Results 3,941-3,960 of 9,147 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Mental Health Supports in Schools and Tertiary Education: Discussion (18 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Mr. Curtin mentioned the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns and school closures in his opening statement. Have they had a significant impact on the mental health of students?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Mental Health Supports in Schools and Tertiary Education: Discussion (18 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes, of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Mental Health Supports in Schools and Tertiary Education: Discussion (18 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Finally, I am conscious that Mr. McDonald mentioned that professional learning networks for mental health would be an avenue that society should pursue. How would they operate?

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend the Minister on bringing this important and interesting legislation before the House. It contains a variety of measures that will be particularly helpful to those unfortunate enough to find themselves victims of crime. If we look at Part 2 of this Bill, I believe it introduces a measure I had sought previously that will impose a tougher sentence on those found guilty of conspiracy...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Mother and Baby Homes (13 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 107. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the commitment to excavate the burial site at Tuam; when the director for authorised intervention will be appointed; the support that will be provided to the director in ensuring that excavation works can commence on the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50738/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Eating Disorders (13 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 360. To ask the Minister for Health the services and beds that are available in the State for children and adults suffering from anorexia nervosa. [50794/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Schemes (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 49. To ask the Minister for Finance the rationale behind limiting the business energy support scheme to those businesses that fall under Case I income category given that Case II Income businesses pay tax as well and have incurred a rise in energy costs too. [50705/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Early Childhood Care and Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 117. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the funding for early learning in childcare to be provided by his Department in 2023 could also be made available to those parents whose childcare provider is not registered with the national childcare scheme; the options that are available to such parents to avail of the State support; and if he will make a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister and her officials for coming before the committee and engaging on a variety of issues we requested. The first issue I raise relates to the leaving certificate reform that was announced last March, which she referred to in her opening statement. She will be aware that one of the proposals is that leaving certificate paper one for Irish and English will be dealt with at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does the Minister have concerns that sometimes preparation for paper one can be assisted by preparation for paper two and that, potentially, that would be missing under this proposed reform? She may not have concerns about this and I suppose she cannot please every aspect, but she might confirm that that is not preventing her from proceeding with her reform.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: The second issue I raise, on which I commend the Minister, relates to the decision she led on, and that the Government made, to provide free books for all students in primary school. Am I correct in stating that will, we hope, kick in next September?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: In practical terms, how will this operate? Will the child just be given the books at the beginning of the national school year or will the parents have to purchase them and then be reimbursed? How will the scheme operate in practice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Will there be an ability to recycle books? Sometimes books can be in very condition after a year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am not asking the Minister to answer my question specifically.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I hope it will be possible to recycle books.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Engagement with the Minister for Education (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Secretary General and his colleagues for coming here this afternoon. There has not been a huge amount of academic research done on this interesting topic and it might merit research. The traditional system of accountability is that civil servants are accountable to their superiors and, ultimately, to the Minister and then the Minister is accountable to the Dáil and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes. In terms of the spread of Civil Service accountability, under the Freedom of Information Act people within the Civil Service have a direct responsibility to citizens who apply for documents. Is that fair to say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not suggest that the following applies to the Secretary General. Can civil servants sometimes find themselves in a position where their interests or obligations for accountability and the interests of a Minister may not necessarily align? Does that pose difficulties for the civil servant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Sometimes there are political controversies and it can result in civil servants or Secretaries General being at the centre of those disputes, on occasion, and that has happened. Is that something that is new? Is it something that is not desirable?