Results 721-740 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Report Stage. (6 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: Perfectly in order.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Report Stage. (6 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: From the opposite perspective, it also serves as a protection for the director. In the event of his or her appearing before the committee and being asked by the Chairman or another member as to their view on a policy, then rather than being drawn into a political debate, which is not their role, they have the protection of being able to say they are not allowed to comment. For the head of an...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Report Stage. (6 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: As I said in respect of amendment No. 5, such a provision is not necessary and will not be accepted.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Report Stage. (6 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: The same principle applies as to amendment No. 6. Nobody is trying to muzzle directors in public fora, such as the media or their own conferences, because they have a major contribution to make to policy. As I said, it also serves as a protection for them, preventing them from being drawn into political debates in a Dáil committee by being asked to comment, either favourably or unfavourably,...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Report Stage. (6 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: I reiterate that nobody is trying to muzzle chief executive officers or directors of any of these bodies because they have an important role to play in policy making. The place to play that role is not before the Committee of Public Accounts.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: It is always a pleasure to allow the Senators extra time to praise legislation, particularly a Bill which is so welcomed by the House. We all acknowledge the work that the institutes of technology have done and continue to do in this country in reaching out to students from all backgrounds and of all abilities. We particularly acknowledge the work they have done for the regions. However, I...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: Senators have spoken about the numbers of students attending the institutes. The students appreciate the work and role of the institutes, which is why they are attending in such high numbers. From the point of view of investment, one need only look at the level of investment in the institutes in recent years. Waterford Institute of Technology has been referred to by many Senators, which has...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: In terms of future direction, the institutes and universities have been invited to submit proposals for the strategic innovation fund. Those proposals are being sought this week. The fund is worth â¬300 million and the institutes, on an equal par with the universities, can bid and compete for moneys. That is recognising, in ways other than through this legislation, the role of the institutes...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: According to the most recent figures, the south east region had the greatest increase in participation in third level education.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: It shows that the rising tide is lifting all boats. On the matter of access to education for people of all abilities, Senator Cox asked about provision for people with disabilities. We addressed this area on Committee Stage in the Dáil. Senator Cox and others will be pleased to hear that I recently opened the Institute for Intellectual Disability in Trinity College, Dublin. It offers courses...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: The legislation will give the governing bodies that flexibility. It was timely to change the position regarding the removal of staff members, but protection is provided for the people who were appointed prior to the enactment of this legislation. Up until now an officer of an institute could not be removed from office by the Minister without a sworn inquiry first taking place, but such...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: The Senator does not have to use that time.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: I join in the call for a debate on energy, within which we could focus on nuclear safety. I also join in calling for a debate on e-voting. I hope that we will focus on the current democratic deficit. Most of the attention seems to be on the cost, but the software can be amended for a relatively small amount of money. The Government is fulfilling its duty to provide value for money by ensuring...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: The Opposition has not focused on the democratic deficit, which must be examined in light of the high number of spoiled ballots.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: The distribution of a surplus is taken on a random basis, which is not democratically correct. At small rural ballot boxes, it is possible to identify where votes have gone astray.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: I would like to ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the economy at the earliest opportunity. While it is not an urgent matter, it would be useful to discuss it. A Senator has already mentioned that if our trout stocks die out, rural Ireland will die and our tourism industry will be destroyed. The economy is a minor issue compared to such difficulties we might have to face. I ask that we be...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Jul 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: I would like a debate on the abuse of alcohol. In recent years people have been drinking large quantities of wine. According to reports this has become a significant problem to the extent that a bottle of wine is not regarded as a considerable amount, which it is. To drink that much in a day is an abuse of alcohol. We must study the new paradigm of people consuming significant quantities of wine.
- Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (28 Jun 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: Fine Gael's concern was answered in the Minister of State's contribution, which stated: The Department has received a strong commitment to pursue the voluntary phasing out of stage payments from the Construction Industry Federation's branch in Cork, which is the main centre where such payments now occur. In a letter addressed to the Department, it has indicated that its members have made a...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: I am also looking forward to the debate on the report on the health service. I also wish to request a debate on Ireland's role in information technology at the earliest opportunity. ICT has become a major part of our economy. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is abroad working to find a niche market for Ireland in this area, but we should debate the situation as much work in...
- Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (21 Jun 2006)
John Gerard Hanafin: I support the call of Senator O'Toole for the Government to consider using the postal service, working with the Communications Workers Union, to ensure the electoral register is properly maintained. It is obvious that postal workers could do such a job as an addendum to their current work and they should, of course, be paid appropriately. We could also use technology to process details of...