Results 7,181-7,200 of 7,461 for speaker:Holly Cairns

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: I completely understand what the Minister of State is saying about the necessity of reducing the footfall but, respectfully, that is not what we are asking about. We understand that and so do all the mothers who have been in touch with us. Trust me, that is really not the point. If, as the Minister of State says, there are different circumstances in different hospitals, people need to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: New mothers and their partners are understandably very angry about the ongoing visiting restrictions in maternity hospitals. Some maternity hospitals in Dublin have eased restrictions, yet elsewhere the opposite is the case. Women are alone until they are in active labour. I spoke to a woman this morning who endured 23 hours of labour without support from a loved one. I know that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Higher Education Institutions (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: 21. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on providing targeted funding for colleges and universities to establish hubs or micro-satellite campuses to enable rural students to complete courses online; and if he will provide further funding for students to access existing rural digital hubs. [22805/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Higher Education Institutions (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: One of the main barriers for students in rural Ireland is broadband. With most courses involving blended learning now and some courses and institutions going exclusively online, now more than ever it is essential that as many students as possible have access to broadband. Will the Minister provide targeted funding for colleges and universities to establish hubs or micro-satellite campuses...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Higher Education Institutions (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: I am delighted to see the Minister's enthusiasm and I hope he will be as enthusiastic in funding this. A network of hubs and satellite campuses would not only be important during the pandemic but would also enable greater participation more broadly. Considerable accommodation and living costs are a barrier for some students, and mature students, part-time students and parents would benefit...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Higher Education Institutions (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: That would be great. I know the hubs in my area are very enthusiastic about remote campuses. In addition, students are concerned about committing to accommodation and other costs associated with moving when it is uncertain how much classroom learning they will be doing or how much will be online. The provision of additional places is welcome but it puts further pressure on institutions to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (9 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: 211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will elaborate on his recent statement that student contribution fees are too high; and the timeline for the reduction of these fees. [22806/20]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Rural Broadband Scheme (8 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: 101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to ensure sufficient broadband access is provided in rural areas to facilitate online learning. [21735/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (8 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: 852. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a €500 reduction to the student contribution charge to ease the financial pressure caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. [21737/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: 851. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if guidance will be provided on when the new academic year will commence for colleges and universities in view of the delay of the leaving certificate results. [21736/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Unions (8 Sep 2020)

Holly Cairns: 853. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a document (details supplied) published by a group; and his views on the budgetary requests contained in same. [21738/20]

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

Holly Cairns: I congratulate the Ministers on their appointments. It is exciting to see a focused new Department and I look forward to working with the Ministers, especially with regard to the shocking rates of sexual assault and rape in our third level and further education institutions in Ireland. There are many other issues and today I will focus on the reopening of colleges in these unique times....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: I thank the witnesses for their statements and for being here today. Given all the harrowing information we have heard from representative organisations, such as we have heard here today, the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland's report, various media reports on workers' conditions in the industry and the fact that before this the industry was most recently associated with farmers' protests...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: This committee has been calling for a task force and I have written to the Chair about establishing it. Could I have a brief response from the other two organisations on whether they would support the establishment of a task force to examine workers' rights in this sector?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: I thank the witnesses. I have one quick question. Why did it take workers being infected with Covid to bring all this out? Were the unions aware of conditions in meat plants before this?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: To clarify, the unions were aware of worker conditions before the pandemic but the power of the beef lobby was too great to enable those voices to be heard.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: The beef tribunal in the 1990s examined allegations of political influence in relation to alleged abuses of the system and failure of regulatory authorities. Its conclusion highlighted widespread improper relationships between the beef industry and Government. A shocking set of scandals was uncovered and virtually nothing happened. No one was held to account and public trust was totally...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: I have explained the relevance.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: That is not-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Holly Cairns: I will move on if Mr. Carroll is not prepared to answer the question.