Results 3,141-3,160 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Deputy McConalogue's first question was about places and all 32 places have been taken and it has happened three times. I did not really understand the third question and perhaps I misheard it. There is a philosophical element in this, I suppose, and if I am reading the interventions by Deputies Ó Ríordáin, Collins and Bannon correctly, there seems to be an issue with whether...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: There is a continuing need and not all 32 graduates necessarily end up within the Protestant sector. Some will go to Educate Together schools and some have even gone to Roman Catholic schools. It is about ensuring the need is met on a continuing basis. That is the fundamental aspect of this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The restructuring of teacher education colleges throws up vagaries. For example, with regard to the DCU ethos, if one is mapping-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: There is nothing in that which precludes anybody of a particular ethos-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Exactly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Absolutely. Fundamentally, our objective is to ensure that every ethos is provided for specifically.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: That is the fundamental tenet of this provision. In any restructuring of teacher training colleges, for example, no single entity or ethos is excluded. I believe that is the point the Senator was making.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Yes. Historically, teacher training was very much aligned to particular traditions, even within the Catholic ethos. There were varying traditions in distinct geographical locations. Personally, I believe we must move to a teacher training paradigm that is more reflective of Irish society and more pluralist in its approach, while ensuring there are inherent guarantees for a minority ethos...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: -----and having choice. I hope I answered all of the questions. I apologise if I have not. Deputy Ó Ríordáin mentioned the issue of sexuality and equality. That does not have a bearing on this provision in terms of the equality Act, as I understand it. One's sexuality is a matter for one's self. I hope I understood correctly the point he was making. It has no bearing on...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The Deputy needs to listen to the reply.

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Perhaps Deputy Boyd Barrett might like to save them for Committee Stage when the Minister will be present.

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The Bill has been brought forward to provide a statutory basis for the multi-annual medium-term expenditure framework. I am pleased Deputies have engaged on the Bill and would like to respond briefly to some of the points raised on Second Stage and which we can debate further on Committee Stage next week. Deputy Fleming raised the fact that non-voted expenditure is outside the scope of the...

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: In addition, an initiative has been introduced to allow committees to conduct an ex ante examination of the Votes for which they are responsible with the relevant Ministers. There is also a drive to produce published performance measurement information in the REV. The Department is engaging proactively with the Oireachtas committee secretariat to improve the timeliness and quality of the...

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Referral to Select Committee (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1).

Topical Issue Debate: HIV Incidence (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Deputy Buttimer for raising this Topical Issue. The HPSC collects data on new HIV and AIDS diagnoses. Data for 2012 showed that the total number of HIV infections reported in all years up to 2012 had risen to 6,629. While the annual numbers of newly diagnosed HIV infections had been decreasing since 2008, there was a slight increase in the overall numbers of new HIV diagnoses in...

Topical Issue Debate: HIV Incidence (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: To reiterate, I agree wholeheartedly with the points made by Deputy Buttimer, specifically his point that 52% of those concerned are from the heterosexual community. We must bear that in mind in determining strategies. I am not aware of the membership of the high level group affected but I hope it is reflective of all communities. To reinforce the point made by Deputy Buttimer, there is a...

Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who is attending an engagement in Brussels in his capacity as Minister for Defence. I thank Deputy Broughan for raising a matter of significant public importance. Extended periods of good weather are no excuse for the type of anti-social behaviour referred to by Deputy. The Minister has been informed by the Garda...

Topical Issue Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: To be frank and honest with the Deputy, as I am not the line Minister I am not in a position to answer his specific questions about legislation on minimum pricing and transport. I will, however, refer his questions to the relevant Ministers. The Portmarnock and Howth areas are patrolled from Malahide and Howth Garda station. Malahide Garda station is in the Coolock Garda district, while...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to clarify the position on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. While I acknowledge the point made by Deputy Joan Collins regarding the presence of the senior Minister, it should be noted that I am a Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills. The Government has...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I wish to reiterate two points. The year-on-year growth in the overall student population is 1.3% and the demand for additional teaching resources from the NCSE has grown by 10%. If we are to be serious about this issue, we must interpret that dynamic, which has not yet been done. The NCSE is not yet in a position to provide a clear analysis of the underlying reasons for the large increase...