Results 281-300 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am glad he has a combative style and it is particularly welcome on an issue of such fundamental importance. Surely every country has a duty to address problems related to the welfare of society. This is one such problem and the Minister has a statutory and constitutional duty to solve it. There is no point arguing that a court decision in England or elsewhere would give one greater...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the call for the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House to discuss the issuing of information from his Department because, when he does so, he will expose the bogus nature of some of the assertions that are flying around, particularly those made by Fine Gael.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Attempts to raise this issue to a matter of national importance or scandal are bizarre for a number of reasons.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: First, the information in question was already available. Second, I understand the Fine Gael spokesperson on education in the other House sought full access to all the files on disadvantage in the Department of Education and Science last month and had all the relevant documents made available to her. The issue about which allegations are being made is being portrayed as unprecedented in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am just finishing.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: It is being portrayed as unprecedented when, as we all know——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I have a question. As we all know, it has happened during the terms of successive Governments.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Third, is the House aware that between 1994 and 1997, a highly specialised political unit was established——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am asking a question. A highly specialised political unit was established in the Department of Social Welfare to disseminate information to the Rainbow parties——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——and to respective party members.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Could I ask if the Opposition parties——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am entitled to ask a question. The Opposition can shout all it wants but it will not silence me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Does the House agree——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am finishing. Does the House agree this sinister development should be investigated along with all the others when the Minister comes to the House?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Senator should ask a question, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I join Senator Ulick Burke in calling for a debate on disciplinary problems in classrooms in primary and secondary schools. While the problems referred to in the ASTI survey have their origins outside the school gate, they are manifested in the classroom to the detriment of teachers and pupils and reflect the fact that a significant swathe of parents seem to have opted out of their...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the decision by the Minister for Education and Science to open up a debate on the publication of schools' performance tables. A related issue concerns how much information should be made available to parents and students who must make decisions about choosing schools. While the Education Act 1998 banned the publication of performance tables, at the other extreme some people argue...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Although his party's sojourn in Government was short, we will find sufficient examples. I welcome the decision by one of the teachers' unions to invite the Minister for Education and Science to attend its conference in the near future. I never had any doubt about the union's ability to engage in a meaningful debate with the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I regret that the other two teachers' unions did not see fit to do so.

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion. (3 Mar 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the decision of Senator Minihan and the Progressive Democrats to table this timely motion. The most comprehensive and significant review and evaluation of the third level system in a generation is being undertaken by the OECD. It will examine all aspects of higher education, including the State's performance in comparison to other OECD countries. A high calibre team has been...