Results 6,301-6,320 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have two other amendments, Nos. 13 and 20, on the issue of community education. I do not know whether the Minister of State has given a commitment in regard to the general functions. My amendment No. 13 seeks the deletion of paragraphs (d) and (e) of section 7 and the inclusion of adult learners and community education providers. I do not know whether the Minister of State has given a...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister of State will return to the whole area of community education provision?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is not just in respect of section 7(1)(b)?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: If amendment No. 12 is agreed, we were planning to withdraw amendment No. 13 on the basis of a commitment from the Minister of State that we would return to it before Report Stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I agree with what Deputy Áodhán Ó Ríordáin has said, but as well as proposing the inclusion of adult learners, I propose the inclusion of the providers of that form of education.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The definition of "further education" in the Bill is too narrow. We welcome the Minister of State's proposal to define it better later in the Bill rather than having a legal definition of it. We will not, therefore, oppose the removal of the definition. We would like to give a little more thought to this issue to see if we can come up with a definition before Report Stage. We cannot...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister of State is talking about using the national strategy to expand on it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: We would like to have a discussion on the matter before Report Stage. We want to have a discussion on how the strategy will include the area of further education and a definition of further education and how it is proposed to use the national strategy to consider an holistic approach to it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Has the Minister of State looked at trying to expand the definition initially contained in the legislation?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: There were a number of proposed definitions as part of the consultation forum with SOLAS. While I welcome the removal of this particular definition, I agree with the Chairman that we need to have some definition of "further education". I hope we can come up with a definition on which everybody can agree. I am, therefore, willing to withdraw my amendment. I would like to know the timescale...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Issues (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 51. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline in tabular form, the number of assistant fire chiefs that were employed in local authorities in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the cost per year. [20497/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of existing personnel who have gained experience administering third level grants under Student Universal Support Ireland during the past 12 months that are to be retained by SUSI for the 2013/14 academic year; and the total number of personnel to be employed by SUSI to process grants when the new cycle of grant applications...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (1 May 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 193. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce an amendment to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act that is needed to enshrine in legislation the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual teachers; and his plans to include provision that will also protect the rights of transgender teachers. [17568/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Prospecting Licences (30 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 112. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the drilling rigs at Catherline bog, County Limerick; if his attention has been drawn to the purpose of these rigs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20189/13]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (25 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 21. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the recent controversy surrounding the Cork Film Festival and the resignations that followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19370/13]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Údarás na Gaeltachta Issues (25 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 25. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will discuss the current functioning of the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta; if the board has met yet and in particular if he will make a statement to Dáil Éireann on the representation of Donegal County Council on the board of Údarás; and if he will provide a timescale as to when all places on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: So it is not a case of personnel not being willing to train, it is that the capacity is just not there to train the numbers the witnesses would like to train.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: VFM Review of Reserve Defence Force: Discussion with Minister for Defence and RDFRA (24 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am filling in for Deputy Mac Lochlainn who has another engagement. He asked me to raise two questions. What is the impact of the cuts over the past number of years? The budget has been reduced, from €13 million in 2006 to €4 million last year. The witnesses might quantify how that has been implemented across the RDF. The other question relates to the value-for-money...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Properties (24 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 35. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number and locations through which her Department operates; the amount being paid in rent for each unit for each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18846/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Anti-Poverty Strategy (24 Apr 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the implementation of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18847/13]