Results 301-320 of 11,776 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tax Code (23 May 2024)

Niall Collins: As the Deputy will appreciate any issues pertaining to taxation are a matter for the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. Section 195C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 contains a specific tax exemption for travel and subsistence payments paid by the State Examinations Commission to examiners in relation to the State examinations. My officials are engaging with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Bodies (23 May 2024)

Niall Collins: SOLAS has advised that whilst it does not have any posts specifically for planners or architects, there are two Programme Managers in its Capital Unit to support the planning, delivery, and operation of small and large-scale capital projects within the Further Education and Training sector. The roles are filled by personnel with the relevant technical and professional training, expertise and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (22 May 2024)

Niall Collins: 101. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23100/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Rights (22 May 2024)

Niall Collins: Following negotiations between my department, the Department of Education, which has regulatory responsibility for the Education and Training Board (ETB) sector and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDPR) a proposal was accepted by relevant Unions to create a new grade of adult educator, with a standardised pay scale. This grade will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (22 May 2024)

Niall Collins: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 216 and 217 together. The role of the External Authenticator in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector is to ensure an independent verification of quality assurance in assessment processes and procedures within the delivery of education programmes. This is an essential component of the quality assurance mechanisms underpinning the Quality and...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: The definition in the Bill as drafted is aligned with EU policy and Irish national policy and strategy. The Bill does not exist in isolation but within an existing statutory framework with regard to climate action. There is already a legal obligation on public bodies to comply with Ireland's climate law.Section 15 (1) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act of 2021...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: The new agency will play a critical role in driving change and finding innovative solutions to enable us to thrive, integrating climate action and sustainability into all of its functions. The new agency will be following on from the excellent ongoing work of both agencies in that regard, with a mandate to foster co-operation across the research and innovation ecosystem, to protect and...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: I would like to address amendment No. 2, which relates to the interpretation section of the Bill., amendments Nos. 10 and 11, which address the objects of the agency, and amendments Nos. 16 and 17, which relate to section 35 of the Bill on schemes for funding of research and innovation. As for amendment No. 2, submitted by Senators Clonan and Craughwell, parity of esteem is not just...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: Regarding amendments Nos. 6 and 13, as outlined repeatedly during the Committee Stage debate, the agency has no remit regarding researcher careers. This Bill is not the appropriate place for this and we are therefore not proposing to accept these amendments. The Government is committed to implementing Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy. A dedicated talent pilar...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: No.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: The proposed amendment No. 7 is in keeping with the policy intentions of the Bill, and we were minded to include a very similar amendment which came up on Committee Stage in the other House. The Department sought legal advice to ensure that the proposed wording did not create any unintended consequences. The advice was that the insertion of this wording may, taken at its highest, impose an...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: I have spoken to it already.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: Amendment No. 15 is an ordinary provision that is completely in line with existing legislation, including the HEA Act. The document specified here could be any communication between the Minister and the board in the ordinary way of ministerial instructions being communicated. There is nothing extraordinary here. The board complying with an instruction of the Minister is mitigated in the...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: Amendment No. 18 deals with section 40 which addresses compliance with the conditions of funding for research and innovation. The agency is already limited by the objects in section 8 and the functions in section 9 and these guide every aspect of its operation. The objects and functions will support and guide all the co-operation it undertakes and this is already captured in section 35(1)....

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: The Senator mentioned ethics and integrity. In section 8(a), the first object to which the agency shall have regard is "to promote the attainment and maintenance of excellence in the standard and quality of research and innovation undertaken".When we flip back to the definitions, "standard and quality", in respect of research and innovation, is defined as "the standard and quality of the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: 211. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider a reduction in VAT on safety clothing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22481/24]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: 217. To ask the Minister for Finance if stamp duty exemptions can be granted to those who start farming at 35 years of age, if working full time; if conditions (details supplied) will suffice for an exemption and other reliefs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22663/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: 275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22342/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Correspondence (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: 394. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22588/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (21 May 2024)

Niall Collins: The funding allocated by SOLAS to the ETBs in respect of the Youthreach Programme (including learner allowances) for the years 2021 - 2023 is as set out in the table. SOLAS is not in a position to report on the funding provided to the Programme to date in 2024. This detail will be available in August when SOLAS has completed its mid year review of the ETB funding position. ...