Results 3,841-3,860 of 5,839 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. O'Connor. I will now take contributions from members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Deputy Thomas Byrne. I call Deputy Catherine Martin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We have only reached the end of the first third of the hearing, so it is important not to jump to conclusions at this stage. However, it has been unsettling to listen to the witnesses speak about their experiences and those of the people they represent. As Deputy Byrne said, the policy is clear but in reality it is not happening. The absence of guidelines from the Department and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Dempsey and Ms Joyce. I should point out that parents are the primary educators of the children and we will not achieve anything without parents working with schools. It takes a village to rear a child so everybody must come together to try to solve the challenges.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Reilly for his presentation and for his brevity. We are now going to move to the second part of the engagement. I welcome our four stakeholders. I ask Kieran Golden, president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD, to make his presentation now, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Golden and call on Mr. Pat Goff, CEO of the Irish Primary Principals' Network, IPPN, to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Probably more than anyone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Corr and call Dr. Michael Redmond, director of research and development at the Joint Managerial Body secretariat of secondary schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Dr. Redmond. I will open the meeting up to members, beginning with Deputy Catherine Martin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I completely accept the bona fides of everybody who is here and they have made an important contribution to the discussion. I accept that, in some instances, a reduced timetable is better than expulsion or suspension. Keeping a student within the school system is better than having him or her outside it, especially in the cases of illnesses. As my colleagues stated, data collection is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We have discussed it here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is a fair point. Many schools without DEIS status also have issues. It is good that the data are being gathered for DEIS schools, but we want to make sure-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is a point well made for us on which to finish. I thank all of the delegates for coming and presenting to us. We can all be glad that we are shining a light on the subject, on which a discussion needs to be had. As I mentioned, we will have another session on 13 June when we will engage with officials from the Department and Tusla, among others. At the end of the process we will...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Taoiseach paints a rosy picture of education but that is not the case really in practice. There are some quick points I intend to address. The first is the notion of the whole school community as well as parity of pay for teachers. It is really important that those making up the heartbeat of the school - the secretaries and caretakers - are treated equally. At the moment we know they...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I agree with the Taoiseach that some of the EPSEN Act is outdated. It is appalling that it has not been implemented within 15 years. Given that we need to re-examine the matter, though, I call on the Taoiseach to make that a priority. Without a shadow of a doubt, there must also be timelier assessments of children who need extra support and early intervention. A range of supports within...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: -----sharing two toilet cubicles. There is also the case of Coláiste Íosagáin in Portarlington.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Postal Voting (11 Jun 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if an investigation is taking place with regard to some members of the Defence Forces not receiving their postal vote in time to vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23563/19]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Data (11 Jun 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 111. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff working in the procurement area for major State infrastructure projects in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23660/19]