Results 4,601-4,620 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the guests for attending. I welcome the submissions they have made to the committee. The central function of the committee during these hearings is to try to come forward with a recommendation on the future funding model for third level. I agree with Mr. Conlon. We have done very well as a country in terms of the funding we have and how we use it to get such a high quality of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Mr. Conlon will be aware of the third option put forward in the Cassells report. Everyone here recognises there is a high correlation between those who have high disposable income and the level of third level education they have attained. I am not saying that everyone has a third level education has high disposable income but, certainly, there is a high correlation between those who do and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: We need increased funding in order to attract them and ensure that they come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: We all agree that we need increased funding in third level. The issue is the difficult question of where that funding should come from. Does Dr. Murphy agree that it should just come from the Exchequer or should we look at other options, such as the third option in the Cassells report or seeking a greater contribution from employers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: My next question is for all our guests but I might direct it first at Dr. Murphy. Is she concerned about there being a declining quality in third level education in Ireland because of the uncertainty that hangs over the funding of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Are Mr. Brownlee and Dr. Trant concerned there may be a decline in the quality of third level in this country because of the uncertainty associated with funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Mar 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Dr. Trant agree with that? The committee recently visited the Bishopstown campus of Munster Technological University. Very impressive work is going on there in terms of training apprenticeships for the manufacture of medical devices such as hips and knees. Obviously, there is a relationship with local pharmaceutical companies in the area. Would Dr. Trant agree that we should not look...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 211. To ask the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide funding in the upcoming budget to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10182/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 212. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ringfence some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE Medicines Management Programme preferred blood glucose strips for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes evaluation to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 213. To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications for the FreeStyle Libre device that were submitted by individual hospitals for persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; the number that were approved; the number that were refused in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; if there are plans to remove the age restriction on the device; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 224. To ask the Minister for Health the initiatives he is taking to strengthen mental health services in 2022, especially CAMHS; the funding being provided for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10224/22]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Section 13 introduces new sections into the 1995 Act - 28A and 28B. It requires that a creditor providing a moneylending or hire purchase agreement cannot do so at a rate above 23%. Could I ask the Minister of State about the remedy that is available to the consumer in this circumstance? In section 28A(3) and 28B(3) there is a novel and interesting proposal which says that a creditor who...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is it the case that it is not an offence then for somebody to deliberately impose a rate of interest above 23%? If it is not an offence, would such a failure by the creditor come within the remit of the Central Bank to impose administrative fines?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: By imposing administrative fines.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services (22 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 19. To ask the Minister for Finance the situation with regard to the regulation of virtual or cryptocurrencies in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9447/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (22 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 54. To ask the Minister for Finance the action he can take to increase competition in the banking sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9448/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Welfare Service (22 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 455. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the necessity for schools to make reports under the Education Welfare Act 2000 due to the absence of a student from school is still required in cases in which those absences were caused as a result of Covid-19 and the need to isolate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9490/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (22 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 599. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that has been allocated to the Technological University of Dublin for the purpose of enabling it to protect students and staff from Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9236/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Tests (22 Feb 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 600. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the value of antigen tests made available to the Technological University of Dublin; if such tests are available to staff at the university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9237/22]