Results 4,221-4,240 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 26:In page 12, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:“(3) The Expert Advisory Council shall be independent in the performance of its functions.”. As we know, the Minister has announced the composition of the council which includes many individuals of very high calibre. However, various action groups have raised concerns about the lack of an...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: On the basis of the Minister's commitment to look at the matter before Report Stage, I will withdraw my amendment.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 33:In page 17, line 25, to delete “30 days” and substitute “10 days”. This amendment proposes to delete 30 days and substitute ten days. It is in keeping with the spirit of the council's independence and ensuring that the council can act as an effective watchdog and that its report should be published as swiftly as possible. The potential...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I take on board the Minister's reply but I still believe that 30 days is excessive. If the council is supposed to be independent I do not believe a delay of that nature is consistent with that independence. I suggest the Minister should reconsider his position on Report Stage.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The point is made.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 39:In page 19, line 10, to delete "Not less than 60 and not more than 90 days" and substitute "Not more than 10 days". While the Minister has said he will reconsider this issue I do not see the need for any more than ten days. The Minister has agreed to consider it and will come back on Report Stage when I hope he will have a positive response.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 51:In page 3, line 9, to delete “An Chomhairle Chomhairleach Shaineolach Náisiúnta um Athrú Aeráide” and substitute “An Chomhairle Chomhairleach um Athrú Aeráide”.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 52:In page 3, lines 10 and 11, to delete "National Expert Advisory Council on Climate Change" and substitute “Climate Change Advisory Council". Will the Minister remind me what he said in regard to the name change? The amendment changes the name from the national expert advisory council on climate change to the climate change advisory council.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I will withdraw the amendment on the basis that the Minister will look at it before Report Stage.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on recent comments by a person (details supplied) of the Higher Education Authority that due to the shortfall of capital and staff investment in the higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22322/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I seek the Minister's views on the recent comments by the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Mr. Tom Boland, that owing to the shortfall in capital and staff investment in our higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed by the anaemic detail provided in the Minister's response. There is a real crisis in our third level sector. As pointed out by Mr. Boland in his commentary, there has been a 15% increase in third level student numbers over the past five years and alongside that, a 12% reduction in staff numbers. Overall, there was a 24% reduction, per student, in State funding during that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I understand the group chaired by Mr. Cassells will not report until the end of this year. I seek the views of the Minister on the comments of the HEA chief executive in relation to whether it is acceptable to continue to expect colleges to accept further students without provision of the necessary funding to cater for them. I ask the Minister to address that specific point.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: We all recall the promise made by the Labour Party in advance of the last general election, namely, that it would reduce the student contribution fee to €1,500. Instead, what has happened is that each student attending third level education is now being asked to pay €3,000, which is twice the fee to which the Labour Party committed prior to the last general election. Also, not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the number of schools which had to close on 22 May 2015 due to their use as polling stations for the referendums; if she will provide details on the impact this has on lost school days; if she will agree to liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to draw up a plan to find alternative venues for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The question asks, particularly in light of the recent referendums and the use, once more, of many primary schools across the country as polling stations, the Minister's views on the use of primary schools, the impact on the education system and the cost of losing out on a day's teaching as a result of schools being closed. How many schools were involved in polling activities? Will the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister does not need to set up or ask a commission for an opinion in order to make a decision on what she believes is the most practical place for a polling station. I am very disappointed in the reply she has given, as the Minister has really not engaged in any way on the question I put for consideration. She has diverted the issue to the Minister for the Environment, Community and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: In my rough estimation, it costs up to approximately €20 million per day to run our primary schools across the country. There have been seven referendums or elections since the last general election, with one polling day on a Saturday. At least half the primary schools, in my rough assessment, were closed across the country for use as polling stations. That would mean at least...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister's answer is in no way acceptable. This is not a complicated problem. It may not be possible in her local polling station to find alternatives.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: That may be an example, and that is grand. In cases where there is not an alternative available there is no problem with the school closing but this problem does not require a commission to be established. It does not require putting forward the idea that this involves moving to Saturday polling instead. What is generally required is a proper audit and assessment in each area as to whether...