Results 5,761-5,780 of 9,316 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: When Mr. Reynolds talks about availability, is that primarily driven by the availability of teachers who can teach physics or is it broader than simply the availability of staff?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: What does Mr. Reynolds think of a proposal presented to and considered by the committee previously that, in order to ensure there is broader availability of specifically qualified teachers in physics, biology or applied maths, teachers would be employed by a series or group of schools in order that they could teach their expertise in a group of schools as opposed to being employed by one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the witnesses very much.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Chair and thank all the guests for coming before the committee this afternoon. If I may start with Dr. Soden, obviously, the country, through IDA Ireland, has done a remarkable job in attracting foreign direct investment. To what extent are client companies of IDA Ireland or prospective client companies expressing concern about the ability to secure suitably-qualified STEM...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I suppose part of the problem is as a result of our success. Presumably many of these highly qualified people who are going into business previously would have gone into the education sector and would have been teachers. Is an issue that Ms McMahon is concerned about that all or a significant percentage of the talent from STEM seems to be going into business and is not available to provide...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Mr. McDonnell mentioned in his opening submission about how there was this productivity gap. Interestingly, Mr. McDonnell said that it is not necessarily only with the employees. It also exists at management level. What is Mr. McDonnell's concern about the shortfall amongst SME owners and managers in explaining that part of the productivity gap?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will ask Ms McGee about IBEC. Does IBEC think that businesses in Ireland have or could have a role to play in enhancing the capacity and ability of schools to teach STEM, in particular, in secondary schools?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I note Ms McGee mentions it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Ms McGee very much. On the apprenticeships given out by the ESB, are they given to people when they just finish secondary school or does the ESB try to encourage the apprentices to go on to third level?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is very interesting and I thank Mr. Fitzgerald.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Business Supports (29 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 84. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update in tabular form on a county basis of the number of businesses in each county that have successfully applied for inclusion under the temporary business energy support scheme; the estimated value or worth of the support in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15701/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (30 Mar 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 335. To ask the Minister for Health if it is the case that Ireland has only half the staff it needs for genetic services; if he will address a matter arising in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16005/23]

Courts Bill 2023: Second Stage (19 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak in this debate. I support the legislation being brought forward by the Minister of State and commend him on doing so. We should acknowledge that our courts are as integral a part of the governance of this country as our Legislature and Executive are. All three of them are essential for the purpose of ensuring our democracy functions properly....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the panel for coming before the committee and for their very helpful opening statements. I will start with Dr. Connolly on computer science. I have to confess my own ignorance here. I had assumed when we are talking about STEM that a student in secondary school who had done other science, technology, engineering or maths would come out with an understanding of computers and their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: When can that start? Dr. Connolly mentioned there is coding that can be done at primary school. Is that something parents do voluntarily? It is not something the schools provide. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Dr. Marcus-Quinn mentioned the scenarios that operate in schools when it comes the availability of devices. Is there a role for the vibrant tech sector we have in Ireland to assist the education system in schools in terms of the provision of devices? I am conscious that during the pandemic Google was helpful in my constituency in terms of providing devices to local schools so kids would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is that something that should be co-ordinated centrally by Government?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Professor McCormack was correct to emphasise the significant performance by women who are doing engineering courses. One of the things we have considered over the past number of weeks is how we can encourage more women to take up STEM subjects. We were given a statistic that approximately 40% of the PhDs being done in STEM subjects are being completed by women. Does that operate at the...