Results 1,961-1,980 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Seanad: Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (19 Jul 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I move:That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the further coordination of the activities of the National Educational Welfare Board or, in the Irish language, an Bord Náisiúnta Leasa Oideachais, in so far as they relate to matters connected with prevention of non-attendance on the part of certain students registered with recognised schools and for...

Seanad: Education (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (19 Jul 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I join my colleagues in thanking the Cathaoirleach, the Leader of the House and the staff of the Seanad for all their professionalism and courtesy over the period we have been here. While our next period of parliamentary jousting will take place in a different environment, I am sure that professionalism will lend itself to the new surroundings as well. I raise again, as I have done in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I rise to raise a very sensitive issue and one which all Members should be in a position to support, which is cardiac care in Ireland and how children are dealt with. I request that we facilitate a debate in the House on this issue. I had a discussion with the parent of a child who passed away last February. The boy's name was Gavin Coyne and his mother's name is Maria. Gavin suffered...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Ridiculous.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Women can be in charge of cars but not their own bodies, then.

Seanad: Direct Provision: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The last time I spoke on this issue, the Minister described my contribution as bizarre and extraordinary. I hope my contribution is a bit more to his liking today. I wish to inform the House that on the anniversary of the election of Donald Trump, 8 November, in Liberty Hall, there will be an event called Irish Stand, raising funds directly for young people in direct provision. There is a...

Seanad: Well-being in Schools: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the Minister’s initiative, which deserves support. I spent 11 years as a primary school teacher in north inner city Dublin, three of which were as a primary school principal. From going around schools speaking to principals and teachers, as the Minister does, I have noted many of them will not speak openly about the day-to-day traumas they witness because they do not want...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister for Education and Skills for taking the time to be here in person. In another circumstance, I would picture the many crushing disappointments of yesterday's budget announcement but I will save that for another time and just speak about one issue involving Gaeltacht courses that primary teachers in training are expected to attend. I raise the issue because of a letter...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teachers' Professional Development (11 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I find the Minister's reply disappointing. The announcement made by him yesterday was that the overall budget for the Department of Education and Skills was in the region of €9 billion. It would cost €1 million to resolve the issue I have outlined. We all know the background to it and I fully accept that we were in an economic crisis. We have all heard that 1,000 times, but...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish to raise two issues. First, I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Skills to discuss education. I am a little perturbed by yesterday's budget in terms of what it does for education. It is quite clear that many of the opportunities that were open to the Government were not taken. Clearly, the Minister has shown in the recent past that he has no interest in...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish to raise the recent ballot taken by special needs assistants, SNAs, to take industrial action. Of SNAs who voted, 97% voted in favour of industrial action because of the ongoing uncertainty caused by late allocation made by the Department of Education and Skills. This is particularly irritating to the SNAs because an Oireachtas education committee report started by me and then...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Can we have a saucer of milk for the Leader?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Were they trustworthy?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Did the Leader trust them?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is one thing I am not. I am only a Blueshirt when it comes to the Dubs.

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Minister is very welcome. As previous speakers noted, all Senators acknowledge her commitment to the issue of child care and her achievements in this area in the Government's first two budgets. Previous Governments also made improvements in this area, for example, through the introduction of paid paternity leave, a measure in which I was involved. While we are in a better place than...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: As has been said, this weekend marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar. While I do not intend to deal with the eighth amendment here, as an Oireachtas committee is dealing with that issue, I ask you, a Chathaoirligh, to ask Senator Mullen to apologise for his recent comments in the media relating to the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: May I ask-----