Results 11,241-11,260 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The closing date for receipt of applications under the Dormant Accounts / RAPID Leverage Fund Small Scale Capital Grants Scheme for schools was 1st March. The scheme covers the improvement of existing facilities ('non new-builds') and the development of new facilities ('new-builds') in four areas: (i) Outdoor Play Facilities; (ii) Libraries; (iii) Parent Rooms; and (iv) Dining Areas. Schools...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The schools to which the Deputy refers made certain demands of the Department for capital works in the context of an amalgamation negotiation. They have not, otherwise, completed a formal application under any section/scheme of the Department's Capital Programme. The amalgamation is not being pursued and, while this does not preclude the schools from applying for capital funding, they must...

Written Answers — Employment Law: Employment Law (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003 was enacted on 14th July 2003. Section 9(2) of that Act provides that where a fixed term employee is employed by his or her employer on two or more continuous contracts and the aggregate duration of such contracts exceeds 4 years the contract is deemed to be a contract of indefinite duration unless there are objective grounds to justify...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. All...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: My Department's Third Level Student Maintenance Grant Schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration (pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds) in other EU Member States with effect from the 1996/97...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Four hundred (400) Dublin based posts in my Department will relocate under the programme of decentralisation. One hundred posts (100) will relocate to Athlone and 300 posts will relocate to Mullingar. The Athlone element of the decentralisation includes a re-organisation which will reunite a section in Athlone, which has been divided between Dublin and Tullamore since decentralisation to...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I would like to share time with Deputy Grealish.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: This is the second vote of confidence in the Taoiseach to be considered this year. A motion of confidence in any Taoiseach involves a questioning of his ability to govern the country and his capacity to lead Ministers. It is a question of confidence in the leadership of someone in steering the society and economy of Ireland on behalf of the people. It involves deciding whether to give a...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The people made their decision on election day in the knowledge of what they had heard in April and May.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: They said, in effect, that they would await the decision of the tribunal before they reached a judgment on the matter.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As a new Deputy when this House established the tribunals ten years ago, I made my maiden speech on the legislation under which they were established. We did not think they would still be doing their work ten years on. We did not envisage that allegations made in 1998 would not have been examined by this stage.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The Taoiseach willingly gave his personal details to the tribunal.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: As he said, he opened up his bank accounts to the tribunal and waived his right to confidentiality in respect of such matters. All these facts were in the public domain when the people agreed to give a vote of confidence to the Taoiseach. Given that the tribunal has not made a decision in the five months which have passed since, why are we debating the issue today? The new Dáil has not...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: Those who are sitting here and making these points——

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: ——should watch and wait to hear all the evidence and read what the tribunal has to say about it. I have not read a transcript of the Taoiseach's 18 hours of evidence because I have been busy going about my duties.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: I very much doubt if the Deputies who have spoken have read the transcript of 18 hours of evidence. Having established the tribunal we must allow it to take its course and do its work. It has made it clear that there is no issue of the Taoiseach obstructing it or of non-compliance or non-co-operation.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: The tribunal has stated there has been no delay and that it is satisfied with the way work is proceeding. The motion states we affirm our confidence in the Mahon tribunal to complete its work.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: At some stage the tribunal will investigate the allegations made regarding Mr. Owen O'Callaghan and Quarryvale, the reason for which it was set up. In the meantime Fianna Fáil and the Government is willing to wait for the tribunal, established by the Oireachtas, to carry out its work. We recognise that the Taoiseach has the confidence of the people to continue to run the country and deal...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: That is what a vote of confidence is about. The Opposition parties are not questioning the ability of the Taoiseach to govern or the ability of the Government. That mandate was given to us by the people. The motion of no confidence shows how out of touch the Opposition parties are with the tribunal and the people. The tribunal did not find that the Taoiseach had engaged in wrongdoing.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Hanafin: What is the basis of the motion of no confidence?