Results 441-460 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I thank the Minister of State for his time and I thank the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I understand, although I was not present, that despite the disappointment expressed by certain Senators, some amendments were accepted. I reiterate what Senator Kenneally said on Second Stage, namely, that this is a very important Bill, notwithstanding what certain people see as shortcomings and which...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I support Senator Ó Murchú's call for victims of a crime to be notified of when perpetrators of crimes are being released. Four or five years ago a lady approached me as a result of an assault she had suffered from a young thug. The same youth assaulted others also and was imprisoned as a result. Subsequently, he was released, without the knowledge of the victim, the lady who came to me...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister. I compliment everybody involved in the concept of partnership in education. The teachers of Ireland, through the decades and against formidable odds, have helped to advance the cause of our society and economy. I also compliment the inspectorate for initiating the report, although I have a number of criticisms. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue of...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: The report is significant and there was a sound rationale for its production, but the fundamental question is whether it has served its intended purpose adequately. I refer to the four legitimate areas of concern I have. With regard to the question of whether the sample upon which the findings are based is scientifically representative, the report states on page 8: "It was not a...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: In other words, the assessor was given an impression of the student's competence prior to the conduct of the assessment. That was prejudicial to any qualitative evaluation of the student. This is a regrettable departure from the established and respected norms of assessment and scientific research. If I am incorrect, I would like the Minister to outline why. This is almost akin to giving...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I join with other Senators in requesting the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House and review the implementation of the special education programme in our schools. I acknowledge a national framework was established by the Government such as was never in existence previously. As somebody who had many dealings with special needs children during the 1970s...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: Does the Senator know something we do not?

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I do not have gems of wisdom to add but I would like to make a number of appropriate acknowledgements. I welcome the introduction of the Bill which is timely for the reasons set out by previous speakers. The issue has dragged on for too long. I agree with the principle underpinning the legislation and it should give a kick in the transom to the ongoing discussions. This Bill has a...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I got a student loan for books. I believe I spent a little bit of it on them anyway. Since then, I have continued to show loyalty to this institution. The credit union movement should be commended by all sides on the manner in which it took up where for-profit organisations, such as banks and other institutions, left off. In that way, it reached out in a very inclusive, caring and...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: The national skills strategy report has raised some fundamental challenges which I am sure will be embraced with enthusiasm by the Government and turned into opportunities. If one takes the main elements of the report and the key challenges that have been identified, initiatives are already significantly under way to address them in the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise,...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Seanad Éireann commends the Government on hiring 4,000 more primary teachers since 2002 and 7,000 since 1997; notes that last year there were 80,000 fewer primary schoolchildren in classes of 30 or more than in 1997, while the number of children in classes of 35 or more was just one fifth of the 1997...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I tried to figure out whether this was about having an effective debate on education. If my party officer handed me a motion such as this and told me to debate it in the Seanad, I would call on my leader to have him sacked instantly. The motion comprises six or seven elements and I will comment on each of these presently. It reads like a litany of moans to an agony aunt and concludes by...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: When I read it first it took me back to a time in my youth when I witnessed a frustrated farmer going out with a scatter-gun to shoot the crows eating his corn. He fired at everything in sight but hit nothing. That sums up what Senator Ulick Burke is afflicted with tonight and what his spin doctors have foisted on him. The scatter-gun approach he has taken in this Chamber this evening does...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: With his professional background and his expertise in education it must be a major embarrassment for him to be sent in here in this manner. I sympathise with him in that regard as I do with Senator Browne, who seconded the motion. I acknowledge that each of the areas listed in the Senator's motion is an important area in its own right. The Minister of State will concur with that view when...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I have no doubt his achievements will be equally spectacular to those of the Minister. It must be said those achievements have been publicly acknowledged by all partners in education. I remember the comments made in recent years by partners in education at all levels of education and I challenge anybody to contradict me——

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——on that and produce quotes in that regard. Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed with the way the motion is structured and its obvious intent, I will comment briefly on each of the items in so far as time will allow me do so. On the school buildings and maintenance programme, Senators Burke and Browne referred to the long delays that can take place in the building of a...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——I understand is working successfully in entrusting to local boards of management much of the initiative in regard to fast-tracking development. I will leave it to the Minister of State to expand on that if he has the opportunity. On the issue of school building and school maintenance in general, one set of figures alone tells a major story. This year the Minister and the Minister of...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: That is a multiple of six.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I realise the truth hurts and memories can fade but I will jog the Senators' memories on that. The Minister and the Minister of State will have 1,500 projects under way this year ranging from very small works to new roofs, windows, large extensions and new schools. They will seek further funding next year and the year after and, given their record, I have no doubt they will succeed in...