Results 1,481-1,500 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Further Education and Training: Motion [Private Members] (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is the Government's priority now because it suits it today when it is trying to justify the cuts it announced. The Minister of State said it was up to the CEOs and principals to sit down to determine whether there can be a joined-up approach to course provision. This should have happened before the announcement was made. The Government will be risking a lot if such an approach is not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to fears that the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio from 17:1 - 19:1 will result in a 10% cut to staff in the Cork College of Commerce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57904/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an updated list, in tabular form, from 11 January 2013, the number of students on a county basis who have received from Student Universal Support Ireland payment of their third level grant or notification of when it is to be paid and the numbers of students on a county basis who have still to have their grant application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of students on a county basis who are awaiting to have their original grant applications reassessed or a decision made on their appeal by Student Universal Support Ireland. [2012/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has been requested by any European or international Government or institution to review this State's corporation tax rate and the tax treatment of royalties. [1793/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Proposed Legislation (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has consulted with any investment, auditing and accounting institutions in the drafting of the Finance Bill 2013; if he will make available the advice that he was given in the drafting of the Bill and specify whether that advice was included in the Bill, specifically with regards to business tax, high earners tax and research and development taxation....

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will wait, thank you.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 18: In page 18, subsection (2), line 20, to delete “and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform”. On reflection, I will withdraw this amendment.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I only caught the tail end of the Minister's comments but I gather that because the ETBs are covered by the Official Languages Act, the concerns we have regarding the boards being able to carry out their functions in Irish would be covered.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: On that basis, I will not press the amendment now. Perhaps we can look at this again on Report Stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 30: In page 25, subsection (1), line 10, after "comprise" to insert the following: "of whom a minimum of 8 shall be women and a minimum of 8 shall be men with the remainder to be composed of either men or women".These amendments are straightforward, the objective being to ensure there is a gender balance in appointments to education and training boards. Amendment No. 30...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I take the Minister's point. There could indeed be a scenario where a local authority is all male, in which case it would be impossible to have a gender balance on the education and training board. None the less, it is important that we be very clear in this legislation that where there is a gender balance within a local authority, it should be carried over into appointments to the ETB....

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I might well come back to this on Report Stage. If it is possible to do it, then it should be done.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I completely understand that. Having served on a local authority made up of 31 members, six of whom were women, it was my experience that when appointments were made to external committees, it was almost always men who were put forward. The six women very rarely got an opportunity to serve. I am strongly of the view that where there already is a gender balance within a local authority, we...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To clarify, I was not suggesting that there was active discrimination against female members of Cork City Council. It was just how the appointments happened to fall on that day. Cork City Council did not take the conscious decision not to appoint women to external bodies.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will withdraw the amendment, but will consider tabling it again on Report Stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: As we have already discussed this amendment and considering the Minister's comments, I will not move this amendment.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 45: In page 26, subsection (7)(a), line 17, after "woman" to insert the following:"each of whom shall be from and have knowledge of education and training in the functional area of the relevant education and training board".The amalgamation of the VECs poses a concern. Given the fact that the boundaries will change, members may find themselves just outside the boundaries...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister has addressed my issue.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To clarify, the Minister stated that he would have the power to set distances. If a school is close to the border of an ETB area, will a person from outside the distance set by the Minister be allowed to serve on its board of management?