Results 3,921-3,940 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements (19 Dec 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Deputy Penrose. I have received the same queries that were raised with him and his colleagues. I was in the United Arab Emirates and met a number of Irish teachers there. There are more than 3,000 of them there. The one message I received there was about the great respect for Irish teachers teaching abroad. Often this is not evident in Ireland. A really proud individual running a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Third Level Admissions Entry Requirements (19 Dec 2018)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I said to Deputy Penrose that the Department has received the submissions and that they are currently under consideration. I expect a further update from officials in January, which I will share with Deputies.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Was the Deputy not listening?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will make sure the Deputy gets a response this week.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There are children watching from the Visitors Gallery.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This will be class.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: English Language Training Organisations (22 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Deputy for asking this question. Before I answer, I pay tribute to her for her work on the Committee on Education and Skills, from which she knows that we are progressing the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018. English language teaching is important to Ireland. It is also important to the students who come here to study the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: English Language Training Organisations (22 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I apologised to the Deputy previously because that was a mistake made with the Department during August. Apologies for that. I was shocked at what happened with Grafton College and to the students, although they came under the students' assistance fund, but also to the teachers. That is why I, with my officials, whom I thank, really pushed that we put this together. We have now engaged...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: English Language Training Organisations (22 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is a mediator appointed and all the various issues will be looked at to see what we can come up with. It is the first time in this sector that we have sent in a mediator to explore whether there is scope, as I said, in the sector, to put REAs in place. That will transform the sector.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to increase financial supports for postgraduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households. In response to this commitment, additional funding of €7m was secured in Budgets 2017 and 2018 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants from September 2017 for the most disadvantaged postgraduate...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: He said it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Delayed.

Seanad: First Aid and Mental Health in Schools (Initial Teacher Training) Bill 2018: Second Stage (23 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will wait.

Seanad: First Aid and Mental Health in Schools (Initial Teacher Training) Bill 2018: Second Stage (23 Jan 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank all Senators who have spoken. I welcome the opportunity to address the First Aid and Mental Health in Schools (Initial Teacher Training) Bill 2018 and the First Aid and Mental Health in Schools (Existing Teachers) Bill 2018, which are being debated together on Second Stage. As a former school principal and a teacher for 31 years, and in my current role, I acknowledge the great work...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I wish to address the matter of stakeholder engagement, which has been of great concern to Senators. I also want to remedy and remediate the indiscretion in that regard. I wanted to ensure that it would be procedurally possible for the Joint Committee on Education and Skills to continue with its proposed stakeholder engagement once the Bill had been introduced in this House. The joint...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for tabling these amendments and for her hard work. I am aware that a number of providers will be only engaging with QQI for the first time on this new Bill and there may be a level of anxiety about some of the requirements that will be placed on providers that wish to have the programme validated by QQI. This is understandable but I assure Senators and providers that...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I cannot accept amendments Nos. 71, 73 and 76. However, in response to amendment No. 70, I tabled amendment No. 74 which will exempt Marino Institute of Education and Mary Immaculate College. Senator Byrne raised the issue of Mary Immaculate College on Second Stage. The institutions are principally publicly funded and amendments Nos. 72, 74 and 75 correct their omission from the original...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank all Senators who have spoken. I also thank the ten Senators who put their names to the proposed amendment. To single out one, Senator James Reilly has me haunted on this issue, but I thank them all for the work they have done. Members will know from the discussion of these issues on Second Stage, the proposed use of the title "University" in the State by RCSI has arisen on several...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Feb 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, who is in the Seanad at present. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position regarding the building project to provide improved accommodation for St Finian’s community college in Swords, County Dublin. As the Deputy...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Feb 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will try to answer the Deputy's final question first. There were design issues which need to be considered. This requires the design team to review the project to ensure compliance with new regulations, namely the near-zero energy building regulations. Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB carried out a prequalification process at an earlier stage of the project. However, for a number of...