Results 4,481-4,500 of 10,435 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizens Information Services (17 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Citizens Information Board will publish its Citizens Information Service Advocacy Annual Report for 2022; when the CIB will publish its new strategic plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23472/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I always do. I thank all of the witnesses for attending today. It is a pity we only have five minutes. I am conscious that it is a very important topic. It would be good if we could have some leeway. I think the only other person here is Senator Higgins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will start with Professor Carey. Change is a word that is used a lot in politics. When this legislation goes through it will necessarily mean real change. With change comes uncertainty and concern. I was listening carefully to what Professor Carey said about the amalgamation of the IRC with the SFI. I have heard that people from an arts or humanities background are concerned that as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: In his opening statement, Mr. Conlon mentioned the importance of funding being identified as being applicable to individual researchers. What is the reason for that? Is it to ensure that individuals have greater opportunities to gain access subsequently?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is an assumption that people from a science background will be antipathetic towards the arts, humanities and social sciences. What would Professor Nolan say in response to that? Regarding the first question I asked Professor Carey, I presume this new entity is not going to be wholly biased in favour of the sciences.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: We have heard the concerns expressed by Professor Nolan and others about the role a Minister may play. If we look at head 11, a Minister is given certain powers in respect of making directions to Research and Innovation Ireland, RII. How can we insure that a malleable and impressionable Minister in the future is not swayed by a public campaign against legitimate research but which is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have one final comment. I note the board will be selected as the result of a competition through the Public Appointments Service, PAS. I did not see in the heads of Bill any reference to PAS. I am not asking for this to be dealt with now but perhaps it could be looked at in the future. I know it is the case in other statutory bodies that there is express reference to people being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to ask Dr. Lillis about the meaning of a particular section in the general scheme. Heads 8 and 9 set out the objects and functions respectively. Paragraphs (e) and (k) of head 9 indicate that one of the functions of the new board shall be to advance equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in research and innovation. Is that a reference to the subject matter being researched...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Would it then be correct to say that when the new board is constituted one of the factors it can take into account is the low level of payment that many PhD researchers receive, and that this is something they could seek to rectify a remedy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Can people in other jurisdictions apply to this new Irish statutory body for funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Dr. Lillis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all of the witnesses for coming before the committee. Am I correct in saying that Professor Kelly-Holmes is not concerned that this new statutory body will put the humanities and social sciences in a subordinate position to where they are at present? Would this be a fair assessment of what the professor is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. Professor Livesey was quite clear that he does not really see any concerns here. Would he be confident that a young researcher coming from a history discipline who wants to do a research into an unpopular or relatively ignored part of Irish history will be able to make an application for the funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. Professor Taylor mentioned governance in his opening statement. Obviously, this is hugely dependent upon the make-up of the board. We can design a perfect statute that sets out what the board will and will not do. However, we are enormously dependent upon the make-up of the board. I am not asking for individuals, but what should the mix be from his perspective? At present, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Professor Taylor very much.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Will people to apply for it? Sometimes, we find it very difficult to get people to apply for statutory boards. Does Professor Taylor think he will get people from the academic community to apply?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Paramilitary Groups (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 499. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to proscribe formally a group (detail supplied) as a terrorist organisation under the Offences Against the State Acts 1939-1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22837/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 757. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown by county of apprenticeships available, in tabular form. [23188/23]

Control of Exports Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 May 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend the Minister of State on bringing this complex and complicated legislation before the House. The Department also deserves to be commended. Sometimes the transposition of European law into Irish law can take very many years. In fact, I have seen legislation that has sought to transpose directives which were made some six or seven years previously. Obviously, with this legislation...