Results 281-300 of 935 for speaker:Mary Moran

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: The whole point is that the contributions are not actually voluntary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: What is happening in some cases, however, is that students' locker keys are being withdrawn or a note is included in their report card pointing out that the contribution has not been paid.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: What level of training provision is being made in 2014? Specifically, how many training courses will be available between SOLAS, MOMENTUM and Skillnets and how does the number compare with that in previous years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: That is the point I am making, that schools can hold children to ransom. I saw it when I was filling in children's reports, as written across the top of them was "not paid" or "art money not paid" or something else; in other words they were blackmailed unless they paid the donation and did not get their locker. I have also seen letters seeking voluntary contributions coming from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: My intention was just to make the Minister aware of the additional problems faced by schools. I fully appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: Could we be more forceful in the approach taken? We are trying to reduce back-to-school costs. Some schools insist that school jumpers can only be bought in certain places and parents can struggle to do that. In my town, rules and regulations are set by schools. Polo shirts must have the school crest even though they could be bought in a pack of two for a quarter of the price. It is an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: I met with Barnardos yesterday and there was discussion of the book rental scheme. I agree with the Minister that it is great for the schools that were included but I received many representations from schools that already had a book rental scheme - I am sure other members did too - and additional money was made available to other schools. It is important to commend schools that had already...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: I am sorry, but I had one more question about qualifications.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: Many of the issues have already been raised but might I ask the Minister for her views on small primary schools and the returns for 30 September pertaining to the projected numbers of incoming students? Schools are provided with teachers depending on their projected enrolment up to 30 September and some may not reach that number. I have been contacted by a school that will be one student...

Seanad: Order of Business - Order of Business (24 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: Yesterday I spoke about soccer hooliganism. I again ask that the House debate this issue following the dreadful behaviour of Shamrock Rovers fans at the weekend when they caused physical damage in Dundalk and subjected people in the town to mental abuse. Today I commend a young Dundalk player, Keith Ward, who handed his medal to one of the children present at the game. His gesture was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: I support Senator Jillian van Turnhout's call for a debate on MMS and its use in the treatment of autism. I, too, have been contacted on this issue and it is shocking to think what could be going on. I, too, call on the Minister to come to the House for a debate on this serious issue. I take the opportunity to congratulate the victorious Special Olympics athletes who arrived home from...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Sep 2014)

Mary Moran: I join my colleagues in welcoming everybody back to the Seanad today. I also welcome back the students, teachers and staff who returned to school, along with those who started in schools in the past few weeks. It is important at this time to call for the prioritising of newly-qualified and unemployed teachers when filling substitute teaching positions that may arise in the school year. I...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I join with my colleagues in wishing the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, the best of luck in his new position and welcome the opportunity for this debate. As others have said, it is good to see the power of the Seanad when we stand together and to see a united House on one fact, namely, that we are all against crime, killing and the unnecessary suffering in Gaza at the moment. The...

Seanad: Eye Care: Motion (16 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I formally second the motion and I am delighted the Fianna Fáil Senators agree with it. It is great and another example of the work we can do in the Seanad with cross-party support. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, on his appointment and wish him the best of luck in that challenging role. I have no doubt that he will be very successful in it. I am delighted to...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I agree with the calls for a debate on housing as a matter of urgency. I have received numerous representations over the last number of months from people with very serious disabilities and medical conditions, which are daily becoming worse due to a lack of appropriate accommodation. I understand there are cutbacks due to the current financial situation but, in the meantime, over the last...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: SOLAS Funding (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate and will take him up on his offer to meet some of the people from the National Learning Network who are directly involved. I appreciate that the Minister of State is only in his role a few hours, but as spokesperson for education on this side of the House I want to ensure we have plenty to talk about.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: SOLAS Funding (15 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I congratulate the Minister of State in this public forum and wish him every success in his job. I do not doubt that he will prove himself as capable a Minister of State as he is a Deputy. I welcome him to the House for this debate. The Minister of State might be aware of the briefing given last week in the Houses that was led by students from the National Learning Network who were...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Summer Works Scheme Applications (10 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I will be brief and I do not mean to be flippant but there is no point in having state-of-the-art toilets if the school does not have equipment and classrooms are bare. I am very familiar with this school and I ask that something be initiated on this, perhaps as emergency works. I have encouraged the principal to apply for emergency works because with equipment having been stolen, students...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Summer Works Scheme Applications (10 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: If the equipment is not in the classroom, the school cannot operate.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Summer Works Scheme Applications (10 Jul 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Cannon, for coming to the House to take this Adjournment matter. I received representations from the principal of the school in Dundalk last February regarding security issues and ongoing anti-social behaviour on school grounds. The school applied for summer works funding and was unsuccessful in both funding...