Results 1,981-2,000 of 2,078 for speaker:Mary Seery Kearney

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Infrastructure Provision (18 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I note and fully respect the openness to modality changes for our entire population. There is no question that we are trying to encourage that. The Minister of State outlined an evidence-based framework that goes along with work patterns, residential capacity and predicted development.However, the terms of reference for the Knocklyon feasibility study with Knocklyon being a stand-alone...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Infrastructure Provision (18 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Over the past few days, I have had two remarkably similar but distinct queries on next-of-kin, who is next-of-kin when a loved one is in hospital, their right to be informed and their right to information. One of the calls to me involved a spouse who believed he was entitled to know what was happening to his wife in hospital and the other was from a sister about her dependent sibling in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I call for a debate on BusConnects, with the Minister in attendance, in the context of the current public consultation period. BusConnects, in principle, is visionary. The idea of upgrading our cycling infrastructure and of public transport in the city being more accessible is fantastic. However, it will involve an enormous infrastructural change to our capital city. To give due regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank both witnesses for the considerable amount of work that has been done since they both took office. It has been an extraordinary journey. My questions are twofold. One arises from the comments made here last week by the officials from the Department in relation to the leaving certificate students of 2020 and those who were downgraded from their teachers' grades. Last week I asked...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I appreciate that and that this year's H1 percentage comes in at around 9%. However, that does not explain that there is a very distinct group of students who are saying that they had an historical pattern of high achievement and expected that their teachers' grades were in line with what their expectations were. Within that, there is the group who are now currently sitting the leaving...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I accept that, but a disproportionately high number of them are those who were downgraded and feel that this exam is their chance to prove that the Department was wrong in not applying the historical grades of the school in their instances.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: But what Mr. Tattan is confirming to me is that there has not been a substantive review of the group. He is going on a statistical comparison between years, rather than on the specific cohort of students who claim they were unfairly downgraded.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education (17 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Is that going to be a substantive or a procedural review?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: In supporting Senator Garvey's comments on autism spectrum disorder, ASD, units, I know the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, is highly cognisant of where the gaps are. Only last week there was an announcement of 25 new units in primary schools. I am working with the Dublin 12 campaign for an autism-specific school and Involve Autism. I am very much aware that issues presented to the...

Seanad: Disability Day Services: Statements (11 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the Minister of State. As she knows, I am very enthusiastic about her plans and budget. It is ambitious and the programme for Government is excellent in respect of disability services. I commend the Minister of State on how she has conducted business in the Department and her responsibilities thus far. I want to begin by acknowledging the enormous difficulties experienced by...

Seanad: Political Donations: Motion (11 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I am supporting this motion and very much commend Senator Ward for bringing it forward. The claiming and taking of this money is a statement of sheer hypocrisy from a party that champions a 32-county island and claims it is the only all-Ireland party. It talks about unity and what its representatives stand for. They wrap themselves in the Tricolour at every possible opportunity. Sinn...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and opening remarks and for all of the work they do all of the time and not just what is represented here today. I very much value that we should be moving at all times, and at all times measuring our progress for an inclusive society that is about empowerment and equality. I expect that the achievement of equality means positive discrimination...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades 2020 and Preparations for Leaving Certificate 2021: Department of Education (10 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I preface my five questions by saying that I appreciate that an extraordinary amount of work has been done in unprecedented circumstances. However, I am under siege from emails from people who have been downgraded and my questions pertain to this cohort. Based on replies to Deputy Conway-Walsh, what I hear is that the Department does not accept that there is a group of students with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades 2020 and Preparations for Leaving Certificate 2021: Department of Education (10 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Except that there is a very small percentage within that very high-achieving group.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades 2020 and Preparations for Leaving Certificate 2021: Department of Education (10 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: We could list the schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Strategic Housing Developments: Discussion (10 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I will share time with Deputy Higgins. I thank the witnesses for their opening remarks. I am, naturally, very much supportive of the objectives of the strategic housing developments, SHDs, but I have concerns in two areas which I would like the delegations to address. At times, decisions have been made with the opposition of the local authority having been well flagged and signalled as...

Seanad: Data Protection Regulations: Motion (6 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I appreciate that this is a technical motion, but while the Minister of State is here, I will use this opportunity to raise a concern based on my experience over a number of years. I work with many families on a pro bono basis, assisting them when they have been done out of tracker mortgages, restoring them and going through that with various financial institutions. One of the provisions of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the Minister and Minister of State for their opening remarks. I really welcome the inclusion of disability and equality under the same roof. It makes absolute sense. It resonates with the Equal Status Act. When I think of all those rights, it is fantastic. The lawyer in me gets absolutely thrilled with the notion of this Department. The Minister has a fantastic vision for it and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Sustainable Development Goals and Departmental Priorities: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (3 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I congratulate the Minister on the work plan. It is a broad church of work and I look forward to working with him on it. I particularly lobbied for the employment regulation order for the early years sector and I was delighted when it made the programme for Government. I am particularly looking forward to the recognition of early years professionals. Time is short so I want to address...