Results 641-660 of 1,214 for speaker:Ann Ormonde

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad and second the Government's amendment. When I read the motion, I thought we were dismantling everything in terms of looking at what the Government has tried to do, acknowledging the progress that has been made and accepting that much more needs to be done. We cannot do it overnight. As least, we should, as an old line in a book puts it, "praise...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: The Opposition is saying this. It has not said anything and has been negative rather than positive about everything, which disturbs me.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I listened very carefully to the Opposition. I will discuss three areas which I know best, namely, school building, class sizes and special needs and disadvantage. It was said that the Department has thrown all the responsibility onto boards of management by giving them the allocations, expecting them to get on with it and that this is the way forward. I was a member of a board of...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I wish to put a few statistics about class sizes on record. In 1997, the average class size was 27 while the average class size is now 24. I would like it to see it reduced to 15. The aim is to reduce it to 20.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: It does not matter where it is from.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: That is a statement.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: It should be acknowledged that there are 4,000 more teachers than in 2002. That is progress and it cannot be denied. The majority of the extra teachers hired in recent years have been targeted rightly at providing extra support for children with special needs, those from disadvantaged areas and those who need help with English. This is the way forward. That is my interpretation of how class...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: South Dublin County Council is doing it.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: That is part of the development plan.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: It is in place.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Many people have called for a debate on the recent job losses and the need to upskill. This led me to consider the role of FÁS. Some of its programmes do not deal with the current situation. I seek a debate to examine the updated position of how FÁS is reforming its programmes to address this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Given the very good debate we had on teacher training on Tuesday, I would like it to be continued, particularly in view of the recommendations put forward in the report. Senator Minihan referred to special needs and a debate on that issue would be welcome. I was surprised to hear Senator Ulick Burke refer to the withdrawal of home school liaison officers from second level schools. I have no...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State and the opportunity to speak on this issue. I must declare that I am not a primary school teacher. Hence, my knowledge of teacher colleges and teaching programmes is not in-depth. However, I came from a teaching background, as my father taught in the multigrade system. I have often maintained that what matters is not the numbers in a classroom but how good...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Better than anyone, the Senator knows what I am talking about. He has experience of 30-35 pupils in a classroom, good teachers and good discipline. I am not too worried about class sizes, as the numbers are reducing. If a teacher is good enough, the system works.

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the report in so far as it gives us an opportunity to discuss the matter. It has strengths and weaknesses and the Minister has acknowledged the latter, but why should we throw out the dirty water until we have the clean inside? We should examine what we have and determine how to improve the system. If we must, let us criticise the report, but let us not throw it out. Everything...

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Let us be positive.

Seanad: Learning to Teach Report: Statements. (27 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I am tired of negativity. Let us be positive and determine what good can be done through the report.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have listened to Senator Ryan's contribution. While I like the Senator as a person I would hate to sit down to table with him because of his doom and gloom and negative thinking. In his view, no matter what the Government does, it is wrong. I do not understand that approach. Extra powers are being given to the consumer. The...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: Senator Ryan knows that is not true,

Seanad: Hospital Infections: Motion (14 Feb 2007)

Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, and thank the Minister, Deputy Harney, for attending to listen to the first half of this debate. I seldom agree with Senator Ryan but I was nodding quite a lot regarding points he made. He made practical suggestions, which I thought about making myself, on how best to overcome the problem of MRSA. It is a serious problem and our task is...