Results 5,441-5,460 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I will not delay the witnesses because I have met the group and much of what they say is self-explanatory. However, to be absolutely clear, am I right in saying the campaign is only seeking the maintenance grants?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Is it not seeking the fee grants?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I ask the witnesses to elaborate on that point. That is all. I will not delay them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Could you answer my question about maintenance and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I seek clarity on this point. Regarding the so-called free fees sector, fees were abolished but then a registration fee was brought in. I do not know what it started off at, probably €100, and it is now up to €3,000. That is the registration fee. There is also allegedly a fee that is not charged. In Griffith College is there a registration fee and a further fee, or when Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: How does that break down?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The campaign is seeking this entire fee to be funded by SUSI.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: That answers my question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority: Chairperson Designate (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome Mr. Horgan. I am conscious that he is the chairperson designate; he is not the chairperson or CEO. He will not be the CEO so I will not test him on his knowledge. What is of interest is his CV and his overall philosophy of education, in particular on higher education. The question of funding is at the root of everything at the moment. We have had a major political debate in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority: Chairperson Designate (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, is Dr. Looney entitled to sit beside the chairman designate if she or he so wishes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority: Chairperson Designate (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Okay. Excuse me for raising the point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority: Chairperson Designate (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Garda Commissioner had an entourage of 14 yesterday, so I thought Mr. Horgan might be entitled to one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I move:That the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills, being concerned that students in ASTI-staffed schools will automatically and unfairly lose 10% in their English exams this academic year, recognises that talks between the Department of Education and Skills and the ASTI are continuing in an effort to resolve this dispute but, despite these talks, the ongoing dispute between...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I have already spoken on my motion. I assure Deputy Daly that I understand all the ramifications of the motion. Nothing that has emerged since submitting it has come as any surprise to me in terms of the reactions of various parties. I have engaged with all those involved. At this point, it would be helpful for the ongoing talks that I withdraw my motion. However, that does not get away...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I am discussing Deputy Martin's motion as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I am discussing Deputy Martin's motion while also responding to points raised on my motion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I will speak to Deputy Martin's motion which is not hugely different from mine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: My motion and Deputy Martin's are similar. The have the same intent in that they both seek to have this issue sorted out from the point of view of the children. In regard to Deputy Martin's motion, we are in the last seconds of this process. I had intended to propose that an independent mediator be appointed but, of course, that has already happened. It could happen again, I do not know....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The motion now before us calls on the ASTI to do what the Department is asking, which I think amounts to the committee taking the Department's side of the argument. It is up to Deputy Martin but we are trying to be balanced.