Results 1,601-1,620 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: In that case, I will comment later.

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is another area about which there was much discussion on Committee Stage. One of issues raised was the importance of local knowledge to the ETBs. The Minister admitted during the debate on Committee Stage that this local knowledge is essential to the success of the ETBs and that we need to ensure that local knowledge within communities is reflected in the ETBs. It is for this reason...

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Amendment No. 31 is the one I want to focus on because I understand the process that will be put in place. Even at local board of management level, it is difficult encouraging parents to get involved. Trying to convince a parent representative to sit on an ETB is a significant challenge. This amendment says that every assistance needs to be given to those parents. We need to look at...

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The amendment states that the education and training board shall promote contact between parent associations in schools and the community.

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Or even supports to enable them.

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 45:In page 50, line 8, after “board” to insert the following:“and that as far as is practicable, serving teachers will be transferred within the boundaries of their current VEC administrative areas and will only be deployed within 45 km of their current VEC place of work or confines of the original VEC area”.We discussed this amendment on...

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I do not know if the Minister of State wishes to comment first.

Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is extremely important legislation. In a few moments we will be discussing the establishment of SOLAS under the Further Education and Training Bill 2013. As stated, the Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 is both ground-breaking and reforming in nature. It is one of three primary legislative measures with which we are dealing. There is cross-party support for the Bill because...

Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Sinn Féin welcomes the publication of the Bill and will support it. We believe the ethos and spirit of the Bill are welcome and overdue. On Second Stage we simply outline the proposals in the Bill, but on Committee Stage we will bring forward a number of amendments which will improve the legislation. The Bill is part of a package of legislation the Government has brought forward to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Tenders (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he has introduced since March 2011 that have improved public procurement practices by removing obstacles and encouraging the involvement of small and medium enterprises and micro enterprises. [10433/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Tenders (27 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the measures he has introduced that encourage buyers to break contracts into lots. [10434/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Arrears Rate (28 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance if he considers there is a need for a review of the code of conduct on mortgage arrears. [10582/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (28 Feb 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the decision to provide a €1 billion credit facility from the National Assets Management Agency for the use of the special liquidator of IBRC; when the decision was made; the credit facility that is intended to be used for; the way €1 billion if used will be repaid to NAMA; if he had to seek permission to use NAMA for such a credit...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Recruitment (5 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 29 January 2013, in relation to 68 unfilled positions which she prioritised as critical, if she will list them and confirm if sanction was sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to fill those positions. [11374/13]

Other Questions: Domestic Violence Refuges (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is an Executive Office under the aegis of his Department which provides a co-ordinated whole of Government response to violence against women and domestic violence; and if he will provide an update on their work. [11557/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Poverty Issues: Discussion with European Anti-Poverty Network (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I missed the presentation by the delegates but I read the written submission and the reports. I refer to Deputy McConalogue's question about a comparison of welfare rates in different jurisdictions. It is too simplistic to say that people here get a higher rate of social welfare payment than in another jurisdiction. One needs to take into account all the other elements that make up the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Poverty Issues: Discussion with European Anti-Poverty Network (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: One of the big increases in those trying to access housing is those whose marriages have broken down. Separated men with children find it almost impossible to get council housing to accommodate the needs of their children. They apply for council housing but because their children might already be housed in a council house with their mother they are not allowed to include the children as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: While Deputy McConalogue has covered most points, I will raise one or two more. The minor works grant has been put to one side because of financial pressures, which, as I have stated previously, is an extremely short-sighted measure because schools that use this type of grant to maintain their properties will fall into greater disrepair and it will cost more in the long run. I ask the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: School uniforms is an issue that comes up regularly. I know it is not directly a budgetary issue but why is there a reluctance to engage with boards of management and patrons on this matter? For example, one must buy uniforms for a school in my community from one particular retailer. One does not have a choice and it costs an arm and a leg. It creates so much hardship for families leading...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: When will it be put in place?