Results 521-540 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Having listened to earlier contributors, I note that while many of us in the House are not that young we have much experience in dealing with young people directly through our families and having made our way into politics through our involvement with youth organisations. In my case, I would never have been a Member of this House had I...

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: ——Cavan, Clondalkin or Lucan we do not have a simple application procedure, which is the case with soccer or GAA clubs. In the past decade, the resources we have invested in young people have been targeted at sporting activities, with which I do not disagree. We have made huge inroads investing in such activities for young people but in the coming decade we should examine other...

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: While I would normally welcome the opportunity to debate issues in the House, I must admit that it gives me no great pleasure to debate the motion tabled by Deputy Brian Hayes and Fine Gael. I genuinely believe that the motion is devoid of any real substance and it fails to recognise the very significant advances the Government has made in the area of special education during the past seven...

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: The Deputy should sit and listen. My point is that the Government introduced and delivered on NEPS. It is never the case that programmes are introduced which do not encounter hitches and glitches. We devised and introduced NEPS. The motion refers specifically to NEPS and assessment. There is no point carrying out assessments if resources are not delivered simultaneously in respect of...

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: The Deputy and I are referring to the same service. However, his head is buried in the sand.

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: If the Deputy is so smart——

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle should allow me to finish. How many SNAs were employed when Deputy Burke's party was last in government?

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Deputy Burke was distracting me. I simply wish to make the point that on the last occasion on which the Deputy's party was in government there were very few SNAs in employment.

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: On the last occasion on which the party of the Deputies opposite was in government there were very few SNAs in employment.

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: There are now just under 9,000 in employment. There is no point in carrying out assessments without providing support services.

Psychological Service: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

John Curran: The motion ignores the very significant progress that has been made and the services the Government has delivered. It does not recognise what Fine Gael failed to do during its time in government. We have delivered in terms of NEPS and the employment of SNAs. This is a mean-spirited motion.

Climate Change and Energy Security: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

John Curran: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on climate change and energy security. At the outset I find myself in agreement with one of the previous speakers, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, who said in his opening remarks that this was one of the most important debates he had contributed to. It is a pity that the Press Gallery is absolutely empty because the issues we are debating today...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Question 599: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 to be processed. [30843/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (27 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Question 600: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he expects a decision to be reached with regard to matters his Department in appealing to the Supreme Court in relation to the IBC/05 scheme. [30844/07]

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Deputy Kenny had his chance and he blew it.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Where is Deputy Kenny's policy?

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Curran: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I oppose the motion of no confidence in my constituency colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. This motion has no political integrity.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Curran: I say that because following the meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan said she did not believe the issues that arose were a resigning matter for the Minister for Health and Children. Yet some hours later, it was Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and her party which brought forward the motion of no confidence. The reason she did so was not because of ideology but...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Let us be blunt, the motion has been tabled.

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

John Curran: Her first comments were what she believed but she changed because she did not want to be caught on the hop. She was caught and I make no apologies for saying so. I wish to be associated with comments made by the Minister for Health and Children in the House last night when she apologised to the patients of the former midland health board and those in Portlaoise hospital.