Results 2,941-2,960 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Question 110: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure farmers will continue to have payments by his Department issue to them by cheque should they so wish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19645/08]
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Question 427: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the month and year when a decision will be taken on the tenders submitted for the building of a primary school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19693/08]
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Question 80: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if discussions have taken place with the Department of Finance on the use of public money on the hiring and renting of prefabricated classrooms for primary schools when the same income flow over 30 years would cover the cost of capital borrowing from either commercial financial institutions or would be cheaper if borrowed at...
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, on his well-earned promotion.
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I look forward to having a much more constructive and positive relationship with the Minister than I had with his predecessor.
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I invite the Minister to feel free to harness the abuse and resources of Opposition spokespersons when he is battling with officials in Merrion Street to fill his coffers.
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Minister for his reply. He has not answered in full the question I asked, but he gave the reply his Department prepared for him. Will he not agree that for mature primary schools with all eight classes that have a proven need for accommodation â not start-up schools where there is a lead-in time as children move up classes starting with junior infants â the present policy of...
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Minister.
- School Accommodation. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I welcome the Minister's constructive response and I would be happy to engage with him. If he is to engage in a programme of capital expenditure during a downturn in the construction industry, which could be very positive and beneficial generally, would he consider using the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act to accelerate the planning? Many applications are stuck in...
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Question 82: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the estimates of his Department and other State agencies on the scale of adult illiteracy; the number of adults over the age of 18 who are deemed to be functionally illiterate in the English language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19768/08]
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: On a point of order. I asked a simple question about how many people are illiterate, not the percentage. We already have the information the Minister of State is reading into the record. He is wasting my time.
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: On a general point of order, I wish to put down a marker to both Ministers. Can we stop the filibustering replies from the Department of Education and Science?
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: The Department has a standard word processor that churns out details in reply to every other question.
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: I say to Deputy Kennedy that I asked a specific question that was not answered. The question was not about the percentage of adults between 16 and 64 but the number. Does the Minister of State have that information?
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: No, the Minister of State is not.
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Can I interrupt the Minister of State?
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Whoever drafted that reply for the Minister of State was being economical with the truth. As we approach the 12 June and the Lisbon referendum campaign, in effect, a quarter of the electorate is functionally illiterate. Is that a fair interpretation of what the Minister of State said? Two million people are entitled to vote, give or take those aged between 16 and 18. The Minister of State...
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: Does the Minister of State have up to date statistics of his own?
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: It is a reflection on the Department of Education and Science that the Minister of State is dealing with statistics from 1997, which is 11 years out of date. Despite all the money the Department is throwing at every problem it can see, it simply does not know the scale of the problem. Without knowing the scale of a problem, one cannot begin to address it.
- Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)
Ruairi Quinn: How does the Minister of State know?