Results 3,721-3,740 of 3,777 for speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I would like that aspect to be borne in mind by the Department because I am aware of several schools which are very close to that cut-off point. This could have an adverse effect on staffing in the year beginning in 2021. A related question, in some senses, concerns the responsibility of the boards of management. Members of boards serve voluntarily. I have served on the board of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the Minister. Finally, because my time is short, I echo the concerns expressed by Deputy Ó Laoghaire about grade inflation and, in particular, its impact on the 2019 cohort. Students who sat the leaving certificate in 2019 should not miss out on college places to which their results would otherwise have entitled them.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the expert witnesses for coming in. It is helpful information. Looking back at some of the things that I have spoken about in the Dáil so far, I was dismayed to see that, as far back as 19 March, I was talking about the need to address issues relating to migrant workers, especially in the context of the Covid crisis, because they were always going to become a reservoir where...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I know that and that is why-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank Ms Labo. I was aiming the question more at the-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: My second question is on sick pay provision. It has been outlined that 90% of the workers we are talking about do not have sick pay provision. Specifically in the context of language issues and difficulties with accessing services, have workers been able to access the pandemic unemployment payment or has there been a large lag time during which workers have been left without any payment...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: The Situation in Meat Processing Plants (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Was it falling mainly to representatives like Ms Labo to do the translation work?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid 19: Implications of a Zero-Covid Island Policy (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank the witnesses for coming in. It has been extremely informative. I want to put a couple of questions to the experts about how we could leverage different types of testing to establish the green zones we are talking about which is more about finding out where the virus is not as opposed to where the virus is. The first of those questions will go to Professors Kearney and Staines....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid 19: Implications of a Zero-Covid Island Policy (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Can Professor Michie comment on the wastewater epidemiology given that it has been used in the UK?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid 19: Implications of a Zero-Covid Island Policy (13 Aug 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: We will accept that answer. In the time remaining, will Professor Staines outline how he would establish the green zones, in which the virus will have essentially been eliminated, when there is so much asymptomatic transmission? Are we talking about mass testing or is there a less invasive way of establishing green zones?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I want to ask about commitments outlined in the programme for Government regarding a new way of measuring economic progress. I refer specifically to the commitment to establish a set of well-being indices to move towards creating a holistic, well-rounded view of how our society is faring. The programme for Government promises to use new well-being indices and balanced scorecards in the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I acknowledge and thank the expert witnesses for coming in and for the overview they have given to us. It is worth recognising that the aviation sector has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the crisis. We should also recognise the essential need for connectivity. Connectivity was maintained during the crisis and for that we owe a debt of gratitude to the aviation sector. I will dig...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: That is fine. If we introduce rapid testing for staff, do we introduce that testing on a mandatory basis or how do we cope with that aspect? I ask that question because it is very unpleasant to get tested for Covid-19, as we know. If a member of staff decides that he or she does not wish to submit to testing, how would the witnesses suggest we deal with that situation?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I thank Mr. McGowan. I have a question on the passenger-to-passenger infection rate. We are told that passenger-to-passenger infection does not occur. I would like to dig into the robustness of the scientific evidence on that issue. When we are talking about this aspect, are we talking about aeroplanes running at full capacity or is it in the context of reduced capacity to allow social...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Are we talking about running aircraft at full capacity?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Those are my questions.

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Ar dtús báire, déanaim comhghairdeas ó chroí leis an Aire nua as a bheith ceaptha ina ról nua. Tá sé suntasach domsa mar bhall den Chomhaontas Glas mo chomhghleacaí a fheiceáil sa ról sin, ach freisin mar Ghael tá sé suntasach go bhfuil beirt Airí sa Roinn a bhfuil tacaíocht don teanga léirithe acu ag gach uile...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Admhaím nach mbeidh seans nó am ag an Aire Stáit freagra a thabhairt ach b’fhéidir go mbeidh sé in ann freagra scríofa a thabhairt dom ar an gceist seo. Maidir leis an uimhir mhoil digiteach atá leagtha amach laistigh de na Meastacháin seo, le 31 luaite mar sprioc don bhliain seo, an bhfuilimid ar an treo ceart chun an sprioc sin a bhaint amach...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I am keen to acknowledge the extraordinary work that is being done by school leaders. The principal in my local school has told me that even though he is wandering empty corridors, he has never been as busy as he has been this year. All of this is unseen work and it deserves to be acknowledged. The same is true of the engagement, especially by SEN teams to which Mr. Clerkin alluded, to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I have a question about blended learning and how it is being rolled out. How well supported do principals feel? The closures happened at short notice and staff started using Seesaw, Edmodo or Kidblog or any number of these resources. Does the IPPN believe that continuing professional development is being well catered for in summer courses? Will the staff be in a good position to take...