Results 361-380 of 1,013 for speaker:Colette Kelleher

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I thank the State Examination Commission for its paper and response. The witnesses have given a comprehensive response to the matters at hand. They have presented good evidence to address the questions raised by the petitioner. My question is not on that because we can accept what the witnesses have provided as a very comprehensive response. I wish to welcome Ms Elena Roche who,...

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: Would the commission consider having a more formal consultation or feedback loop with candidates? The witness referred to the schools, but the school is first and the pupil is second. It is similar with the teacher. The media is a very direct route. This petition clearly hit a nerve given the number of people who signed it. As I said the witness addressed the questions beautifully, so...

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: Would that include candidates as well?

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I understand. However, it is under consideration.

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I understand why that would be the case.

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: Does the board of the State Examinations Commission consider the voice of students? Does the low level of complaints give the commission pause for thought that its complaints process may need to be more prominent or visible? Sometimes organisations make it difficult for people to complain, although I am not arguing that is the case with the State Examinations Commission. While the low...

Committee on Public Petitions: English Junior Certificate Examination: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I am only asking a question, which is the job of members.

Seanad: 100 Years of Women's Suffrage in Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I am sharing time with Senator Ruane. I welcome the Minister to the House on this great occasion of celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage in Ireland. Women’s suffrage in Ireland was an important milestone for Irish women to have their rightful say in their country and take their rightful place in public life. It was for the common good. It symbolised the important public...

Seanad: International Protection (Family Unification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I move amendment No. 1:In page 4, to delete lines 39 and 40 and substitute the following:"(2) This Act shall come into operation no later than three months after the date of its passing.". I thank Senators who supported the Bill to allow it to proceed to Report Stage. The amendment provides that the Act will come into operation not later than three months after the date of its passing. I...

Seanad: International Protection (Family Unification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: It can be extrapolated.

Seanad: International Protection (Family Unification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: The Minister of State and I worked together very closely on many things and agree on many things. We disagree, unfortunately, about the means but not the end of how we get to being decent to people in trouble all over the world. Despite overwhelming evidence about the merits of keeping refugee families together, the Government has limited opportunities for family reunions set out in law....

Seanad: International Protection (Family Unification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: It is being pressed.

Seanad: International Protection (Family Unification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I genuinely appreciate the offer of the Minister of State to continue to work with me on this Bill. I think we differ on the means in this instance, but we share the end that we wish to achieve. I see that from the work we have done on other issues together.We differ on the best routes to achieve that end, but I am very happy that the door is and will remain open. We will continue to work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (8 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I thank the Minister of State. We have had discussions and one led to the commitment to review the Act. A lot of statistics have been cited but we have to reiterate them because of the scale of the crisis for Traveller families. According to the last local authority count of 2016, almost 7,000 Travellers are either sharing housing, are in bays or are living in unauthorised halting sites....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (8 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: Those seeking private rental accommodation very often do not say they are Travellers because they anticipate possible discrimination. Given there is so much reliance on the private rental sector, it is a serious problem if access to such accommodation is de facto ruled out because of discrimination. People should not have to pretend to be other than who they are. That is a major issue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (8 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: There is naked prejudice and discrimination.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (8 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I endorse the comments made by Deputies Barry and Ó Broin. Given the time, I will not delay. Time is against us but can this committee - I am a visitor as opposed to a permanent member of the committee - commit to maintaining a watching brief over the review, which we have now, to make sure that there are no undue delays in that review and that it does not end up being another talking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (8 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: The law.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (21 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: I commend Senators Warfield and Ruane for bringing this Bill forward. Democracy, as we have known it, is under threat. Governments are out of touch with their citizens and the gap between the citizen, particularly disenfranchised groups such as 16 year olds and 17 year olds and others who are marginalised or not heard, and their governments is fertile ground for the activities of the likes...

Seanad: Ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (21 Mar 2018)

Colette Kelleher: It will be a matter of pride for the Minister of State to have the UN convention ratified. It is a wonderful accolade for a politician. I pay tribute to Senators Mark Daly and Conway and also to Senator Dolan, my colleague in the Civil Engagement Group. They will not rest till the option protocol is in place but, more importantly, until the necessary resources are provided to make...