Results 5,361-5,380 of 5,845 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We are certainly all facing into a lot of uncertainty as a result of the impact. One thing is absolutely clear and that is the need for Ireland to invest in its third level strategy going forward for the benefit not only of students but society, business and families. We will now go to our three remaining witnesses. The first is Ms Annie Hoey, the president of the USI. We have Ms Hoey's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I ask Mr. Kieran McNulty, who is the president of the students union at TCD, to make his contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Kieran McNulty for his contribution. I ask Ms. Jane Hayes-Nally, president of the Irish Second-Level Students Union, to make her contribution. It is very important we hear the representative voice of the students who hopefully will be going on to third level in the next few years. Jane, you are very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Hayes-Nally. I am sure her Mum and sisters are very proud of her today. Ms Hayes-Nally paints a good and clear picture of the stress that can impact on family life in terms of funding decisions. As the eldest of eleven, I totally understand where she is coming from. What is clear from the last three presenters is that they feel an income contingent loan system would not be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: To be fair, I do not think any members are dismissing that option. We are discussing the different challenges and problems that each option can present. There is no straightforward solution. No matter what we produce collaboratively for the Minister, there will be no straightforward way. It is up to us to look at, to learn and to face up to the hard challenges and tasks when making...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Apart from the whole issue of funding the sector, reform of the system is badly needed too. There is no point in having no fees when the cost of sending a student to college is high. One has to go hand in hand with the other. Linking in with businesses is very important. Ring-fencing the levy and increasing it was mentioned earlier. We have to look at the whole apprenticeship and skills...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. McNulty. Would Ms Hoey like to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Hoey. The whole reason we are having this debate is the systematic under-funding in third level over the last number of years, particularly given the increase in the number of students. Having listened to the presidents of the universities and institutes of technology in regard to the huge pressures they are under at this time, the debate is very relevant. We need to have it and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank all six witnesses for coming before the committee today. We have had a very productive and informative morning and we have certainly learned a lot from the engagement on both sides of the argument. The insights and observations of the witnesses are hugely valuable in terms of the deliberations we will have to make over the coming months. Thank you again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Tony Donohoe, director of education at the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, IBEC, Mr. Richard Kennedy, deputy president of the Irish Farmers Association, Ms Patricia King, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr. James Doorley, deputy director of the National Youth Council of Ireland, Ms Michelle Murphy, research and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Will members indicate if they have any questions? It is clear that IBEC is in favour of the student loan system. Does Mr. Tony Donohoe see any advantages to this? How could it be addressed? I note Mr. Richard Kennedy's concern about the inclusion of farming land in a means assessment. As a farmer's daughter, I totally agree with him. Does that mean he is in favour of a student loan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will hand back now to Ms Patricia King.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Yes. I ask Mr. Richard Kennedy to respond particularly on the IFA's position on whether it would support an income contingent loan scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I ask Mr. Tony Donohoe to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Thank you very much, Mr. Donohoe. Thank you all for your responses. Now we will go to the final three contributions of the day. The first is from James Doorley, deputy director of the National Youth Council of Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I call Ms Michelle Murphy, the research and policy analyst in Social Justice Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We have a vote at 12.50 p.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We did not receive Professor Hegarty's written submission before the start of this meeting. We would appreciate it if he could forward it to us. We will ensure all the members get it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: In that case, there has been some communications challenge in regard to it. I thank Professor Hegarty. He has certainly stated the elephant in the room in a very straightforward way. That is the reality of the situation we are facing. I thank Ms Michelle Murphy for her holistic approach to setting out the issues in regard to education and where education fits into society. Does she see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. James Doorley for his contribution. On behalf of all members, I thank each of our six witnesses for coming before us this morning. It was a very productive and informative session. The witnesses took a holistic approach to setting out the issues in respect of education and where education fits in terms of society. Their insights were very valuable. It was good to have a...