Results 1,641-1,660 of 4,869 for speaker:Seán Haughey

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: There has been a draft agreement but it is subject to legislation being passed in the House.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: It is a legally binding agreement between two parties.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: We can ensure it is published.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: They are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas so there is no difficulty in the Oireachtas committee examining them.

George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank the Deputy for the history lesson.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (18 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I understand that this particular issue refers to the possible use of the office space in question for the delivery of adult education provision. The Deputy will be aware that my Department funds adult education provision through annual grants to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) which deliver provision locally. The procurement of accommodation and organisation of courses is a matter...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am very happy to have the opportunity to bring the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010 before the Seanad. All Stages of the Bill were taken in the Dáil on Thursday, 18 February. I look forward to having an interesting discussion with Senators today. The Bill amends the George Mitchell Scholarship Fund Act 1998. It is short and relatively straightforward amending...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I thank Senators for their contributions in this constructive debate. They have rightly raised a number of questions regarding the Bill's aims and objectives and how to proceed. I will endeavour to deal with their questions as best I can. I was asked how many additional scholars will come to Ireland as a result of this legislation. I want to be clear, in that it is not proposed that any...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am sorry. The Senators are correct. I am glad they-----

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Questions were asked about investment advice fees. According to our information, the alliance secured the best advice available regarding its investment of Government funds. An examination carried out by the Department some years ago showed that the returns received were as good as those achieved by a number of pension funds. It must be acknowledged that the reduction in the fund's nominal...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Amendment No. 1 ensures that accountability arrangements for the annual audit of the fund are further strengthened. This amendment ensures the auditor, which the fund manager is obliged to appoint each year, is appointed with the consent of the Minister. The George Mitchell Scholarship Fund is held, controlled and managed in the United States by a fund manager, currently the US-Ireland...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: There has been protracted discussions between my Department and the alliance on all of these issues and satisfactory safeguards have been put in place with regard to oversight. We have given this serious consideration. There is absolute co-operation between the alliance and the Department and these things are dealt with in a spirit of co-operation. The consent of the Minister will be...

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Will what be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas?

Seanad: George Mitchell Scholarship Fund (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: Yes. The accounts are laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. In the Dáil, some Deputies felt it would be a good idea for the Joint Committee on Education and Science to examine this issue from time to time. The accounts are laid before both Houses in the normal course of events.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, Deputies Conlon, Collins, Michael McGrath, White and the Minister, Deputy Ó Cúiv. It is clear that two of the key pillars that will underpin our future economic growth are a recovery in our competitiveness and the skills base of our labour force. Given that the issue of competitiveness is broad ranging, we are adopting a...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (24 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: As the Deputy is aware, School Transport was approved by Government as a topic for inclusion as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews. This review is looking at the original objectives of the scheme, whether these objectives remain valid today, the extent to which the objectives are being achieved, and whether there are possibilities for economies or efficiencies that would...

Seanad: Community Development (24 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Minister and I would like to thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The RAPID programme was first launched in February 2001, with the aim of prioritising and co-ordinating State assistance in some of the most deprived areas. Originally, 25 areas were targeted and this number...

Seanad: Community Development (24 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: The Minister has not made a final decision yet.

Seanad: Higher Education Strategy (24 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: It is appropriate that there are graduates of Trinity College, Dublin, in the Gallery. As a former graduate myself, I welcome them. In February 2009 the Minister for Education and Science launched a process to develop a new national strategy for higher education. The process is being led by a high level strategy group under the chairmanship of Dr. Colin Hunt, comprising national and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 Feb 2010)

Seán Haughey: It is my Department's policy to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of all adults, including those with dyslexia, in further education. There is a range of courses, both full-time and part-time at FETAC Levels 1-6, funded by my Department and provided by Vocational Education Committees (VECs) across the country. Specifically in relation to adults with dyslexia, my Department...