Results 5,021-5,040 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. My request to the Minister of State concerns the need for the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the plans, proposed facilities and rationale for the site choice for the new school arising from the amalgamation of the Mercy and Presentation second level schools in Galway city. This is planned to start in September 2016. Since I tabled...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I learned some of that information in the period since tabling this motion last week, but my question about the provision of a gym was not addressed in the answer. I included it in my question.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The proposed facilities were mentioned in the question. This issue remains a concern. The Minister of State referred to the possibility of finance been realised from the other site, but when I spoke with CEIST last night, it stated that it had no plans and did not know to what use the site would be put. Perhaps it could have another educational use. One could argue that, in the meantime,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The patron did not revert for consultation subsequently. Is the Minister of State with me?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It specified facilities. A gym is a key facility.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I understand that it is a local decision. I thank the Minister of State-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: -----and look forward to the note. I appreciate it. I also thank the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I want to be associated with the job announcements in Oranmore and Galway. This good news was mentioned earlier by others. I live in Oranmore. Job announcements are always good news. I would like to raise the question of junior certificate reform. Around 350,000 kids will be at home again tomorrow. They are losing time at school. The 27,000 teachers who are striking will not be at work....

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (21 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is not agreed to.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am delighted that there is general consensus across the House about the potential sale of Aer Lingus. The question I have concerns the advantage there would be in selling the 25.1% stake in Aer Lingus. I do not see many advantages. The key element is not the value of €300 million that we would reap for the State which, let us face it, is very little. The Minister for Finance said...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I join in the condemnation of two recent serious incidents, namely the fire-bombing of Deputy Michelle Mulherin's office and the verbal attacks and assaults on the President. To echo the concerns of Senator Diarmuid Wilson, we need to be careful that there is a fine line around the growing movement which could be considered incitement to hatred. I understand people are angry, disappointed...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. The transition from one gender to another is a very difficult issue for many people. One can only begin to imagine how difficult it is for them. Two experiences have brought this home to me. In 2010 I was involved in preparing a report on early school leaving for the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education. As part of that project we...

Seanad: Universities (Development and Innovation) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minister to the House. I commend Senator Barrett for presenting us with a fine talking point and his Bill is very welcome. We have not had enough discussion on third level education in this House, nor across the wider Oireachtas. We have waited for years for a number of reports and measures, such as the Hunt report and the Technological Universities Bill. Even now they have...

Seanad: Universities (Development and Innovation) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are a doing a terrible job of teaching languages. Ms Barbara Nolan from the European Commission spoke about language skills at the conference and I was struck hard by the following figure. I learned that only 30% of the staff in Google are Irish graduates because we do not have the languages and more than one language is needed. Therefore, languages is a vital area for investment. Of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Examinations (3 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. This matter relates to the current state of play with the entrenchment regarding the junior certificate and the fact that 350,000 children and 27,000 teachers have already had two days at home. It is a desperate situation. It is not just the students doing junior certificate this year who are suffering, but students in every year. The mock junior and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Examinations (3 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What can the Minister do to reach out to teachers and assure parents and students that the process will be objective?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Examinations (3 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am pleased to hear the level at which moderation will take place. The Minister stated that following internal moderation there would also be external moderation of all schools for all subjects by the State Examinations Commission. Will the Minister explain how this will happen? How much of this detail is understood by the teachers and the unions? I mean this respectfully. I am very...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Examinations (3 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What about the audit of 12% to 15% of papers?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Examinations (3 Feb 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will Minister comment on hope?