Results 221-240 of 371 for speaker:Michael Conaghan

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Michael Conaghan: Coming out of the recession in the 1980s successive Governments focused their attentions on building a broad-based sustainable economy. That approach was best exemplified by the rainbow coalition of the 1990s with the Labour Party Minister for Finance, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, at the helm. However, in 14 years of power Fianna Fáil deconstructed this model at the bidding of their...

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Michael Conaghan: The task of tackling the unemployment crisis is daunting but not one this Government will shy away from. It will not be solved overnight and it will take strategic thinking across Departments and investment to achieve success. The work of rebuilding a shattered economy is well under way and I am convinced the Government is on the right path.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs 2012 and 2013: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Feb 2013)

Michael Conaghan: In the context of the new JobsPlus initiative, will existing incentive schemes such as the PRSI exemption and the Revenue tax assist scheme come to an end? How successful were such schemes and what were their failings and deficiencies? How many people were employed through those initiatives? Another question relates to the proposed health innovation hub. When the Minister for Health,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (14 Feb 2013)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the proposed Legal Services Bill will include provisions regarding the position of Legal Executives and their rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7989/13]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Harbours and Piers (12 Feb 2013)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding an application for a grant to extend the pier at an area (details supplied) in County Donegal. [7049/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (12 Feb 2013)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position in relation to proposed sewerage schemes (details supplied) in County Donegal. [7359/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Reform of National Micro and Small Business Support Structures: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

Michael Conaghan: I welcome the Minister and the senior staff from his Department. I wish to raise two general issues. With the standing down of the 35 city and county enterprise boards - I know their performances were mixed - was there any general assessment of how they fared? Obviously, some did well while others did not. I think people would like to have access to that kind of knowledge, in particular...

Further Education and Training: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (17 Jan 2013)

Michael Conaghan: Wait and see.

Further Education and Training: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (17 Jan 2013)

Michael Conaghan: On PLC courses the students are not in classes of fixed size. There are not 25 students studying maths in one room, 25 more studying English and so on. They are engaging in a variety of different courses in areas such as theatre, child care, film-making, animation, health care and leisure management. These courses need more flexibility and more teacher specialisation. I hope that in...

Further Education and Training: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (17 Jan 2013)

Michael Conaghan: I agree with Deputy Maloney and my other colleagues. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the matter. The further education sector that has developed in Ireland, through the VECs, is strong and successful. Colleges in my area, such as Inchicore College of Further Education and Ballyfermot College of Further Education, are great examples of what can be achieved...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (16 Jan 2013)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the all-inclusive fixed-price bin collection offers now available from refuse companies in Dublin are in keeping with Ireland’s obligations under European Law and the polluter pays principal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1833/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (16 Jan 2013)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the recent decision by Greyhound Recycling to charge for recycling bags is in compliance with regulations and in line with the policy objective of encouraging the recycling of household waste. [1834/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Disposal (16 Jan 2013)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the difficulties in the private refuse collection sector since the privatisation of the Dublin City Council bin collection service, if he has considered appointing a regulator for the refuse sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1835/13]

Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in the A, B and C v. Ireland Case: Statements (Resumed) (17 Dec 2012)

Michael Conaghan: I well remember the 1983 referendum campaign. It was a bitter, vicious campaign. During the campaign I held a public meeting in my local electoral area. There were no more than ten people present, among them a future President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, and Dr. Paddy Leahy, the general practitioner in Ballyfermot who was a fearless advocate of women's rights throughout the campaign. Also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (11 Dec 2012)

Michael Conaghan: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made any representations to the Ugandan Government regarding the proposed creation of a legal offence of aggravated homosexuality which includes long prison sentences and even the death penalty; if this will be raised in Ireland's capacity as a member of the UN Human Rights Council; if this will be a consideration...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2012)

Michael Conaghan: There are two Sinn Féins.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2012)

Michael Conaghan: There are two Sinn Féins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Information and Communications Technology Skills: Discussion with Ministers (27 Nov 2012)

Michael Conaghan: In the past, planning for future skills necessary to the economy was an easy task. When government invested in skills in the past, it got a lifetime of use out of that skill set. However, it has all changed and the pendulum has swung in the other direction. To determine the provision of skills in five years' time is almost a guessing game, such is the fickle nature of this area. We...

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Michael Conaghan: I am glad of this opportunity to comment on the proposed innovation in the junior cycle curriculum. Reform of the junior cycle will provide for new learning experiences, encounters and formats. The proposed innovations will give teachers flexibility and space to do these things. When teachers can be more creative and experimental, students will benefit from that sort of activity which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (21 Nov 2012)

Michael Conaghan: Dublin City Council gets involved in issues of this nature, particularly where the householder is elderly. Staff from the council's landscape service will call to a house and suggest to the householder that a tree be cut back. Local authorities are already taking action to address dangerous cases such as those to which the petitions refer but they should be given formal powers to intervene....