Results 1,261-1,280 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I am ahead of myself, then, am I?

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: The Minister is very welcome. I was not able to contribute last week, unfortunately, and I want to stress that we welcome the Bill. It takes significant steps forward that Sinn Féin has called for some time, particularly with regard to issues regarding the baptism barrier. I will speak to this particular amendment because Senator Ruane has made a very fair point as 20 days seems to be...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: There is great merit in amendment No. 11 because it puts in an appropriate safeguard and makes those involved in this process aware of the fact that there is a safeguard that has to be respected. I cannot see what damage including this amendment would do to the Bill. It would only enhance it and I ask the Minister to give it due consideration.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I want to support this amendment in particular. I think it goes to the heart of the broader conversation we need to have about education and about the necessary separation of church and State in a true republic. We welcome this Bill. We welcome it as a step towards removing the baptism barrier. However, as my colleague has just pointed out, it does not actually remove the baptism barrier....

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I express my party's support for this motion. Senator Ó Ríordáin is correct that this comes down to class and this is a convenient way of keeping boys and girls from the less well-off backgrounds, in a socioeconomic sense, out of schools that have traditionally kept out such pupils. I challenge the Minister as people across all parties aspire to republican principles. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I thank both delegates for the presentations. I am relatively new to the committee so I am getting up to speed. I thank my colleague, Senator Ruane in particular, not just for the work she has done on this topic but for her assistance in bringing me up to speed. I should not be shocked but I still am. I was struck by the statement: "What happened to us as children was a shame on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: Is that not very much a departmental failure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: On the UK, the delegates have given some information. I will, therefore, ask just a couple of questions. What are the most important issues right now for survivors based in the UK?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: That is unbelievable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I was going to ask Dr. Lodato what has been most helpful for survivors in the UK but what I am hearing is that there has not been any help. Is it as drastic as that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: What an absolute failure. Could Dr. Lodato elaborate on the needs of the UK survivors right now and how they can best be met?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: This is my last question. Is it fair to say there has been a complete failure to reach out to survivors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I thank both witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: Two very interesting suggestions came from here. One was the idea of giving a payment in the form of a pension. It is a simple idea that would ensure benefits actually reached the people concerned. The second idea would be to look at a free travel pass for those survivors in the UK who come back to Ireland. It strikes me that these suggestions are eminently sensible and probably...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Paul Gavan: I think Dr. Lodato is right.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Contractors (4 Jul 2018)

Paul Gavan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, to the House to discuss the issue of a migrant worker who has been exploited by an unscrupulous employer. As there has been a huge amount of correspondence with the Department of Education and Skills on this matter I am sure the Minister of State is familiar with it. I welcome Mr. Porfireanu and his wife to the Public Gallery. I know from...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Contractors (4 Jul 2018)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I acknowledge that he has a record for protecting workers. I know where he comes from politically and I respect that. I welcome the offer to meet Mr. Porfireanu. I will take the Minister of State up on that and make an appointment. We will make it happen. In respect of the reply he has given me I have two points to make, which I think the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Contractors (4 Jul 2018)

Paul Gavan: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Paul Gavan: I want to raise the issue of hotel workers.The Leader might recall that a couple of weeks ago I raised the fact we intended to have a meeting. We had that meeting yesterday and I thank colleagues who attended. We had a very good attendance from all parties except one. Unfortunately, nobody from Fine Gael was able to attend which was a huge disappointment to the SIPTU delegation and the...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Paul Gavan: I want to express my support on behalf of Sinn Féin for these amendments. As the Minister knows, we welcome the Bill and the level of engagement. However, I believe the Minister is missing an opportunity with regard to these amendments. It does not make sense for a modern republic to still have the vast majority of schools under a particular faith control. The most logical step is to...