Results 3,541-3,560 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: Before I call Mr. Duggan, I ask Senator Higgins to make her contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: The Senator certainly is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I thank the Senator. I will make a few points before I call on Mr. Duggan to respond. There has been much discussion on annual averaging versus the total contribution. Mr. Duggan was very direct in his opening statement where he indicated that the additional bands that were put in were specifically to make a saving. The irony is that the savings were imposed on a particular group of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: There is a voluntary contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: Mr. Duggan can group his answers because there was common ground in some of the questions asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I thank Mr. Duggan for his honesty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: On a dual basis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I am not being smart with Mr. Duggan in saying it may well be a little early but it is important that the questions be flagged so the analysis will be done in a timely fashion and so the Department will have a view. I realise this is only a small meeting but the Department should have a view on the thought process so the information coming to us will be based on the questions raised today....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

John Curran: This meeting has run for a little longer than might have been expected. My apologies for the earlier interruption with the Dáil vote. The Department's contributions, the answers and, more importantly, the continuing engagement with the committee in this process is much appreciated. We will conclude for today. We are adjourning until some date in January 2017. The clerk of the...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I specifically ask the Minister to ensure we would go a little further with the new programme. It is not sufficient that students complete their schooling at leaving certificate. We need to review where they go after that and how they are equipped to take up work or to go on to third level. That is important. We all know that fewer students going to UCD and the other universities come...

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I thank the Minister for that.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

John Curran: 33. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will publish a new school completion strategy to further improve school completion rates particularly in disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35149/16]

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

John Curran: My question to the Minister follows from a commitment in the programme for Government to publish a new school completion strategy to further improve school completion rates and especially in areas of disadvantage. Perhaps the Minister would be in a position to tell me when the new strategy will be worked on and what the consultation process might involve.

Other Questions: School Completion Programme (14 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I thank the Minister. I appreciate the fact that she has given a timeframe for the strategy. I encourage her to engage in as broad a consultation process as possible. The school completion programme to date has been successful but it does not mean we can be complacent and that there are no new challenges. It is worth noting that the most recent figures available indicate that about nine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Contracts (13 Dec 2016)

John Curran: 215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to address the anomaly whereby teachers who have taught outside of the EU are capped at seven years' credits, while teachers who have taught in other countries inside the EU receive credits on a year for year basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40055/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Contracts (13 Dec 2016)

John Curran: 216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review Circular 10 of 2001, in particular section 4.2 thereof, which caps credit in respect of service given in States outside the EU at seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40058/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (13 Dec 2016)

John Curran: 519. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider providing access to the freestyle libre, a blood sugar level meter for children with type 1 diabetes, on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40060/16]

Pension Equality and Fairness: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Dec 2016)

John Curran: With no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, I am disappointed that the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, is not present because I wished to pick him up on a couple of specific points he made during his contribution. He spoke about the range of pensions that are available and about Sinn Féin not paying attention or acknowledging the positive aspects of the regime....

Topical Issue Debate: Hospice Services Provision (7 Dec 2016)

John Curran: Unfortunately, the Minister of State did not get to read the last line of her reply, but I will read it. It states: "However, it may be possible to consider a HSE contribution to future phases of Our Lady's redevelopment subject to funds being available at the relevant time and normal procedure of and governance conditions being followed." We should take some encouragement from that. ...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospice Services Provision (7 Dec 2016)

John Curran: I concur with the comments made by my colleagues. This time last year, I had an uncle who was in the hospice. He died at the end of December. From a family's point of view, I cannot speak highly enough of the care he received and the manner in which he was looked after. His immediate family feels likewise. That is why, in some regards, I feel compelled to speak on the subject. Like...