Results 3,441-3,460 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A very interesting report in The Irish Times looks at how our primary school children are doing compared to other children across 60 countries in the developed world. The report concerned the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study which showed that we are doing all right but are not great. We are doing quite well in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would appreciate being allowed to speak.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I think I can answer the question myself but it is important that we have a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to link this to a debate we also need on third level education and outcomes in this area. Yesterday, I attended an outstanding showcase by the Western Development Commission highlighting the businesses it is supporting. Some of these businesses are coming out of our third level institutions.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister for Education and Science and the Taoiseach in particular should give each third level institution a job creation target and link that to its funding. I know this would be revolutionary but it can be done.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Many of our third level institutions have the intellectual property but they are not being measured on this. We need to move this intellectual property on to commercialisation and jobs.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is a worthwhile debate to have. I apologise for all the interruptions and I hope the Leader heard my request.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister, Deputy Hogan, is very welcome. My request to him is to ask the Minister for Health to outline the criteria used to determine the eligibility of children with rare life-threatening cancers and other illnesses for financial support from the Health Service Executive in order that they may be included in clinical trials in foreign jurisdictions. Moreover, if this is not possible,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I appreciate the information the Minister has provided. We are aware of the scheme. It is not about treatment, it is about a trial. That is the difference. Germany is within the area and there appears to be a trial there that is producing improved results that would not be available to the child in this jurisdiction. The question is whether the trial could be considered a treatment...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am grateful for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the delegates for their patience. We have to leave when a vote is called in the House. I congratulate the Chairman for inviting everyone to the meeting. It has been a very impressive presentation. I have questions for each of the speakers. Our overall goal is a high quality, affordable and accessible third level education system that will serve the student and the nation in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Certainly. Given the needs of the nation, should funding to universities and to institutes of technology be linked to job creation targets? All the institutions here are engaged in research. The universities benefit hugely from funding from Science Foundation Ireland. Over €1 billion has been spent in that space since 2000. The institutes of technology are involved in applied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is true, it has increased. However, there is still a significant percentage who do not continue to third level. I am asking questions and not being negative about this. With regard to funding, I note that it is mentioned in Mr. Costello's contribution that the average cost of funding per student is €10,000, yet private colleges are offering what are considered to be high...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am getting through my points quickly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is it time the pay and pensions of staff were examined? Mr. Costello has said the universities have not had a chance to determine the levels which I know are managed under the Croke Park agreement. However, I would like him to deal with this point. With regard to the IT sector, how many jobs did Dr. Hinfelaar say the institutes had contributed to creating? She has mentioned a figure for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What about the fact that it is happening already where the sector has generated intellectual property having conducted the research and needs to examine ways to move that to commercialisation for the benefit of the country?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I referred to targets in that area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is important for aspiring third level students. Is Mr. Purser saying this is in place in some universities and that, while students may want to study law and French, they will study law initially and make their selection once they are in college? At what point do they take up law with French?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: With regard to the centre of excellence idea, UCD might be the best in the field at French and law but NUIG might be the best at German and law. The Hunt report refers to being mission-specific and forming centres of excellence. Will we not just have a proliferation of college offerings, thus resulting in a funding issue?