Results 1,541-1,560 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 481: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will publish a report which she asked the National Council for Special Education to compile on the most appropriate educational provision for children with autism represented by the Irish Autism Action group which had a meeting with her Department on 10 January and 14 February 2007; and if she will make a statement on the...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: "(i) in paragraph (b), by deleting "to be prescribed" and substituting "in excess of 14 days or such longer period as may be prescribed,". The Minister on Committee Stage indicated to me that what I am trying to achieve in this amendment can be done by regulation. I am not proposing to press this amendment.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 31, to delete ", scale and persistence" and substitute "and scale". We debated the issue on Committee Stage. The scale and the persistence of behaviour should not be dealt with jointly on appeal. A particular form of behaviour may only happen once but it may be of such scale that it merits either suspension or expulsion. For example, if the behaviour...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: Did the Minister consider including the word "or", in order that the Bill would read "nature or scale or persistence"? I suggested previously the inclusion of the term "and-or", in order that the Bill would read "nature and-or scale and-or persistence". That might solve the problem and address my concerns. Did the Minister consider this possibility before Report Stage?

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: "(b) whether the behaviour of the student constituted behaviour prohibited by the civil or criminal law, or both, and if so, the seriousness of the infringement, (c) the persistence of any behaviour alleged to have given rise to, or contributed to, the decision made by or on behalf of the board,".

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, line 43, after "peers," to insert the following: "subject to the requirement that the Minister shall remain responsible for securing as far as practicable the educational rights of the individual student in the event of a decision under subsection (1)(a) or (b) being upheld,". This amendment is very important to the Bill because what we and the Minister are...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister might be left hoping. It does not always happen in reality.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: A couple of points arise from what the Minister stated. First, she said at one stage that the partners in education were consulted about these proposed amendments. I received an e-mail from Fionnuala Kilfeather of the National Parents' Council-Primary, which indicates that it was not consulted. While this may be a misunderstanding, the e-mail ends by stating that the Minister, under...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: Would the appeals committee inform the parents of the rights of the student in that regard?

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wonder would the appeals committee be aware of all that. The Minister had better issue them a briefing note.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 10: In page 5, line 5, to delete "and welfare" and substitute ", welfare and other legal entitlements". Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand", put and declared carried.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 12: In page 5, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: "(4A) In hearing and determining an appeal under this section against a decision to which subsection (1)(c) applies an appeals committee shall have regard to regulations under section 33(g), which the Minister shall make within 6 months from the enactment of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: What will be the timescale of the audit and how extensive will it be? As the Minister stated, this is not an issue in some schools but it is a major problem in others. While regulations would not be required in most areas, they would be required where it is an issue. I am concerned that the audit be conducted speedily; it should address the areas where discrimination is a problem and...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 13: In page 6, lines 1 and 2, to delete "the Secretary General may stipulate, as" and substitute "it shall be". I will not press the amendment because the Minister was quite persuasive on Committee Stage when she said that, if included, a school might obstruct a hearing. I had intended it for the benefit of the child. However, she made a fair point.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 14: In page 6, line 40, to delete "may" and substitute "shall". An appeal committee may refuse to hear, or continue to hear, an appeal under this section if it is of the opinion that the appeal is vexatious, frivolous, an abuse of the process or without substance or foundation. I wish to replace the word "may" with "shall". If the committee considers the appeal is...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 15: In page 7, between lines 40 and 41, to insert the following: "(a) in section 24(4), by inserting after "officer",", but the board of the school may if it considers that the circumstances underlying the proposal to expel the student so warrant, forthwith suspend the student without further notice for the period between notification of the educational welfare officer...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am a bit concerned that the language in the Education (Welfare) Act is fairly vague. It allows measures to be taken pending expulsion. That might be difficult for the school. What measures can it take? In an extreme case, stating that measures can be taken is a bit vague. In the amendment I propose, it would be quite clear that there would be a possibility that the student would be...

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: Is a school allowed to be in the process of expelling and suspending at the same time? Is there a difficulty with that?

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I refer to a case where the school decides to expel a student but provisionally suspends him or her.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2007)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister who is well aware of my legal adviser and his expertise in such matters. I am sure he will be pleased to know she has accepted the amendment.