Results 2,581-2,600 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Private Members' Business. Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (12 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The Deputy is talking about the use of language, but she has played around with it herself.

Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011: Order for Report Stage (12 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report Stage (12 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Deputy O'Dea for his remarks and accept in good faith the manner in which he proposed his amendment. It is our intention to commence the Act and the new patents amendment rules 2011 by way of an order as soon after the enactment of the Patents Amendment Act 2011 as possible. I am very conscious of the points the Deputy has made in that sense. I welcome the opportunity to bring this...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Twenty minutes.

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Is the Deputy sure about this?

Private Members' Business. School Guidance Counsellors: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Is the Deputy being ironic, talking about penny wise and pound foolish? It is scandalous to be lectured like that.

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I am pleased to bring before the Seanad for its consideration the Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011, the main purpose of which is to make the necessary changes to the Patents Act 1992 to provide for the ratification by Ireland of the London Agreement. The London Agreement, to which Ireland is a signatory, is aimed at reducing the cost of the European patent process to applicants by reducing the...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Deputies for their considered and valuable contributions to the debate. I will start by providing clarification on last point made, on the assumption that the Deputy may be leaving the Chamber.

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Students can study Russian on the leaving certificate curriculum. There are a number of Confucius Institutes throughout the State where Chinese languages may be learned, as well as at University College Cork and quite a number of secondary schools. As to Portuguese, I may revert to the Deputy on that one. I note the point he is making; we are conscious of that. In his introductory speech,...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Referral to Select Sub-committee (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a)(6)(a).

Third Level Fees (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: In the context of overall necessary difficult expenditure reduction measures announced in budget 2012, new students entering postgraduate courses from the 2012-2013 academic year onwards will not be entitled to any maintenance payment under the student grant scheme. However, those students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their...

Third Level Fees (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The answer to the second question is 9,435. Regarding the first question, I do not have a specific date but the review is ongoing.

Third Level Fees (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The most up-to-date figures supplied by the 66 grant awarding authorities show that 9,435 postgraduate students were in receipt of a student grant. The distinction between the two is not specified but I can come back to Deputy Smith on that point.

Third Level Fees (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: In a full year, 2,000 students on the lowest incomes will meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant and will have their fees paid up to the maximum fee limit allowable under the student grant scheme. Another 4,000 students will receive a fee contribution of €2,000. The new arrangements will apply to two thirds of the postgraduate cohort on the lowest incomes, which is...

Third Level Fees (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: It is like trying to measure how long is a piece of string. We cannot predict the impact of this in terms of exact numbers and participation rates. Participation rates at third level are determined by a myriad of factors and income is not the only criterion. Parental aspects, social and cultural factors, the level of pre-existing educational attainment, whether someone is in employment,...

Third Level Fees (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: That is a very subjective statement. There is no way of predicting the number of people who will apply for postgraduate courses, except to say that it is increasing year on year. Ironically, this increase is as a result of the loss of economic sovereignty. I take the point made by Deputy Smith in respect of interaction with industry. The research prioritisation exercise will be published...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I am pleased to note that the National Competitiveness Council endorses the approach outlined in Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life which I launched in July 2011. The Strategy provides for a range of measures which will improve mathematics. These include curriculum reform, actions with parents to support their children's learning, improved initial and continuing professional...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The Enterprise Platform Programme (EPP) comprises a suite of entrepreneurship development courses operated by the Institutes of Technology (IoTs). The Programme has become an established mechanism for the development of entrepreneurs and the creation of start-up businesses across the regions. The Programme was funded until mid-2010 by the Higher Education Authority at which point budgetary...

Written Answers — Copyright Infringements: Copyright Infringements (24 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I would point out that Ireland has a strong and robust regime for dealing with copyright infringements whether in the digital environment or otherwise. The Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 provides a technology-neutral exclusive right for copyright owners to communicate their works through any mode. The Act also contains extensive provisions dealing with infringement of that right or...

Export Credit Insurance Scheme (25 Jan 2012)

Seán Sherlock: There are no proposals to introduce a Government guaranteed export credit insurance scheme for Irish exporters to these countries. The Government's position on this issue has been informed by the findings of the 2009 report commissioned by my Department from KPMG consultants. That report established that the introduction of such a scheme would be expensive, with significant ongoing costs...