Results 5,441-5,460 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 4:In page 5, after line 37, to insert the following:“(3) The Competition Acts 2002 to 2014 and section 4* may be cited together as the Competition Acts 2002 to 2014 and shall be construed together as one Act.”.

Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Members for their broad support for the Bill, particularly for facilitating the technical changes we had to make. While they caused concern, it was an opportunity for others to say a few words that they missed before. This is part of the nature of democracy. It was an opportunity to clarify that the amendments were only technical and nothing about which to be concerned. While...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Expenditure (3 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 103 together. The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Children are eligible for transport where they: - have special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (4 Dec 2014)

Damien English: As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department. Bus Éireann has advised the Department that in response to the expressed wishes of many school bus drivers - both Bus Éireann and private contractor school bus drivers - who wanted to remain in the position upon reaching retirement age at sixty-five years, and following the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (9 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The purpose of my Department's Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school or education centre. The annual charge for children availing of school transport services is €100 and €350 for primary and post primary children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (9 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has sanctioned a Special Transport Grant for the family in question for the 2014/15 school year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (9 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The purpose of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest education centre. Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours to ensure that each eligible child has a...

Seanad: Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I am grateful to the Senators for having me here again. The House has been like a second home lately. I am pleased to bring the Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 before the House. Although quite short, it is a significant Bill, amending intellectual property legislation as well as addressing some minor technical issues arising from the implementation of the recently...

Seanad: Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Dec 2014)

Damien English: She got me the job.

Seanad: Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank all the Senators for their contributions and Senator White for her kind comments and for her support in the early part of my career, which was a major addition and pointed me in the right direction. That applies to my party colleagues as well. This is an important Bill and we have had the opportunity to have a good engagement on it. On Thursday we will discuss any proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Fees (10 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme. Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Funding (10 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am in the House on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who was unable to attend. I am glad to have the opportunity to outline to the House the funding arrangements for the Educate Together organisation, an issue which is well recognised. I visited one of its excellent schools in the Senator's area recently...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Funding (10 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Some 57 are schools for which Educate Together is the patron, with the remaining 12 being affiliated to it. Since 2012,15 primary schools have opened under the patronage of Educate Together, 11 through the new school process and four through the divesting process. At post-primary level, Educate Together is or will be involved in a total of eight schools between now and 2016. For five of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Funding (10 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I will certainly also raise the Senator's concerns with the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. As the Senator knows, she met with Educate Together representatives yesterday. Perhaps at the Senator's follow up meeting, he can discuss that with them also. Any Minister starting in the Department of Education and Skills realises that it is a question of doing a great deal with very little. We...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Information and Communications Technology (10 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I convey the apologies of my senior Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who could not make it here. We appreciate that quality Internet connectivity is essential for good teaching and learning using ICT. While great progress has been made at post-primary level where every school will shortly have a high-speed connection, I am aware that...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Information and Communications Technology (10 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I agree with Senator Power and it is something we have to make progress on. Having spoken to the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, about this, I know that she wants to make inroads concerning this matter. It does not add up and is not right. We know what the cause is so we have to work on it. Hopefully we will see some changes in that regard. I thank the Senator for raising these issues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Welfare Payments Administration (11 Dec 2014)

Damien English: This is an operational matter for the Kerry Education and Training Board and I have asked them to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position.

Seanad: Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for the proposed amendment and I understand the intent that lies behind the common good proposal to allow for the possibility of interference with intellectual property rights enjoyed by individuals and corporate entities in pursuit of the common good. We had a good discussion about that on Committee Stage and also on the floor of the Dáil with the Senator's...

Seanad: Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I want to address a number of issues that were raised on Tuesday. We are all a little rushed here and I did not have time to go through them all. First, I want to thank everyone for their co-operation on this Bill. The changes are modest but it is an important Bill. It is important that our IP regime is correct because it is of major benefit to us in terms of job creation and winning new...

Seanad: Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2014)

Damien English: This is a very friendly House, I must come here more often. I thank the Senators and they are right in saying that this legislation is an addition to our offering to companies who want to locate here. We are at a slight disadvantage to other countries as well, which this corrects.