Results 2,481-2,500 of 3,623 for speaker:Ulick Burke

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: They can have this chat elsewhere.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: We were told that was old-fashioned.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 5: In page 19, line 37, after "disabilities" to insert ", and ensure that children with disabilities are not subject to bullying or unfair treatment". Bullying is a fact of life in many schools, at both primary and secondary level. It is a greater tragedy if children with special needs are regarded as an easier target for such bullying. Both the Minister of State and I...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 6: In page 21, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "20.—(1) The Minister shall ensure that parents of children to whom this Act applies shall be afforded adequate counselling and support services. (2) In complying with subsection (1), the Minister shall recognise the importance of promoting the communication between such parents and facilitating the...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I welcome the Minister's commitment as regards the inclusion of such a provision in the disability Bill, which we hope is being finalised. The disability Bill, as Senator Cox stated, is the most appropriate framework for addressing this matter because it also covers adults and parents.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 7: In page 21, between lines 43 and 44 to insert the following: "(g) to ensure that teachers are trained to the highest international standards in special educational needs;". The purpose of the amendment is to ensure teachers are trained to the highest international standards in special educational needs. To illustrate the current position in this regard, I will cite a...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: One hopes this legislation will be enacted quickly but there must be a realisation that there is an acute shortage of teachers, particularly at primary level, and there is a very large percentage of untrained substitute teachers. That is a difficulty which the Minister for Education and Science must acknowledge and address. Senators Ryan and Fitzgerald and the Minister of State have...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 8: In page 24, line 42, to delete "5 years" and substitute "3 years". We have been around the houses on this issue. There is potential for delay in the implementation of the legislation by providing that it should be done within five years. I am fearful of this provision and that is why I tabled the amendment. It must be ensured the legislation is fully implemented in...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: Within the five-year timeframe, in the first year and possibly the second the allocation of money will be so impressive that people will really begin to hope. They will think this is a panacea, but if it were implemented over a shorter period people would just say the legislation was being implemented. In this timeframe we cannot get going. If the pressure is on to deliver and there is a...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 9: In page 33, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "39.—For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Act or any other enactment shall prevent a person from having full access to the Courts at any time to enforce, assert or enhance their rights which accrue under or arise from this Act.". We touched inadvertently on this amendment earlier. There was a clear...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, and her colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, for having steered the legislation though the House. They did so while being able to accept other points of view, which does not happen in all cases. If the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Dempsey, had been here I think we would have crossed swords and there would have...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: That was avoided because of the way in which both Ministers of State handled the debate. I also wish to thank the departmental officials. The debate has been a great learning experience for all who participated in it. It was instructive to follow the debate in the Lower House, in addition to following the proceedings of the Committee on Education and Science where representatives of so many...

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 103, it is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question, "That the Bill be received for final consideration", the Minister may explain the purpose of the amendments made by the Dáil. This is looked upon as the report of the Dáil amendments to the Seanad. For Senators' convenience, I...

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: Is it the subject of an amendment within the grouping?

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: If an amendment in that regard was not made in the Dáil, it is not the subject of debate here.

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: Group 2 relates to the subject matter of amendment No. 14 only.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "3.—Where both the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children have joint roles under a provision of this Act, they shall establish a central body with responsibility for the co-ordination of education and health services in these areas.". I welcome the Minister of State...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I am referring directly to the amendment. Parents are making demands in the context of abysmal special needs provision in primary schools. The principal has experienced that as I will explain at a later date. One of those sentences followed on from another point he was making which was relevant to another of my amendments. It is important to establish a mechanism to co-ordinate all...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I appreciate the Minister of State's reply. Senator Fitzgerald accepts that this amendment is 99% valid. In regard to gaining access to this body, it has been said that it will constitute another layer of bureaucracy. Parents will find it as difficult to gain access to officials in the national council as to officials in the existing structures. I outlined the difficulty parents have in...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Ulick Burke: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, line 43, after "an" to insert "individual". The Minister of State in her last comments mentioned the individual. We are talking about children with special needs. The response must be consistent. The section refers to arranging an assessment of a student. This must be an individual assessment. That is what this amendment seeks to ensure. To ensure...