Results 3,981-4,000 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Educational Supports for Children Experiencing Homelessness: Motion [Private Members] (3 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Deputy Thomas Byrne for tabling this motion and I thank the Deputies who have spoken from the heart very much. I will preface my remarks by saying that I have 31 years' experience as a primary school teacher and principal. It is a tragedy that any child should be homeless and that any children going to school should have the burden of not having a safe roof over their heads. I want...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (3 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Now.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am sorry, but can we take the second Commencement matter first, please?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The reason I ask is I do not have the notes on St. Angela's College.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I beg the Senator's pardon.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am really sorry, but a mistake has been made in the office. It had nothing to do with me I hasten to add.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and wish to advise her that I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality. She will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána who holds primary responsibility for the effective and efficient use of the resources...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will make sure I inform the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, of what the Senator has said. I will also take a copy of her contribution.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Institutions (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I know he is very interested in it. He has spoken to me often about it and attended meetings on it. I met the president of the NUIG and the president of St. Angela's College in Government Buildings to discuss the issues around the backdrop of the merger between the St. Angela's and the National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG. I pay tribute...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Institutions (4 Apr 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Senator Feighan for raising this matter. I know he has been on the case and will continue to ensure that it is a top priority in the Department of Education and Skills.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Amendments Nos. 1 and 32 address the use of the title "university" in the State. Amendment No. 1 represents a consequential change to the Long Title and is required in order to ensure that amendment No. 32 is captured in the scope of this Bill. Amendment No. 32 is an amendment to the Universities Act 1997 to establish a new pathway for institutions to access and use the title of...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the House. I received a great deal of support in devising this Bill. I thank my Fianna Fáil colleagues, including Senator Gallagher. Senator McDowell has put a lot of work into it, as have Senators Reilly and McFadden. We all put this legislation together and this measure is the right thing to do. Senator Mullen asked whether graduates would still be awarded an NUI degree....

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As signalled on Committee Stage, these are further amendments to section 8. This section provides Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, with statutory powers to evaluate a provider’s corporate fitness. While the Bill, as drafted, enables QQI to conduct a fit and proper test of the provider itself, amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, and 7 to 14, inclusive, will empower QQI to...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Senators have captured what we are trying to do, namely, to ensure students get a proper language education, along with ensuring staff and employees in these language schools are treated properly and fairly. I am sending a message loud and clear through the Seanad today that no provider should think that it can come into Ireland and set up a shady or dodgy school. QQI now has the powers to...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On Committee Stage, the House voted in favour of the Labour Party amendment to section 25, amending the provisions of the international education mark, IEM. This amendment requires QQI, in establishing the codes of practice for the IEM, to specify requirements relating to compliance with quality standards for the recruitment, employment and cessation of employment of employees, and with...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Senators. This is highly progressive legislation. The message I give to the English language schools is that they should enter into dialogue with Mr. Patrick King. The IEM will be a marketing tool that high class, top quality English language schools can use. It will also remove substandard schools that teach English as a foreign language. The legislation will benefit schools...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Section 23 provides the legislative mechanism for the inclusion of the awards in the national framework of qualifications, NFQ. Following consultations with relevant stakeholders, amendments Nos. 15 to 18, inclusive, have been brought forward to provide for a more streamlined process primarily for the inclusion in the NFQ of those awards made by the designated awarding bodies, including the...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Amendments Nos. 23 to 29, inclusive, will amend section 28 to add the Institute of Public Administration, IPA, to the list of bodies that were exempted from the annual charge for the learner protection fund. The IPA receives substantial public funding and its exclusion from the payment of this charge is in line with the policies approach being taken for exemptions. Section 30 of the Bill...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Senator Ruane for reminding me about Marino Institute because I know Senator Byrne did a lot of work on that to make sure it had an exemption with regard to the learner protection fund. I thank my officials in the Department of Education and Skills - Padraig Hennigan, who did a lot of work on this, as did Wendy Ross and the assistant secretary, William Beausang. I am very grateful....