Results 3,001-3,020 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Mental Health and Older People: Statements (9 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Cathaoirleach said a mistake was made and apologised for calling people in the wrong order.

Mental Health and Older People: Statements (9 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish the Minister of State well in her new role. For far too long mental health issues have been ignored, stigmatised and demonised. What the Minister of State said in her speech was absolutely correct. Many families contacted my office, concerned over the lack of mental health services during the Covid pandemic and asking when they would resume. It is important to have a roadmap for...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (9 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister, all our front-line services and particularly NPHET. The situation is very challenging at the moment with the increasing case figures. I congratulate all our leaving certificate students who received their results this week and in many cases will go to college. My concern, however, is our student nurses and the supports in place for them and our midwives unable to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (8 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 317. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when Leighlinbridge Garda station, County Carlow will reopen. [21306/20]

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I really welcome that. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy Harris, has worked extremely hard in the weeks since he became the Minister with responsibility for higher education. It is important to get the technological university for the south east. Carlow and Kilkenny are my priority, as is Waterford, with all of us working together. I really welcome that. I am glad that we will sit down...

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is appropriate that we congratulate the colleges now that they are reopening. I am sure this weekend will be a long weekend for them. I am sure they will all be working, with the CAO offers out next week, to get colleges ready, whether it is for online education or otherwise. I also welcome what the Minister said about fees. Several constituents have contacted me to say that they...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Communication is the key here. The guidelines and any subsequent law must be enforceable. While the majority of establishments and people have played by the rules, unfortunately some have not. The gardaí have much to enforce now. I am not sure they can catch every offender with a pizza slice and a few pints. The message should have been that everyone with a food licence may operate...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I, too, welcome all our guests to the meeting. I know how difficult it has been for everybody trying to get children back to school and unions all working together. My first question is for the INTO. I am aware that an agreement was reached to appoint three primary teachers for 12 schools in towns. My question relates to rural schools. My daughter is a school principal in Myshall. ...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Mr. Gillespie.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely. I have so many questions that I do not know where to go. Will the colleges of education make final year students available? Is it a part of the talks between the witnesses' organisations and the Department of Education and Skills to see if student teachers can be made available? I hope this does not happen, but if schools must close due to Covid-19 and they need extra...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Have all the schools been made aware-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Mr. Gillespie. I have no more questions.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have a question for the National Parents Council Post Primary. Have its members who have been told to isolate their children for Covid-related reasons received the support they need in order for their children to be educated? At the peak of the pandemic, I was contacted by many second year and fifth year students worried about how they would catch up this year. Is the ground that was...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is a very big concern that the guidance counsellors are not actually in the schools particularly now during the Covid pandemic. I have a question for the National Parents Council Primary. Are its members asking about supports to deal with an increased level of anxiety among their children? Are they finding children this year much more anxious than would normally be the case? Parents...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I ask for a reply to my questions on school transport.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Has Ms Dempsey come across cases of parents who do not have transport using taxis to get children to school? I am working on a few cases in the disability sector where bus services have been cut and some of the affected families do not have a car. This is becoming a big issue because these families must use a taxi, which they cannot afford. Are the Department and the NPCPP trying to come...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am dealing with a case where a child with a disability who had a place on a bus last year cannot get a place this year. As Ms Dempsey said, that service should be free. It seems there are one or two cases slipping through the net this year.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Are the votes taking place now?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know that these hard times are very challenging. We addressed representatives of the teaching unions this morning and I brought up the following matter which I think is important. The Minister reached an agreement that three primary substitute teachers will be available for every 12 schools across towns in the country. In the likely event that the three substitute teachers are already...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My concerns are about rural towns and counties. My daughter is the school principal in Myshall. That school did not make the panel so it, and other rural schools like it, must look for substitute teachers. A panel was not put in place for them and the Minister might look at that issue in the long term. The Minister also spoke about the minor works programme. Her announcement that...