Results 12,741-12,760 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 108. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to deal with child poverty in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I ask the Minister to outline his plans to address child poverty this year. He will be aware that Ireland ranks 37th out of 41 OECD countries, ahead of Croatia, Latvia, Greece and Iceland, in a league table measuring relative changes in child poverty. Approximately 130,000 children in the State are living in dire poverty, which means their families do not have enough food on the table and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: The Minister used the buzz-words "lead Department" and spoke about plans for 2020. What I am interested in is what he is going to do in 2015. It is important that the Minister and the Government acknowledge there is a huge problem in regard to poverty in this State. Yesterday was an example that proved how out of touch the Government is, when we had the Taoiseach, Ministers and the IMF...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I would like the Minister to develop the point further. Would he agree that countries should place the well-being of children at the top of their priorities during an economic recession? My second point is that children who live in poverty are more likely to become poor adults and continue this cycle. It is sad to see that it takes a report from an outside agency like UNICEF to highlight...

Other Questions: Child and Family Agency Staff (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: Answer that.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: It rolled over.

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: It sounds like the Minister is feeling guilty.

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak in this very important debate on the recent conclusion of the talks on the North, in particular the Stormont House Agreement. I will be giving a different view to that of some of my colleagues. I warmly welcome the debate as I have major concerns that many of the real problems in the North of Ireland have been allowed...

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: Sometimes they are the wrong ones.

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: First, I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this important motion and commend it. I totally support reform of the educational services and all aspects thereof, and urgent reform is needed. My one major objection is that independent objective assessment also is needed in State examinations. As far as I am concerned, class teachers should not grade their own pupils in State examinations. An...

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: In addition, while the Minister claims to be listening to parents and teachers, last May an Irish Independent-Millward Brown poll showed that 60% of the public supported the view that teachers should not assess their own students for certification. If the Minister is listening to parents or to teachers, she should withdraw this particular aspect of the proposals, and then she will go a long way.

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: No boots over here.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Social Workers Recruitment (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 118. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the major shortfall of social workers dealing with child support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2162/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 127. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports for children living in disadvantaged communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2165/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Funding (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 131. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support facilities for child care in the Darndale/Belcamp area, Dublin 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2163/15]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 272. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to assist small businesses in 2015; his proposals in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2635/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miami Showband Massacre (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 316. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support the Miami showband massacre survivors in their efforts for justice and truth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2577/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 318. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the mechanism she has put in place to address the issue of irregularities in the case of a person (details supplied); if she will initiate a full independent public inquiry into the tragic killing of this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2210/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 339. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the new evidence presented in relation to the Stardust fire tragedy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2634/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 346. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support services for all children with a disability in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2325/15]