Results 201-220 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I take back my comments. Successive Governments have made significant advances in the manner in which spending is managed. I do not cite any particular Administration in that regard. As I listened to remarks about rates of spending, I cast my mind back to the 1980s when I had to chair a sub-committee on cost overruns in the public service. At the time, cost overruns involved multiples rather...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Government had the money to splurge had it chosen to do so. It did not. To have embarked on a spending splurge would have been irresponsible, highly inflationary and anathema to the Government's philosophy. A very short-sighted boom would have undermined our competitiveness and been followed by a bust. The Government has chosen not to adopt that approach to spending. We have spoken about...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Is the Leader aware the Minister for Education and Science has set up a new body, Education Ireland, on which I congratulate her? The aim of the body is to make Ireland a centre of educational excellence for international students. Undoubtedly it will attract more overseas students to come and study here which will, inevitably, be of tremendous benefit to the economy and society generally. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Could the Acting Leader arrange a debate as soon as possible on the OECD report on third level education? The report calls for parity of esteem in the State's dealings with the two components of third level education, the institutes of technology and the universities, but it stops short of calling for full university status for the institutes. A debate would be useful for us to examine the...

Seanad: Public Private Partnerships: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State and also welcome the positive note on which Senator McHugh ended his contribution. I too believe public private partnerships represent the way forward as they adhere to one of the fundamental principles, value for money. As we develop, refine, re-evaluate and constantly monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of PPPs, we will come to acknowledge that fact. I...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I second the motion. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House. I apologise that I have not read the amendment to the motion so I will not comment on it.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: It is well to be up-front about it. As Senator Mansergh stated, the Fianna Fáil Party supports the concept of a low-tax economy, not to reduce revenue, but because it is the right way to achieve better quality public services and social inclusion. The irrefutable evidence to support such an approach is set out in the motion. When discussing low taxation, we are discussing one element of...

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely, to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment to the Department of Transport with special responsibility for certain traffic management issues in Dublin and the major cities. During his many years as a member of Dublin City Council, he was never shy about making forceful and critical comments on how local...

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Minister for Education and Science is determined to reach the target of an average class size of 20 pupils.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: However, it is a case of prioritising how she reaches this target. In the context of rolling out the commitment, she must have due regard for special educational needs, which has been stressed in the House today. The Minister and the Government are firmly committed to reaching the target set out in An Agreed Programme for Government. We should consider the record of recent years. For example,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I have. Average class sizes have fallen from 26.6:1 to 23.9:1.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Will the Leader arrange for the Minister to come to the House to clarify the confusion that has obviously arisen among the Opposition? Some 4,000 extra primary teachers have been put into the system. There is a question in regard to the reality of supply over the coming years. The Minister is being forthcoming and up-front about this.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Let us deal with the realities by calling on the Minister to come to the House to discuss the issues.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: That is a twist.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Should the Minister ignore them?

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I wish to share my time with Senator Hanafin.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus is mian liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh léi ar a ceapachán mar Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta. Guím rath ar a cuid oibre. I warmly welcome the Minister and congratulate her on her elevation to the Ministry of Education and Science. I have no doubt but that her Ministry will be a testament to a great commitment to education. She has tremendous experience...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——into the future development of higher education. The issue first surfaced in the 1980s. The question of the closure of one or both colleges of home economics arose during this period, having regard to the demand for home economics teachers into the future. A report was prepared by a steering committee on the future development of higher education in June 1995. The president of St....

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: It was presented in July 2002.