Results 501-520 of 743 for speaker:Jim D'Arcy

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Some of them just gazed and I do not think "The wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew". I think they were saying, "He is not at his best today". Anyway, I did my best. As Seosamh Mac Grianna said in Mo Bhealach Féin, "Rinne mé mo dhícheall, agus is cuma liom". We all do the best we can. I do not know how long the Minister will be in office as I believe I...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Skills here to discuss the progress report on the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. The report states that many schools are "very welcoming and open towards pupils of all backgrounds. However, all of these schools may not reflect these good practices fully in their written policies". In this country we are now...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: John Bruton represents an Irish parliamentary tradition that dates back to Daniel O'Connell and Pádraig Pearse, who is one of our heroes and made the ultimate sacrifice, as he said himself, "in bloody protest for a glorious thing". John Bruton is entitled to express his opinion. If the Senator disagrees with his view then that is fine but do not deny him his right of expression. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Projects (2 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Perry. The A5 and the Narrow Water Bridge projects are significant cross-Border infrastructural projects and are worthy of support on a number of fronts. Last week, at the meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement representatives from both sides of the Border in the north west, comprising the A5 working group,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Projects (2 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank the Minister of State for his very comprehensive reply. I am pleased that it has been confirmed that the matter is expected to be discussed at the plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on Friday, 4 July in Dublin Castle. I expect that the support expressed at the previous meeting will be upgraded to a commitment. I am pleased the Narrow Water bridge project remains...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House to discuss the situation in the Middle East and Ireland's position in that regard. In debates on the Israeli-Palestinian question in the House, I tend to have a lot of sympathy for the Israelis. I am aware that would be a minority position. In the past, the Israelis and the Jews, in particular, have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Review of Apprenticeship Training: Discussion (9 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: When I was at school people said that as I was good with my hands I should be sent to the tech. Conversely, I was told I had hands for nothing. Being useless at most things I knew I had to become a teacher. It is a straight line to level 10 and I like the idea of moving all the way to level ten. It is wonderful that a young person completing an apprenticeship knows he or she can carry on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Review of Apprenticeship Training: Discussion (9 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: There is so much good to be done in this area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Election of Chairman (22 Jul 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I second that nomination.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Ba mhaith liom ar dtús fáilte a chur roimh ceapachán Phil Hogan mar Choimisinéir talmhaíochta san Eoraip. Agriculture continues to be a major part of life in Ireland and its economy, and especially with Food Harvest 2020 coming up, it is a great appointment. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the House to discuss two items?...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: The new education and training boards set up under SOLAS to deliver skills and apprenticeship training to our young school leavers will meet for the first time this month. The legislation to establish the education and training boards was initiated in the Seanad and significant amendments to the Bill were tabled in the Seanad before it was sent to the Dáil. With the demand for new...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I support the call by Senators van Turnhout and Mullins to increase awareness about MMS, the compound that is being peddled as a miraculous cure for autism. We have made great strides in this country in helping children with autism, particularly in our school system and through parents in the home, and that is the way forward. Parents of autistic children need significant help, but this is...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I beg the Senator's pardon and thank him. It is great to have a literary sidekick in the House and I look forward to discussing that with him in Strasbourg next week. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Harris, needs to come to the House to discuss the dumping of laundered diesel throughout last week in County Louth. The new licensing laws are only partly working....

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Is rún tábhachtach é seo. According to the report entitled A Social Portrait of People with Disabilities in Ireland, there is a relationship between educational disadvantage and educational disability. There is also a strong reciprocal association between disability and educational achievement for young adults. Among people with a disability aged 18 to 34, well over half were...

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: No. He is sound as a pound.

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: In the context of career guidance, I should mention that Senator Moran's brother, Mr. Gerry Malone, is one of the foremost and best career guidance teachers in Dundalk, if not in the country. He has successfully dealt with many such issues while keeping students up to their work. I am sure that other guidance counsellors do likewise. I am therefore calling for restoration of the previous...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Scoileanna Gaeltachta (24 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach agus gabhaim comhghairdeas leis as ucht a oifig nua a bhaint amach. Tá súil agam agus táim cinnte go n-éireoidh go maith leis. An cheist atá agam don Aire Stáit ná: An bhfuil aon phlean aige le liúntas a thabhairt do na mná nó fir tí maidir sna coláistí samhraidh...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Scoileanna Gaeltachta (24 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Guím comhghairdeas ó chroí ar an dul chun cinn iontach mhór atá á dhéanamh ag an Aire ar a chuid Gaeilge. Togha an fhir.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, agus ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil don bheirt seo go pearsa as bhúr bpostanna nua agus guím ráth Dé oraibh san obair atá romhaibh. Senator O'Donnell has raised the issue of literacy and numeracy and the junior cycle and I, too, would like to hear the Minister's views on that. Throughout the country, many people...