Results 2,281-2,300 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am getting through my points quickly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Is it time the pay and pensions of staff were examined? Mr. Costello has said the universities have not had a chance to determine the levels which I know are managed under the Croke Park agreement. However, I would like him to deal with this point. With regard to the IT sector, how many jobs did Dr. Hinfelaar say the institutes had contributed to creating? She has mentioned a figure for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the delegates for their patience. We have to leave when a vote is called in the House. I congratulate the Chairman for inviting everyone to the meeting. It has been a very impressive presentation. I have questions for each of the speakers. Our overall goal is a high quality, affordable and accessible third level education system that will serve the student and the nation in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Certainly. Given the needs of the nation, should funding to universities and to institutes of technology be linked to job creation targets? All the institutions here are engaged in research. The universities benefit hugely from funding from Science Foundation Ireland. Over €1 billion has been spent in that space since 2000. The institutes of technology are involved in applied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Reform of Third Level Education: Discussion (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Thank you.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: One must go back to first principles to solve a problem. One goes back to the cause of the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: A very interesting report in The Irish Times looks at how our primary school children are doing compared to other children across 60 countries in the developed world. The report concerned the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study which showed that we are doing all right but are not great. We are doing quite well in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would appreciate being allowed to speak.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I think I can answer the question myself but it is important that we have a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I would like to link this to a debate we also need on third level education and outcomes in this area. Yesterday, I attended an outstanding showcase by the Western Development Commission highlighting the businesses it is supporting. Some of these businesses are coming out of our third level institutions.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister for Education and Science and the Taoiseach in particular should give each third level institution a job creation target and link that to its funding. I know this would be revolutionary but it can be done.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Many of our third level institutions have the intellectual property but they are not being measured on this. We need to move this intellectual property on to commercialisation and jobs.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is a worthwhile debate to have. I apologise for all the interruptions and I hope the Leader heard my request.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have great sympathy with Senator White's argument. I have asked the Minister for Social Protection to examine the figures with a view to reversing the cut in the respite care grant and will do so again next week. However, I remind Fianna Fáil Senators that we are in this unbelievably tough position because of its-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Issues: Discussion with European Movement Ireland (11 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome Ms O'Connell and Mr. Richmond. I have had a concern for some time about our scrutiny of EU legislation and directives. I do not believe it is adequate, a point I have put on the record before, and it should not be deferred to the sectoral committees. There needs to be far more accountability. The report points out there were just two comments made by Ireland out of a total of...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The fact that ¤3.5 billion will be taken out of Irish people's pockets is hard and sore. It is for this reason that I compliment Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, for saying that the Government will do everything it can not to pay the promissory note due in March.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It would not be paid. I do not want to see all the hard work of this budget undone.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Like many others, I have taken soundings over the weekend. Everybody, including carers, feels that it has been very harsh. I have written to the Minister for Social Protection to see if that can be undone. Farmers, particularly low-income farmers and dry stock farmers in Galway, have not been mentioned much. I have received text after text saying that budget changes will cost the sender...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Colleges gave assurances that this would not happen.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second and Subsequent Stages (6 Dec 2012)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the Minster and the members of the humanist community in the Visitors Gallery . It is a case of déjà vu because we have been here before. I too was as DCU this afternoon to listen to the former Senator Hillary Clinton. The comment that challenged me was when she said: "Let your value set guide you." I think that is what we are doing here today. As the Minister said by...