Results 1,901-1,920 of 5,534 for speaker:Maureen O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Staff Issues (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 53. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of bank staff currently availing of lower or favourable mortgage or other loan interest rates; of those staff, the number that have been able to negotiate a write down of their debts; the total number of persons registered by the banks who had their loans, mortgage or otherwise written down; the number of those that are bank employees; what are...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I will begin by making a point I made this time last year. The Minister, the Minister of State and all the officials are present. They are the powers that be when it comes to foreign affairs but there appears to be a huge rush to get through everything that is before us. That does not sit easy with me when we talk about parliamentary oversight. The Minister comes in and presents, and I do...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Yes, but I want to make a point. How much money is spent on having an honorary consul in a country as opposed to having a small diplomatic mission? It was a narrow view not to reopen that embassy. At every meeting we attended the people expressed regret that we do not have an embassy. If we want to trade and promote relations, and Iran is a main player in the region at other levels, we...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I have a similar question. Since the number of citizens travelling abroad has increased, there are further demands on the consular service. Has the Tánaiste noticed an increase in the number of requests for assistance by those who have been forced to emigrate as opposed to those on holiday abroad? With regard to the supports for Irish emigrants, do we fund or support the emigrant...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I take it the reason the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade did not answer my question on the costs for the honorary consul in Teheran is because there is a review under way. I will wait until he has all the information on that one. There is no doubt there is increasing tension in areas in Northern Ireland. I have discussed the prisoner issue with the Tánaiste...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Not just yet.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: We make mandatory contributions worth €46 million to international organisations. Have we any say in how this money is allocated and is it spent in ways that are in keeping with our values? The bureaucracy of an organisation like the United Nations must give rise to massive administration costs, as opposed to money that could be given in direct aid. When we negotiate trade...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I acknowledge that the ODA allocation has been maintained, despite the recession, but it is disappointing that we are moving further away from the aid target of 0.7% of GDP. As a member of the committee and as chairman of the Irish section of AWEPA, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of aid countries and I must compliment the work of our ambassadors and their staff and the way in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: May I ask a question?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: When we were in Iran and met its Minister for Foreign Affairs, points were made about the need for humanitarian aid, humanitarian corridors and Iranian support for same. Interestingly, his own background is in human rights. It does not make sense that Iran, which is a main player in this regard, was invited to the peace talks but then had its invitation withdrawn. It was a pity that the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: The Government representatives were keen to assure everyone we met in Tehran that it would happen.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: The representatives gave the impression that it would be sooner rather than later.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 107. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding drug community employment schemes; the numbers on the scheme; the vacancies; the reasons for the vacancies; the age profile of the participants; the numbers availing of extensions on the schemes; and if she will identify areas of concern for the scheme. [3958/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: My question relates to the community employment drug rehabilitation scheme. We have discussed this subject on previous occasions. The Minister has visited some of the schemes. My question arises from the particular issues and problems which some projects in the north-east and north-west inner city have brought to my attention.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I will read the full reply. The reality is the projects are experiencing difficulties in terms of both referrals and extensions. For example, one project told me there is a waiting time to get on a scheme. For somebody who applies on 9 January, it will be the end of January. In the normal scheme of things, that would be fine but these people are coming out of residential rehabilitation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Drug Treatment Programmes Places (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: There is also a major issue for those coming out of prison and being referred to a scheme. What the Minister is saying is sometimes not filtering down to the officials. Those involved in the projects are dealing with the officials and they are getting a different answer from them. Another point is about how one measures success and progression. For the officials, it is getting into...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the kidnapping of human rights defenders in Syria including persons (details supplied) alongside a human rights lawyer; if he is pursuing the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3618/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Investigations (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is undergoing an investigation into allegations of children with autism being kept in isolation rooms for hours at a time; if he will consider the removal of isolation room; and his views on whether the reduction in resource teacher hours has contributed to the overuse of isolation rooms. [3637/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills despite their having specialised qualifications and years of industry and teaching experience, the reason some further education teachers are not able to register; if his attention has been drawn to the restrictive registration requirements, that is, that they must have a level 8 degree and a two-year diploma or Master's degree in Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 249. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the visiting teacher service; if the service is under review; the proposed changes that are included; the level of involvement with parents and teachers in the relevant schools during the review; and if consultation will be engaged in before the findings of the review are made. [3639/14]