Results 5,401-5,420 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: We have agreed to take questions in order from the spokespersons, with a limit of three minutes per speaker and no supplementary questions until everybody has spoken, after which people may speak again if time permits.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: The Senator has gone over the three minutes allotted so I ask her to conclude.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: Perhaps replies can be given in a different order this time, so I call Mr. Robinson to commence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: I have some questions in that regard. One of the issues for us as politicians is that this is a difficult subject politically. Sometimes when a proposal is made, there is a campaign against it and it is difficult to try to persuade people to shift the way they look at the issue. Does the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, work with the parent councils or with SNAs and different...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: Yes, but also the debate about encouraging people to be more open-minded and to examine whether they are doing things the right way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: A delegation from this committee went to Finland and attended a discussion on its system for dealing with special needs. Finland seems to have a flexible system along the lines of what Ms Griffin suggests, whereby a child is removed temporarily from the class and then brought back. The system there seems to be based on the child's needs more so than here. Children there might have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: Any there any other questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: I will not move on to supplementary questions yet, but will take any other speakers who wish to put questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: We could do that. We can invite submissions. A consultation process is ongoing currently, so we may hold off for a month or so. We intend to produce a report on this issue and will seek further submissions. Today's discussion has been a very good start.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: Anybody who wishes to make a comment at this stage may do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: The Role of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: We have had a very good meeting here today. This is an ongoing thing. Today is the initial meeting for a report that we will write on the issue. We will be in touch with all of you again. I would like to thank you for your contribution today, and I thank committee members as well. At our next meeting we will begin hearings on the Gender Recognition Bill 2013. I hope that committee...

Standing Orders: Motion (17 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: On a point of order, the average Deputy, like me, has been excluded from the debate on Dáil reform, which is totally inappropriate. These decisions have been made by leaders and they have never really consulted with people like me. I object to that.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (22 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: 277. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding community employment schemes and his Department's strategy in relation to the schemes in the long term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44539/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Reform (22 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: 278. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the provision being made for those who reach 65 and would have been entitled to the transition pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44540/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: I draw witnesses' attention to the fact that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: If I can just stop Ms Ryan for a moment. I ask that she conclude her opening statement because the time allowed originally was five minute and we are now at 10 minutes. I ask that she summarise the remainder of her presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: I understand that but I wish to allow time for questions from the members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: I now call on Ms Sara Phillips and would stress again the importance of sticking to the five minute limit. That way, we will have sufficient time for discussion and questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: I would like to clarify who has been invited to appear. We made a call for submissions. We had a process whereby people could apply to make a presentation to the committee as part of their submission. Every group that requested the opportunity to make a presentation to these hearings has been invited to do so, including Ms Sherlock's group. It would have been inappropriate for us to put...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: General Scheme of Gender Recognition Bill 2013: Discussion (23 Oct 2013)

Joanna Tuffy: Before proceeding to questions, I pointed out earlier that these proceedings are being broadcast on channel 207 on UPC. A member of the public has contacted the committee to say there is interference, which is probably being caused by a mobile telephone or other electronic equipment. It is best if people turn off their equipment completely. It makes for better broadcasting, particularly...