Results 4,701-4,720 of 9,148 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of discussions in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56372/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: It may be the case that this British Government is coming to a place that it has never been before, namely, its senses. Looking back ten days ago, it was clearly the case that the British media and the British political establishment had been forewarned that this was the time when Article 16 was going to be triggered. Fortunately, they pulled back from the brink. The intervention of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the recent election in Nicaragua. [56373/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister will be aware that on 7 November, there were elections in Nicaragua for the office of President and to the National Assembly. The official result records that Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista Front won 76% of the vote with a turnout of 65%. No independent journalistic or public policy analysis believes those results. What is the Minister's assessment of the result?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: Those of us who are not in Nicaragua depend on receiving independent reports about what happened. It is important we consider those reports. The American division of Human Rights Watch reported that the election results were a sham. The Organization of American States said the elections were neither fair, free, nor transparent. Other countries around the world that respect democratic...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important the EU has a strong voice in this. People who are supportive of the Ortega regime will seek to present it as if this is merely Americans and supporters of the United States who are criticising the revolutionary movement of Daniel Ortega. That can spread regionally in South America. People who have congratulated him include the President of Venezuela and people who seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 121. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the vacant position of third-party adjudicator for the Permanent Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56370/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (17 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 229. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE will reinstate respite service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56315/21]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 331. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 October 2021 or the latest date available; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56133/21]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 332. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 October 2021 or the latest date available; if he will provide a breakdown of all ranks across the three services and the gender breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56134/21]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 333. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions in which the Defence Forces are currently involved; the number of personnel involved in each mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56135/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 460. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the ongoing delays in granting probate or processing applications of probate at the Probate Office; if steps can be taken to expedite the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55648/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 478. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if additional staff can be provided to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service on a temporary basis to facilitate the processing of a backlog of appointments to obtain and renew visas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56158/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Special Educational Needs (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 622. To ask the Minister for Health the number of therapies carried out on children with special needs to date in 2021; if a sufficient number of therapy posts have been filled to allow for the needs of children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55997/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Visa Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: 624. To ask the Minister for Health if further visas can be provided to non-EU care workers who provide care support to persons in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56000/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all the guests for attending today. I found their contributions very interesting. I want to start with Professor Looney. I took on board her stimulating instruction to consider the educational imaginary. She is correct in stating the leaving certificate examination is really a social event and that it is embedded in Irish society. Every morning there is a leaving certificate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: The primary purpose of assessment, then, is to benefit the student in recognising what he or she has done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is not for the purpose of inducing learning assessment; it is to recognise what the student has done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: So assessment is essential for education. Professor O'Leary and Dr. Gleeson both made the point that if we really want to achieve leaving certificate reform, we must, as Professor Collins said, sever the link between the leaving certificate examinations and entry to third level through the CAO points race. I have a tough question for Professor O'Leary: if we get rid of the link between...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2021)

Jim O'Callaghan: If we manage to break the link between entry into third level institutions and the leaving certificate, what then would the leaving certificate look like? How would it be transformed by that?