Results 6,521-6,540 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

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, the Minister stated that he would have the power to set distances. If a school is close to the border of an ETB area, will a person from outside the distance set by the Minister be allowed to serve on its board of management?

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. 30: In page 25, subsection (1), line 10, after "comprise" to insert the following: "of whom a minimum of 8 shall be women and a minimum of 8 shall be men with the remainder to be composed of either men or women".These amendments are straightforward, the objective being to ensure there is a gender balance in appointments to education and training boards. Amendment No. 30...

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 take the Minister's point. There could indeed be a scenario where a local authority is all male, in which case it would be impossible to have a gender balance on the education and training board. None the less, it is important that we be very clear in this legislation that where there is a gender balance within a local authority, it should be carried over into appointments to the ETB....

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 might well come back to this on Report Stage. If it is possible to do it, then it should be done.

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 completely understand that. Having served on a local authority made up of 31 members, six of whom were women, it was my experience that when appointments were made to external committees, it was almost always men who were put forward. The six women very rarely got an opportunity to serve. I am strongly of the view that where there already is a gender balance within a local authority, we...

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 wait, thank you.

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. 18: In page 18, subsection (2), line 20, to delete “and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform”. On reflection, I will withdraw 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 only caught the tail end of the Minister's comments but I gather that because the ETBs are covered by the Official Languages Act, the concerns we have regarding the boards being able to carry out their functions in Irish would be covered.

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: On that basis, I will not press the amendment now. Perhaps we can look at this again on Report Stage.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has been requested by any European or international Government or institution to review this State's corporation tax rate and the tax treatment of royalties. [1793/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Proposed Legislation (17 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has consulted with any investment, auditing and accounting institutions in the drafting of the Finance Bill 2013; if he will make available the advice that he was given in the drafting of the Bill and specify whether that advice was included in the Bill, specifically with regards to business tax, high earners tax and research and development taxation....

Further Education and Training: Motion [Private Members] (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I commend Fianna Fáil on this motion. This is a very important debate in our first week back. Unfortunately, owing to the nature of the budget announcement, this is the first opportunity the House has had to discuss the impact of the €19 million cut to the education budget. Although we are focusing on the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio tonight, we must realise the use of...

Further Education and Training: Motion [Private Members] (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The figures are being provided. If the Minister of State has the figures, perhaps he should publish them. Ours suggest that 400 to 500 jobs will be lost in the sector. Even in respect of Cork city, the proposal is such that 10% will be lost. If a private company announced in the morning an operational change that would result in job losses in the order of 10%, the Government would do...

Further Education and Training: Motion [Private Members] (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is the Government's priority now because it suits it today when it is trying to justify the cuts it announced. The Minister of State said it was up to the CEOs and principals to sit down to determine whether there can be a joined-up approach to course provision. This should have happened before the announcement was made. The Government will be risking a lot if such an approach is not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to fears that the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio from 17:1 - 19:1 will result in a 10% cut to staff in the Cork College of Commerce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57904/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an updated list, in tabular form, from 11 January 2013, the number of students on a county basis who have received from Student Universal Support Ireland payment of their third level grant or notification of when it is to be paid and the numbers of students on a county basis who have still to have their grant application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (16 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of students on a county basis who are awaiting to have their original grant applications reassessed or a decision made on their appeal by Student Universal Support Ireland. [2012/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Sports Capital Programme (20 Dec 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of funding will be available under the sports capital programme; the amount to be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57263/12]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider further financial incentives to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles in the state’s taxi fleet. [57238/12]

Private Members' Business - Care Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (19 Dec 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I had expected the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to be present and had intended to appeal to her to look into her heart and revisit her conscience. However, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, is present and there is not much point in appealing to him to look into his heart. I do not know if he has one. I do not mean that in a bad way, but we have seen some of the...