Results 6,501-6,520 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: We will study the table when we get it. Obviously, given the nature of Question Time, we do not get that information in writing. The Minister spoke in reply to the previous question of students being required to furnish supplementary documentation. The reality is very different from what the Minister is being told. For instance, I know of an individual who was asked for her father's death...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have applied for emergency funding from the student assistance fund since September 2012; and the way this compares with previous academic year. [2670/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the administrative services in Irish of equal standard to those provided in English; if the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will be in position to provide to An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta; if he researched these Irish-language services prior to the decision to merge COGG with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta budget will remain ring-fenced in the future under the new arrangement based on the decision he made to merge COGG with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; if the COGG will be in a position to make its own decisions regarding its budget...

Education (Resource Allocation) Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: On Committee Stage.

Education (Resource Allocation) Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I congratulate Deputy McConalogue on producing this legislation and on bringing forward this worthwhile Bill. I am not sure whether the Government proposes to accept the Bill, but I presume it will not accept it as that seems to the general policy. Since I have entered the Houses, I can only remember one Opposition Bill being accepted - one introduced by Deputy Michael McGrath. The general...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 67: In page 46, subsection (1)(a), line 52, after “board” to insert the following:“and that as far as is practicable, serving teachers will be transferred within the boundaries of their current VEC administrative areas and will only be deployed within 45km of their current VEC place of work or confines of the original VEC area”.These amendments...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I fully agree but, as I said, we tabled the amendments so we could put the matter on the agenda and have it discussed because it is important.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the Minister's statement that there are ongoing discussions to try to resolve this issue. I will withdraw the amendments. I just wanted to ensure that the matter was discussed on Committee Stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Perhaps I might comment on that because it is something Deputy McConalogue and I discussed. One could potentially find a charge on the Exchequer in almost every amendment one wanted to put down. For instance, even in discussing this Bill when we were looking at the make-up of the boards and we wished to change it from 18 to 20, it was ruled out of order because it was a potential charge on...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: In light of the discussion, I will withdraw the amendments and come back on Report Stage and have a more detailed discussion. In the meantime the Minister might reflect on how we can best address what we are trying to achieve.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Yes.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Will that not be the case as the legislation is drafted? If the Minister does not specify that the individual should represent the business community, for instance, and he or she does not come from the business sector in terms of the being nominated by the bodies that represent him or her, then potentially the individual could be appointed to the board because he runs a local shop and,...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Our amendment No. 56 proposes to specify a list of bodies. The amendment deals with the Irish language sector and we propose that Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta would comprise the specified list of bodies. If we come at the issue in this way, If we come at the issue in this way, we should have a specified list of nominating bodies and leave it up to the members of the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 48: In page 26, subsection (8)(a), line 36, after “training” to insert the following:“including mandatory representation from representatives of recognised voluntary secondary schools, the business sector, Údarás na Gaeltachta, a recognised teaching union, student unions and adult learners,”.The purpose of the amendment is to ensure...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To clarify, I was not suggesting that there was active discrimination against female members of Cork City Council. It was just how the appointments happened to fall on that day. Cork City Council did not take the conscious decision not to appoint women to external bodies.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will withdraw the amendment, but will consider tabling it again on Report Stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: As we have already discussed this amendment and considering the Minister's comments, I will not move this amendment.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 45: In page 26, subsection (7)(a), line 17, after "woman" to insert the following:"each of whom shall be from and have knowledge of education and training in the functional area of the relevant education and training board".The amalgamation of the VECs poses a concern. Given the fact that the boundaries will change, members may find themselves just outside the boundaries...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister has addressed my issue.