Results 1,961-1,980 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I did not want to start without the Minister, Deputy Quinn, being present.

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister for being present to take this important issue.

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move:“That Dáil Éireann: affirms that the right to education is an internationally recognised human right, enshrined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 13 and 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, reaffirmed by the 1960 UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination in Education, Article 2 of the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (24 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding the needs of those who cannot afford to register for the Teaching Council this year due to financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39184/13]

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am from Cork.

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: First, I thank all the contributors to this debate. The number of speakers is an indication of the importance of education in the forthcoming budget for Members on all sides of the House. The Minister quite rightly corrected us last night on the figures we quoted in respect of the OECD. However, the figure he quoted is from 2010 as well, so that figure is almost three years old. Given...

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: We look forward to debating that in the committee. The amendment tabled by the Minister states, "education services have been protected despite the immense challenges posed to the financial sustainability of our nation". I am of the view that not even the Minister believes that to be a credible statement. How could anyone say that our education services have been protected in light of the...

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister - in his own words - went after a programme that "is having a positive effect in tackling educational disadvantage and is an example of funding well spent".

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: In order that decisions such as those to which I refer will not continue to be made, impact analyses will have to be carried out in respect of every budgetary decision. When referring to the higher education sector the Minister stated:The Department supports a range of measures which facilitate greater levels of participation by disadvantaged students, mature students and students with...

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister does possess such powers. I checked the position with the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, which forwarded to me a paper which categorically states that the Minister has the power to issue directives to schools in this regard. In that context, in 2001 the then Fianna Fáil Minister for Education and Science issued directives in respect of school uniforms to patron...

Private Members' Business - Cuts in Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: We have debated three significant items of legislation. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, the Education and Training Boards Act and the Further Education and Training Act have huge potential in the context of transforming the education system in this State and I previously congratulated the Minister on their introduction. There are some other progressive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Funding (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 21. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria for selecting eligibility for funding via the ERF and EIF funding mechanism. [39753/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Funding (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 33. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of the ERF and EIF funding allocated to Ireland that has been spent and the amount remaining. [39752/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Deputy Willie O'Dea covered most of the areas. Can the delegates comment further on the issue of family income supplement? There is a recommendation in respect of it from the advisory group on taxation. It is estimated that 40% of those entitled to the payment take it up. If a decision is made to retain it, how will the take-up rate be improved? Do the delegates have ideas in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Can I clarify a point? Are many of the students who receive a grant still accessing the services of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to meet everyday costs like rent and so forth?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (26 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 32. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the waiting lists for rehabilitation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40053/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (26 Sep 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 56. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the waiting lists for orthodontic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40054/13]

Other Questions: Public Transport Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he has taken to investigate the effects of allowing private operators to compete for routes with Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann on overall service and its social obligations.. [40910/13]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Employment Data (1 Oct 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 146. To ask the Taoiseach the proportion of overall employment which is accounted for by public service employment for the most recent five years for which data is available. [40676/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (1 Oct 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of hours the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund board has met since it was formed this year. [40775/13]