Results 2,761-2,780 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Economic Management Council (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Sinn Féin does faux indignation very well.

Economic Management Council (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The Deputy should come out with him.

Economic Management Council (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: We were much more organised, Micheál.

Economic Management Council (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The Deputy is not listening to the answer.

Higher Education Grants (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Can I clarify? I am reading a response that is pertinent to the issue Deputy Flanagan is raising. It is in order to assist with the reply. I say that sincerely.

Higher Education Grants (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I am a Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, is unavoidably detained elsewhere.

Higher Education Grants (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Deputy Flanagan for raising this important matter. The Deputy refers to an announcement last December that the means test for student grants will be amended to take account of the value of certain capital assets as well as income for the 2013-14 academic year. A considerable body of reports over a number of years have strongly recommended the introduction of a capital test for...

Higher Education Grants (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The short reply is that any decision of this nature is ultimately a political decision to be decided by Government. We must await the recommendations of the implementation group and have consideration to those recommendations. However, it is ultimately a political decision. I share the concerns raised by Deputy Flanagan in that I, too, represent a constituency with a significant...

Higher Education Grants (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: There has to be some regard to the tools of the trade, as it were, that are necessary to derive that income. The Minister has met with ICMSA representatives and he has had regard to the position espoused by them and the implementation group is working as we speak and we await its recommendations. However, it will be ultimately a decision for Government.

Bullying in Schools (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Deputy Neville for raising this issue. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the very serious issue of bullying. Tackling the issue of bullying, and in particular homophobic bullying in schools, is a key commitment in the programme for Government. Bullying can ruin a young person's enjoyment of some of the most important years of his or her life and in some cases can have tragic...

Bullying in Schools (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Deputy for his input. It is important to acknowledge the work that is already being done by the Department of Education and Skills to combat and prevent bullying. The inspectorate provides help to schools by supporting, advising on and evaluating anti-bullying measures. This is done through the primary and post-primary school evaluation process, and through the social, personal...

Local Authority Mortgage Arrears (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Local authorities have traditionally been the lenders of last resort for low income households who could not access funds from commercial lenders. By definition, this cohort of borrowers is more susceptible to the economic downturn and external shock. In this context, it is unsurprising then that local authority mortgage arrears should...

Local Authority Mortgage Arrears (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Having been a member of a local authority and as somebody who continues to interface with a local authority on behalf of my constituents, it is fair to reiterate that the level of sympathy and empathy with individual clients is one kind of a positive engagement where the local authority endeavours to do its very best for the client in question. I believe we would all agree on that point....

Credit Guarantee Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I am happy to conclude the discussion on Second Stage of the Credit Guarantee Bill 2012. This legislation will address some of the difficulties being faced every day by small and medium enterprises, SMEs, throughout the country, which I have been made aware of daily since being appointed Minister of State last year. The ability of our SMEs to succeed and grow underpins our future potential...

Credit Guarantee Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I wish to respond to some of the comments made by Members. In the context of the finer details of how the scheme will operate, the Minister will lay the scheme before the House as soon as this legislation is enacted. This provision is provided for in section 6 of the Bill. As for the use of personal guarantees, the banks still will be able to consider the normal and usual ways that...

Credit Guarantee Bill 2012: Referral to Select Sub-Committee (22 May 2012)

Seán Sherlock: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (6 Jun 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The salary sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform for the Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Mark Ferguson, is €189,115 gross per annum. This includes a personal pension contribution rate. Professor Ferguson commenced in the post on 16th January 2012.

Public Procurement (7 Jun 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The procurement innovation group's report and the accompanying 10 Step Guide to Smart Procurement and SME Access to Public Contracts were both published in July 2009. Some of the recommendations were incorporated subsequently into the Department of Finance's current guidelines to public contracting authorities which are designed to ensure tendering processes operate in a manner that...

Public Procurement (7 Jun 2012)

Seán Sherlock: Specifically on the issue of public procurement, I refer the Deputy to the action plan for jobs. Actions 3.49 to 3.54, inclusive, relate to pre-qualification criteria, the establishment of a mechanism to allow SMEs to engage with contracting authorities on issues of concern, the establishment by Enterprise Ireland of advisers and mentors to help client companies to prepare better public...

Job Creation (7 Jun 2012)

Seán Sherlock: The Government's jobs initiative of May 2011 was aimed at restoring confidence in the economy, providing opportunities for re-skilling those who had lost jobs and assisting people in getting back to work. Key measures in the jobs initiative included halving the rate of employer's PRSI on earnings up to €356 per week, a reduction in the lower rate of VAT on certain goods and services,...