Results 4,221-4,240 of 10,120 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Chairman. I welcome all the guests before the committee and thank them for their opening statements. If I could start with Dr. Keating, we all recognise that academic research cannot take place without funding. At present, arts and humanities are funded by the research council and science is funded by Science Foundation Ireland. Is there legitimacy to the concern that by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Presumably, this will be very dependent on the membership of the board. Everyone will come with their own preferences, prejudices and biases. That is natural. Are there concerns that somebody who comes forward with a proposal to do research into a history or creative arts project will not be able to compete with somebody who comes forward with a very economically beneficial proposal in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Professor Hegarty wish to come in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: That might be a solution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is not really a final question. Under heads 11 and 29, the Minister has a role in giving direction to the new statutory body. Do the witnesses have any concerns that a politician or Minister could come under public pressure to disown some form of research because the individual at the centre who is being researched may be unpopular? There could be a campaign against him or her.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have gone over my five minutes. I am sorry I have had such a limited time, but they are the rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all the guests for coming before the committee. I will start by asking Mr. Jones a question. The heads of Bill say the objective is to promote research across all disciplines. Mr. Jones has identified in his opening statement that one of his concerns is that there has to be a need for parity of esteem between disciplines. Does he have a concern that certain disciplines such as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: What is the best way to address it in the legislation? Is it by having a representative board across disciplines or is it by trying to be very structured by putting requirements into the legislation as to how disciplines should be treated?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is hard to categorise it but Mr. Jones thinks a representative board is the best way to go about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the proposed change to head 8 - objects, which I will not read out, the purpose behind it is that Mr. Jones thinks it will assist researchers in getting better terms and conditions because it will be a condition of funding by the new statutory body that the third-level institution will have to comply with certain minimum standards of employment. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to ask Dr. Walsh about that point. He mentioned in his opening statement that early career researchers, particularly those in precarious contracts, are particularly vulnerable to any change in research funding priorities. What does he think of congress’s proposal? Would it be helpful to researchers at an early stage of their career?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have a question for Dr. Vance. He made the point in respect of the board that he believes there should be a diversified board and he wants the right to make nominations to the board. I am not talking about this specific Minister but under the legislation, the Minister will be able to give directions to the board. Does he have any concern about that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: In his opening statement, Mr. Ahmed said that dramatically increases the power of Government dramatically. What is his concern?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not want to be rude by omitting Ms Dolan from my questions, if the Chair will give me another minute. Does she have any concern that a future Minister could interfere and block research because it is not popular or because it is controversial? Is that an issue of any concern?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Interest Rates (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 104. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the failure of banks to increase interest rates for deposit holders. [21229/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 106. To ask the Minister for Finance whether cryptocurrency constitutes a social and economic threat to Irish citizens. [21228/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 224. To ask the Minister for Finance whether students who attend university in the UK can write off the cost of their student accommodation against tax; whether any consideration is being given to providing such relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21696/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (9 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 244. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the status of the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2018. [21225/23]