 of 26,178 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Price Inflation. (4 Jun 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: You were not long getting out the door.

Price Inflation. (4 Jun 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister did not deal with my request for him to withdraw his remark on whinging.

Price Inflation. (4 Jun 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: This shows a lack of understanding on the Minister's part with regard to that with which people in business are being obliged to deal. There has been a 30% increase in the price of diesel during the past year. The people to whom I refer work hard. It is an insult for the Minister to use the term in question and I ask him to withdraw it.

Price Inflation. (4 Jun 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: What is the Minister going to do about this matter?

Price Inflation. (4 Jun 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: What is the Minister going to do?

Price Inflation. (4 Jun 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister should deal with the——

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (29 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 24: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the contact he has had with the Department of Transport to promote green energy technologies in transport as stated in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21491/08]

Written Answers — Prison Education Service: Prison Education Service (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures he proposes to take to address the high levels of illiteracy among the prison population here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21136/08]

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he plans to introduce legislation in respect of spent convictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21137/08]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to share time with Deputies Flanagan, Shatter, Joe Carey, McEntee, Varadkar and Crawford.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am delighted to be here to support the motion moved by Deputy Brian Hayes, our spokesman on education. Listening to the Government speakers tonight, one would swear there was no problem. A common theme emerging is that the Government cannot deliver in a year. It gave a commitment in the programme for Government that it would reduce the pupil-teacher ratio from 27 to 26 by 30 September....

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have been a member of parents' associations for the past ten years. Ten years ago, we petitioned to reduce class sizes. Here I am today pushing the same case. We will not let this go. The Government will have to honour its commitment and, particularly in respect of JFK Memorial School in Limerick, ensure that the 11th teacher is retained. It is vital. There is a very simple solution....

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Its terms of reference should be extended.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The terms of reference should be extended to deal with hardship cases. This is the key issue. If we had a little bit of imagination and practicality, we would have a situation where these 28 schools that are about to lose a teacher would not lose one. It is ludicrous. The most that is involved here is probably €1.5 million. I did a rough calculation before I came out. To put this in...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Out of 27 OECD countries, we have the fourth worst pupil-teacher ratio. This has been going on for the past six years. The Government came in with a proposal to reduce it below 20 in 2002 for children under the age of nine. It introduced something that was not great but at least gave an incremental reduction of one per year between 2007 and 2012. What has the Government done here? It has...

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: In keeping with Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, I do not know why we are having this debate. The Government already approved the Constituency Commission's recommendations on 30 January. People often claim the Dáil is only a talk-shop. The Government has already made a decision and this debate should have been held long before the commission was established. I was elected by the people of Limerick...

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Why? Is it to appease Government backbenchers? It serves no purpose whatsoever.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am speaking on it because I have to put the views of the people of Limerick East on the record.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes I do.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thought the purpose of the Chamber was to encourage discourse.