Results 2,441-2,460 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is fine. I will bring it back to that context so. Given the context of the deficiency of services and of State provision for children with additional needs, how do the witnesses reflect on how these issues can be addressed in the long term in terms of the July provision and of schools returning in September?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the witnesses for the presentation. My first question is about the summer programme. A principal contacted me to say that she was under the impression or she was told that the pupil-teacher ratio for the summer programme would 6:1. On that basis she encouraged four teachers from her staff to sign up to the programme, which they did. Then she got an official notification from the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am referring to the DEIS programme.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is it the case that at no stage should any school have been under the impression that the ratio was 6:1?

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais: Tairiscint - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (27 Jun 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It feels almost as though a wartime Government has just been assembled. We meet here because 1,700 people have lost their lives as a result of a virus that has hit our country. That should remind us all of our collective endeavour to beat this virus and return the country to some level of normality. Politics can be a harsh business, it can be quite personal at times, and in that...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would like to add to what others have said. The school experience of young people is not just about dealing with teachers. We need to hear the voices of school wardens, special needs assistants, caretakers and secretaries. They are all worried about going back in September, what it will mean for them, how they are going to be trained and how they will do their jobs. I ask the...

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I congratulate the Tánaiste on his appointment and look forward to working with him over the coming period. His remarks are welcome for the emphasis he has placed on young people. I am glad the Government is aware of this. We have only just in recent memory come out of the last economic collapse, which was quite painful and bruising. Many small business owners will have just begun to...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. During the general election held a few short months ago housing was the biggest issue arising on the doorsteps. In terms of affordability, it was far too common to come across a number of generations of one family living under the same roof, with people priced out of starting a life, with relationship break-up putting a huge strain on families...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 167. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of the removal of the 3% USC surcharge on incomes over €100,000 for the self-employed. [14114/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school bus services and on reports of the cancellation of services by Dublin Bus for a number of schools including a school (details supplied). [14111/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of the free schoolbooks pilot scheme scheduled for September 2020; and the additional estimated budget that would be required to expand the scheme to schools nationwide. [14112/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated value of voluntary contributions to the education sector; and the estimated required increase in the capitation grant to reasonably replace voluntary contributions for most schools. [14115/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 422. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the functions of the proposed new education research and policy section within her Department; the effect such a body will have on the way in which education policy is directed; and the way in which the function is currently conducted. [14116/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I have two main questions, the first of which relates to second level and is something that I raise as often as possible. School principals of disadvantaged schools say that they are concerned about a lost generation of young people who are now over 16 years of age, have no legal requirement to be in school and, therefore, might not return in...

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — the exceptional circumstances of Covid-19; — the necessity of shutting down non-essential economic activity to prevent the spread of viral infection and to save thousands of lives; — the loss of income suffered by many households, through no fault of their own, notwithstanding extraordinary measures taken to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (10 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I want to ask in particular about the financial package that will be available for the reopening of schools. Will it include post-primary further education colleges, which come under Mr. Ó Foghlú's remit and have a roll number as schools? I will ask my questions in a block if that is okay. Will the financial measures address the digital divide? I am told that approximately 30%...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 14. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to address the defects identified in legislation relating to the making of sectoral employment orders following the recent High Court judgment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15993/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: On the same matter, I wish to have placed on the record of the House the Minister's intentions in terms of dealing with the High Court decision on sectoral employment orders, outside of appealing to the Supreme Court. Are there legislative proposals from his Department? The Minister indicated to my colleague that he does not have any legislative proposals but I ask him to clarify that and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: If one is in employment that is governed by a sectoral employment order, one will feel particularly insecure currently, in conjunction with how insecure one might feel because of Covid and the fact that in living memory we had an economic crash less than a decade ago. We have lived in a low-wage economy for some years. I stated previously to the Minister previously - the Labour Party wishes...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is all about intent and how strongly one believes in these things. This is legislation that has been proposed by a former Minister in this area, who brought in the 2015 legislation to which the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, referred in an earlier comment. It is not a case of playing games or doing something for the sake of it; it is legislation that has identified the issues raised in the...