Results 341-360 of 911 for speaker:Tom Clonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: The witnesses are very welcome, and I thank them for coming in. I will just disclose that I was a primary school teacher in a previous life. I am a recovering primary school teacher. It was a long time ago. I have a question for the witnesses about something that intrigues me. The NCSE announced last year that it was entering into a special partnership with the charity AsIAm to provide...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Did other organisations compete for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Afterwards, could the witnesses supply me with all the information in writing about all that? I am very curious about how this came about. Would that be possible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Just to be clear, though, do Down Syndrome Ireland, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland come into schools and provide services for monetary gain?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Well, the NCSE has not announced any special partnerships with them-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: What AsIAm is doing is completely different from feeding in information, let us say, on policy formation, but it is the NCSE's special partner in providing a service to schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank Ms Walsh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: In terms of the ambition for what we need to support inclusive education, is the vision for this to be provided by the State on a statutory basis? That should be the case, rather than it being subcontracted out ad hoc to charities and section 39 organisations. We have seen the dysfunction of the latter approach in other elements of supports for disabled citizens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank Ms Walsh. There is no implied criticism of AsIAm or the NCSE; I am just curious about the mechanism. As a public representative with a special interest in this area and in the attempt to influence the formation of policy, ideologically I am located in a space where the State should provide.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (27 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. I was informed last night that it was she who would be here. I was very pleased to hear that, not only because she is my local representative, of course, but also because I know her to be a person of absolute intellectual and ethical integrity. I know that the Minister of State will understand the import of the matter I am going to raise...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (27 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I appreciate the sincerity of the Minister of State’s response. I know she and I are on the same page when it comes to our concern with children and citizens with additional needs.I have deep concerns about the surgical qualifications of these people carrying out urological procedures. Many are general paediatric surgeons with no specialisation in urology which is not consistent with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I echo the congratulations to our ceannaire. She would be a great representative of Ireland in Europe, and of Fine Gael of course. I am delighted to hear that news. I raise again Children's Health Ireland, particularly the waiting list for urological surgery. I have raised complex spinal surgery and the fact there are hundreds of children on that waiting list. Much complex spinal surgery...

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank him for coming. I think we have reached an inflection point in relation to what is happening in Gaza. The forced expulsion at gunpoint of the civilian population is a war crime, and Israel has done this twice. It has forced Gazans to endure a forced expulsion from Gaza city to Khan Younis and then from Khan Younis to Rafah. Rafah is...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank our guests for coming in. I echo what my colleagues have said about how useful and interesting this exchange is for us, and on many levels how reassuring. I congratulate the witnesses on child safety online getting an "A" on the Children's Rights Alliance scorecard, as reported on "Morning Ireland" this morning. It is good to hear good news. The State's face has been saved with...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: If a person is caused harm by these platforms and the AI systems and recommender systems in another jurisdiction, does he or she take legal action here because the companies have their headquarters here or is that happening abroad? I do not know whether our guests are aware of developments in these areas. I have an interest in vulnerable adults. There was reference to artificial...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Forgive me but I have to go to another committee now. I really appreciate the presentation and responses.

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: Before I address the Bill, I congratulate the Minister and her Department on the increase in number of people applying for An Garda Síochána. Some people made light of the fact there were older candidates. I believe they bring life experience to the role. It is a good news story and the Minister deserves recognition for that. That initiative was swiftly acted on and pushed...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I am talking about traffic convictions. The Bill is to be welcomed. It is very commendable. I am delighted to see cross-party support. I am particularly pleased to hear the Minister say the Government will not oppose this legislation and will work on progressing matters and having it enacted as soon as possible.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I want to echo the concerns about what is happening in Rafah. We have approximately 1.8 million Palestinians trapped in Rafah. It is their final place of refuge along a line between Kerem Shalom in Israel through Rafah out to the Mediterranean. Based on the reprehensible calculus used by Benjamin Netanyahu, it is likely, if this assault continues, that one in ten Palestinians will either...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Tom Clonan: I thank the witnesses for all of the information they have given us. I do not know where to begin. When I was five, my parents gave me a toy gun and a cowboy hat for my birthday. One of the first things I did was to take out my mother's crystal glasses and put them on the sideboard along with the decanter. She asked me what I was doing and I told her I was going to drink some whiskey. I...