Results 461-480 of 873 for speaker:Averil Power

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Care Services Funding (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: I echo the sentiments expressed by the Acting Chairmen and welcome the Minister to the House. I have worked with him on other issues and know his capabilities. He is an excellent appointment to the post and I look forward to working with him on children's issues in the coming years. There is probably much correspondence already on the Minister's desk on child care issues from all over the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Child Care Services Funding (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister's indication that there will be a meeting of the funders tomorrow. The issue is urgent, and it is significant that a meeting is taking place tomorrow. I welcome the Minister's commitment to the effect that after the meeting an early meeting will be held with the Jigsaw Childcare Service. I emphasise to the Minister the urgency of the provision of short-term funding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: People have different views on these issues, but it is ridiculous that we have come to such an impasse over changes that have been flagged for years and are ready to be rolled out to schools. Students are stuck in the middle. I understand that the teacher unions and the teachers themselves are nervous about change. Change in education can be exciting and important, but it should also be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: That is why there needs to be a compromise. I do not know why schools cannot swap exam papers. They can be numbered, which is what is done in college. Sometimes, one is taking a small course and one wonders whether, despite the anonymous number, the lecturer will still have a good idea as to whose paper he or she is marking. There is external spot checking of papers to ensure there are no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: I know we will have to discuss this in private session, but let me repeat that it would be helpful for the committee to bring in the partners in education, the teacher unions, the Joint Managerial Body and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals so that they are together in the room to try to tease out the issues. Perhaps we can play a role as a committee in helping to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: We have heard where the Minister is coming from.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: I was going to make a similar point. It is essential that teachers leaving our teacher training colleges at the end of their initial teacher education have a high standard of maths. I believe the Minister is coming at it from the wrong direction by changing the entry requirement from leaving certificate level. I know there are initiatives in Marino and elsewhere to try to get more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: However, it is premature to tackle it at the leaving certificate level and it would damage too many other objectives we have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Averil Power: As it would have repercussions in so many other areas, I do not believe it is the right way to go about it.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I, too, object in the strongest possible terms to section 33. As Senator Darragh O'Brien said, this section represents a huge interference with the pension rights of members of the Irish airline superannuation scheme. Essentially, it will give the trustees the power to wind up the scheme without fulfilling the minimum funding standard - as Senator Darragh O'Brien noted, the company remains...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I will touch on some of the Minister's closing remarks. He has said the reason this section is being brought forward is that if agreement is reached, the tools will be available to implement it. I share the same concerns of my colleague. What the section does is provide that if agreement cannot be reached, the trustees will have the power to unilaterally bring down people's benefits and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Commemorative Events (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister. As President Higgins pointed out earlier this year, the contribution of women to Irish history has not been adequately recognised by the State. One area in which this is very evident is the lack of commemorative public works of art to acknowledge the role women played in securing our independence and building the modern Irish State. In fact, of 34 statues of people...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Commemorative Events (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I thank the Minister for his response and welcome the fact that a number of events are taking place this year and in coming years to commemorate the work of women and organisations such as Cumann na mBan. It is important that there be more balance in public works of art. It is wrong that people walking around Dublin will see 30 statues of men and only four of women. I could give the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I thank the representatives for their presentations. To start with the issue of schoolbooks, the INTO has already outlined and reiterated the flaws in the last scheme that was announced. I thought it was rather bizarre that a grant scheme was announced from which 80% of schools were excluded access. It not only penalised those who had taken the initiative and set up a scheme but sent out a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: That is an area that is worthy of Government grants. I ask the officials to examine the grant perspective to help schools to put in place the measures they need. While there is an incentive for every school to put in place energy saving measures, as it would help them to use their capitation grant funding better, the reality is that many principals are lucky if they can pay the bills this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: We had two very different issues to address and, to be fair to the witnesses, it is important that we engage with both issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I can see the Attorney General's point and I am aware that her office has become much stricter in the context of powers being devolved to Ministers in circumstances where such powers are not bestowed in primary legislation. However, a one-page Bill could resolve this issue and the Minister could easily bring one forward if he so desired. I suspect that the real issue is that he is of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the announcement that a commission of investigation is to be established to report on the mother and baby homes. I note the assurance that the commission will have full statutory powers. I understand that a cross-departmental group will report to the Government by 30 June to advise on the terms of reference. I join other Senators in calling for an early debate this week ahead of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her recent promotion. I also commend Senator Zappone on introducing the Bill. I welcome the individuals and organisations present with us today in the Gallery. It has been a long fight to put the legislation on the agenda. Those concerned have a powerful advocate in Senator Zappone to take the issue forward. I acknowledge the...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2014)

Averil Power: I move amendment No. 17: In page 31, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: "34. The Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998 is amended by inserting a new section 32A as follows:"32A. The IAS scheme shall not be allowed to close its pension scheme except where the scheme has reached a minimum 90 per cent funding standard.".".The Minister referred to this amendment when...