Results 3,681-3,700 of 3,777 for speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Fines (12 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 117. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a list of environmental fines payable to the EU in 2019 will be provided; the reason for each fine and geographical area in which the fine was incurred in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36116/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) Order 2020: Motion (12 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am not sure if the Chairman is being parochial. Rather, he is speaking for the south east and I echo his comments. I welcome the technological university project overall and the MTU specifically. I agree with the Chairman's comments on the quantum of funding in particular. Quite an amount of capital funding has been made available to facilitate the MTU. Can we expect such a...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Further Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I have quarrelled with Deputy Ó Laoghaire before as he always goes before me in committees and asks all the questions I was about to ask. I particularly want to go back to the issue of the DEIS schools. The pupil-teacher ratio needs to be followed through and those schools should see the benefit as well. The point is very well made about the fact there will be no parents association...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 45 - Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (12 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I have already raised this issue with the Minister, but I am going to raise it again to keep it on the agenda. It concerns the funding of software costs. I know that significant funding has been allocated at third level in the area of hardware to try to close the digital divide and allow people participate in an off-campus way, but we need to keep an eye on the software issue because there...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (11 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am disappointed we are going to be unable to source extra vaccines. This is perhaps approaching the issue slightly tangentially but perhaps we need to leverage what we do have in a better way. The Minister of State made reference to the children's vaccine which is still available. It is free at the point of use and I am advised that there is plenty of it available. Perhaps the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vaccination Programme (11 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: The issue I want to raise relates to the flu vaccine, particularly in the context of its availability to GPs and pharmacies throughout the country. I am sure all Deputies have been contacted about this matter. I have been talking to my local pharmacist in Tramore and he stated that he is fully up to date in terms of his returns for the vaccine. He has a waiting list of 200 people. He has...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I join with the Chair in complimenting the Department, the current Minister and the previous Minister, with whom I had a conversation, on the speed and the scale of the response to the Covid pandemic. It was entirely appropriate and the Department deserves great praise for the speed and the comprehensive nature of the introduction of the payments. With regard to the earnings disregard...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I want to add my voice to those of Deputies Ó Cuív and Kerrane. I accept the Minister's contention that now is not the time to shut down any type of employment service but on a fundamental level we should not be privatising employment services. They should be coming back to the local employment service and that is the correct way we should be supporting people back into work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades 2020 and Preparations for Leaving Certificate 2021: Department of Education (10 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I would like to start by acknowledging the huge job of work the inspectorate and the Department had to get through in order to produce the calculated grades system. It was by no means perfect but as the last speaker said, we were not in a perfect situation. On the whole, a very good job was done. The inspectorate and the Department deserve praise and I wish to begin by doing that. I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades 2020 and Preparations for Leaving Certificate 2021: Department of Education (10 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: That is a great, comprehensive answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools: Discussion (5 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses for the presentation. From what Dr. Mazzone said, the nature of bullying has changed and there is less of a safe space. Deputy Ó Ríordáin referred to it as well. Even in terms of the bleed between what happens within school and outside the school gates, it now does not stop at the front door but goes all the way to the child's bedroom if he or she has a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools: Discussion (5 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I have a few questions for Dr. Keating, who has experience of primary classrooms and referenced curriculum overload. She knows that a lot of this ends up happening in an SPHE lesson, which is 30 minutes per week and, right or wrong, is the one that is most easily pushed to the side. Are we seeing interface with the NCCA to help redesign? Our SPHE curriculum is still largely from 1999 - two...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Maoiniú na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta agus Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019: Conradh na Gaeilge (4 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Gabhaim buíochas freisin as an gcur i láthair. Faoi láthair, tá an-chuid oibre ag dul ar aghaidh i ngach comhairle contae ó thaobh an phlean forbartha. Mar is eol do na finnéithe, táim i mo chónaí i nDáilcheantar ina bhfuil Gaeltacht ann. Níl mórán ann sa dréachtphlean forbartha a rinne Comhairle Contae Phort Láirge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Final Report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Discussion (4 Nov 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Five separate issues jump out at me from the contents of the report. The first is the issue of post office payments. As the Covid response has meant a move to fortnightly payments, this has had a big impact on the post offices, which we know are very often the linchpin of services in communities and rural places, in that it has significantly reduced the number of transactions happening in...

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It is only right that I begin my statement by acknowledging the deep hurt and trauma experienced, and still being experienced, by people affected by this issue. I am sure I am not alone in the House in saying that no other issue has seen so many people contact my office, by either phone or email or indeed in person. I have had a number of conversations with survivors about their experience....

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It is fair to say that this budget has been framed at a pivotal point in our country's history; a perfect storm of pandemic, Brexit, climate and biodiversity breakdown, all of which interconnect and impact on our people and our environment. While the current challenges may seem too great for any one budget to overcome, I am proud of what was presented yesterday and of the role the Green...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Is this specifically on the RRDF?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: There was a specific Covid provision to increase the population limits for the RRDF above 10,000. I can see the Minister shaking her head. Will that be continued? I have a question on the town and village renewal scheme. The programme for Government commits to a town centre first policy. I know it will probably come under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I would like to ask the Minister of State about volunteering supports. Attracting volunteers has been an issue in recent years. This may be largely to do with work-life balance issues. Perhaps remote working will give people more time to give back to their communities. The Revised Estimates show that a big chunk of funding is going towards volunteering supports. Yesterday's budget also...

Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2019: An Dara Céim - Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (8 Oct 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Uaireanta, is iad na rudaí beaga a chuireann isteach ort mar Ghael - nuair a fhiafraíonn daoine “What is that name in English?”, mar shampla. B’fhéidir gur ceist saonta, gan dochar í, ach tar éis tamaill, cuireann sí isteach ort. Is sampla eile é an síneadh fada. Níl an Ghaeilge neamhchoitianta i dteangacha sa tslí ina...