Results 1,541-1,560 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (6 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he plans to introduce legislation to rectify legal anomalies around the issue of surrogacy. [5997/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Review of Legislation on Prostitution: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have a question for Mr. Paul Maguire. He touched on the issue in his previous contribution. He stated he was so concerned about one individual that he made a report to the authorities. How many cases were of such concern that he felt obliged to report them to the authorities as soon as possible? Is it known what happened to some of the women who were being trailed by the programme?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Review of Legislation on Prostitution: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I ask if Superintendent Healy could give details about persons who have exited the industry.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will commit to protecting the triple-lock mechanism. [6127/13]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Recruitment (7 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Defence the outstanding vacancies in his Department on 31 December 2012 and his plans to fill these. [6122/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (7 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form an up to date breakdown of third level students on a county basis who have had their maintenance grant application accepted by Student Universal Support Ireland but have still to receive payment; the number of students who have appealed the decision of SUSI and are awaiting the outcome of that decision; and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (12 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, the amount of State funding paid overseas to countries affected by war or natural disasters; and the amount of State funding paid to Irish registered overseas charities working in countries affected by these issues in 2011/12. [7149/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to address the growing demand for primary school start places in County Meath in view of the fact that recent reports that the demand outstrips availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6847/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (12 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report on the efforts of a school (details supplied) in County Galway to secure funding for a new school building in Ornamore [7010/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the establishment of a national out of hours social work service. [7307/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the degree programmes and additional special requirements he was referring to when replying to parliamentary questions which related to changes in funding to Gaeltacht placements for first year B Ed students attending Mary Immaculate College when he stated: this move brings the primary ITE courses more into line with other degree...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of changes in funding to Gaeltacht placements for first year B Ed students attending Mary Immaculate College, which will result in students having to pay an additional €1,400 biannual fee, if his Department has considered expanding the student assistance fund which in its current form can only be accessed by a limited number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of his recent decision to allocate an additional €3 million to the student assistance fund representatives, if he will consider allocating an additional €1 million to the fund in order to assist the estimated 1,000 additional students who will be directly affected by changes to the Gaeltacht placement scheme. [7750/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: A figure of €19 million was mentioned. With the cuts across all Departments and with more pressure on parents to pay for the running of schools, I do not want to see schools in disadvantaged areas put at a disadvantage when it comes to investing in technology. What steps are being taken by the Department to ensure there is equality across all schools? It was stated the National...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: One of the answers related to short courses. Ms O'Mahony mentioned that it will depend primarily on schools' own resources. If we are relying on schools' resources, there is a significant danger that one could end up with a two-tier system in terms of digital learning. What is the Department doing to ensure this does not happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I presume this is true even in terms of equipment and technology. A school in a disadvantaged area that is barely balancing its books will not have its own resources to invest in extra equipment. A school in a more affluent area may have higher voluntary contributions and may have that extra financial clout to invest in its own equipment. The question is how the Department will address that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will address a comment made by Mr. Gallagher. If I heard him correctly, he stated that his organisation had examined the cost of providing technical support. What was that cost?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am surprised to hear the ratio was 1:8. I would have expected it to be higher. Two of my children, who are aged ten and 13 years, have smart phones. All of their friends also have smart phones. I do not know many ten to 13 year olds who do not have a smartphone or some other mobile phone, or at least access to some type of technology. I am surprised the ratio is that low.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: When my daughter sends me a text, I am often unable to understand it. For me, text messages are gobbledygook but they make perfect sense to someone of my daughter's age, which is frightening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Digital Literacy: Discussion (13 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: There are huge advantages also. My son who is eight has an active learning device. We have seen a huge improvement in his ability to use technology and to read and write. What is important is not the device but how it is used. While there are huge positives in this regard, there are also huge negatives.