Results 13,741-13,760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Order of Business. (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Government has not seen the reports.
- Order of Business. (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Minister is working on that legislation, but I am not in a position to say when it will be available.
- Order of Business. (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: After the Order of Business.
- Order of Business. (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: There is no date for that legislation.
- Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Carbon Revenue Levy) Bill 2010: Financial Resolution. (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of a levy on such amount of the revenues received by certain electricity generators through participation in the Single Electricity Market as is attributable to the emissions from each installation of which an electricity generator is the operator.
- School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Retirements at primary level since the introduction of the moratorium in March 2009 were 309 principals, 260 deputy principals, 145 assistant principals and 223 teachers with special duties posts of responsibility. This is based on Department held data. Vacancies at assistant principal and special duties level arise due to retirements in these specific grades and typically also from the...
- School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I advise the Deputy that I have been engaged in discussions, as have senior officials on my behalf, at senior level with the Department of Finance in examining a methodology by which we can provide such limited alleviation. My judgment is that we will be able to bring the matter to finality very soon. I have returned to the Department on a number of issues regarding its consideration of...
- School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is probably not aware that protracted discussions can take place with the Department of Finance in the context of any of these issues. We are engaged in dialogue and discussions on this matter. Therefore, I do not accept the Deputy's perspective that the Department of Finance is running rings around my Department. That is not the position.
- School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: We are engaged in discussions, which I accept have been protracted, but my view is that these discussions will be completed soon. What I want to obtain is a method by which we can address the concerns of a number of schools at primary and, particularly, at post-primary level. I am doing my utmost to have that matter resolved so that the schools can deal with the issue of concern in this...
- School Staffing (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I am not aware of any of those things happening.
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is correct in his assumption that the B.Ed courses provided by all five colleges of education currently include modules on religious education. This reflects the fact that primary schools are overwhelmingly denominational and have traditionally played and continue to play a significant role in the faith formation of their pupils, and the colleges have prepared their students...
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is important to say this issue has not arisen.
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It has not arisen in the context of discussions that happened between my Department and the colleges where the specific question was asked. I support the colleges in having an inclusive environment. As the Deputy knows, the Department has been involved in some curricular development work with Educate Together and with the provision of new modules, all ongoing. As I indicated, we are going...
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is important to say that this has not arisen as a key issue for student teachers. We will be proactive. As I indicated, one of the colleges is proactive in this and we will move towards that. Neither side of the House is averse to this. I have no problem in supporting this and the colleges do not have a problem. It is a matter of working through how this can be set up simultaneously...
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: There is another reality. More than 90% of schools in this country are run by denominations.
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: That is a fact of the situation. We had a very good debate in this House in which the majority of people, of both rural and urban ilk, were of the view that their local school of denominational education would continue to be important.
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Student teachers are very pragmatic in the hope of getting a job.
- Colleges of Education (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is not hypocrisy. It is important to reiterate there is not a problem with that happening. In the interim we are proceeding with the methods I formulated.
- State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The State Examinations Commission has operational responsibility for the operation of the certificate examinations. Each year the SEC employs additional staff to deal with the peak demands of the system. These include temporary clerical officers, temporary porters, examination superintendents and examiners. The SEC will employ up to 75 temporary clerical officers and 17 temporary porters...
- State Examinations (3 Jun 2010)
Mary Coughlan: First, I correct the Deputy. The live register figures he reiterated are not a reflection of the number of unemployed people in this country. That has been a misnomer in the House for many years.