Results 741-760 of 1,325 for speaker:Ciara Conway

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I thank the witnesses for coming in this morning and apologise for having to run out for a while; I had to deal with a child care issue. It is mid-term break, which poses a difficulty for working parents. Please excuse me for nipping out. The issue of child minders has not arisen so far, but I would like to tease out this issue further. The report commissioned by Donegal County Childcare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I thank the Child and Family Agency and the Minister for the presentations. I want to extend some of the points made. When we look back on what was uncovered in the "A Breach of Trust" programme, my big question is how, even with the major changes that are welcome and not before time, a ramped up inspection regime can ensure it is not happening somewhere else. It is a major concern. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I thank Mr. McKiernan for that information, as this question has been asked a lot. My concern regarding the inspectorate regime and public health nursing is that staff come at this from a public health perspective, as do environmental health officers. For example, in a particular preschool there is a carpet, as opposed to a hard covering, in order to show children different textures and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I am not saying that, but it should not come at the cost of child development.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: Will the posts only be filled by public health nurses?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care in Ireland: Discussion (20 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: There have been no other professions?

Other Questions: School Curriculum (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: 112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in relation to the draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will relate to the review of the CSPE programme at junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9027/14]

Other Questions: School Curriculum (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I am anxious to know what progress has been made on the draft leaving certificate course on politics and society. It is planned to roll out this course in schools. Voter turnout in the age group of 18 to 24 years in the 2011 general election was up by nearly 30% on the figures for the 2007 election. These citizens had the value of CSPE course which may have been a correlation rather than a...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I am glad to hear that such progress has been made. I hope the resources will be put in place. If the review of the CSPE project shows that the subject will be an optional subject, will a whole cohort of young people be disenfranchised? Citizenship should be taken seriously. The current emphasis is on the STEM subjects but the kinds of skills required in pursuing a course like politics...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Schemes Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: 395. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is a legal timeframe for trustees to wind up a pension scheme in the event of a company closure; what that time limit is; the penalties that are incurred by going over this timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9231/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pension Schemes Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: 397. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the length of time after a pension scheme closes that members can challenge the decisions of the trustees, or submit queries to the Ombudsman; if there is a statute of limitations on such queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9233/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Ombudsman Remit (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: 396. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the Pension Ombudsman is obliged to deal with scheme queries within any regulated timeframe, for instance six or 12 months; the remedies that are available to those dissatisfied with the length of time taken to reach a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9232/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: 449. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will use his powers under section 9 of the 2000 Planning Act to require the Waterford and Kilkenny councils to deliver an agreed metropolitan area joint plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8888/14]

Post Office Network: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: Like my constituency colleague, Deputy Coffey, I know people who recently went through the trauma of losing their local post office. I refer to the closure of the post office in Kill, County Waterford. The big concern at the time was that the shop would close and that then the heart of the community would also be lost, which has come to pass. The concern of every Deputy and every member of...

Post Office Network: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: It is not true.

Post Office Network: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: It was Dick Spring who gave the passport contract to the post offices in the first place.

Post Office Network: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: The Deputies over there do it so well.

Topical Issues: Carbon Tax Implementation (27 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: We all understand that we have obligations under the climate change agenda but there is a question here about domestic versus industrial. The increase of €1.20 last year and now another increase of €1.20 represent a significant amount of money to people on limited incomes. It has been widely reported and spoken about in this House that one in five people experiences fuel...

Topical Issues: Carbon Tax Implementation (27 Feb 2014)

Ciara Conway: I concur with Deputy Nolan's sentiments. Will the Minister of State relay our message to the Minister, Deputy Noonan? The Government is trying to implement an energy affordability strategy. Supports will be available to houses to make them more efficient, but what will the budget be, where will the money come from and how will people benefit from it? Currently, much of the strategy is...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Unions (4 Mar 2014)

Ciara Conway: 40. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that credit unions must hold a yearly annual general meeting; if it is within the remit of the registrar of credit unions to refuse credit union members an AGM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10647/14]