Results 61-80 of 133 for children speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Availability (24 Jan 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...for themselves or the loved ones for whom they care. As I said, this issue shines a light on the chronic lack of respite services. It also highlights the need for a separate respite facility for children in order that we would have a designated centre for adults and another for children. Family carers, adults and child dependants depend greatly on and look forward to the all too short...

Seanad: First Aid and Mental Health in Schools (Initial Teacher Training) Bill 2018: Second Stage (23 Jan 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...saves one person's life, it will be very worthwhile. The second part of this legislative proposal relates not just to continuous professional development, but to all other instances that can happen. Children can be asthmatic. A child can choke in the classroom. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that a broad range of circumstances can arise. We need to do some work in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of the young 40 year old man who lost his life tragically in Castleblayney town last night. I understand he is a family man with two young children and was at work when the tragedy happened. I can only for a minute think what that family is going through at present and the pain and suffering that lies ahead of them. The time of year and the fact...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Today is International Children's Day and it acts as yet another timely reminder of the importance of looking after our young people as we know they are the future of our country.Unfortunately the children of 2018 face many more challenges than we faced in our daily lives when we were that age. I welcome the new anti-bullying programme that was launched today in four schools in County...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...that create employment in those areas. Only for those people, God help us, I do not know where we would be. It is disappointing that many families in these counties have worked hard to put their children through primary school, secondary school and on to university. They have paid hard with fees and big money for rent so that students of the families can be educated in universities in...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...; house. People are encouraged to go out into their communities and visit older people who may be living alone and to visit friends in the community. The help of three local national schools has also been enlisted. The children in those schools ask and encourage their families to visit old friends, relatives or neighbours who live alone and to check on them. It is a great success and...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: All God's children have a place in the choir.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...be viewed from the perspective of the Department in terms of how the scheme is drawn up and administered and also from the perspective of Bus Éireann which is responsible for actually transporting children to school. I will start with the Department. In my view, the scheme as it is currently designed is simply not working. That is not a criticism of Mr. Dolan and indeed, it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...very rigid. Three buses carry students from different parts of the parish to the school. What is very annoying and frustrating is that there is capacity available on all three buses, yet the buses pass by children who are waiting on the roadside. On the first day back at school, a Bus Éireann inspector refused children access to the bus and they were left standing on the side of...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...their day and I look forward to seeing them later. On a more serious issue, like others, I rise to raise the flawed operation of the school transport system throughout this country. It is failing children, parents and schools throughout rural Ireland. I am aware of one school in County Monaghan, Scoil Mhuire, where children were not allowed onto the bus and were left standing at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Facilities and Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Aug 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...one looks at it, does not work and needs to be halted immediately. Who we think of here is the child. Education, as we all know, can change everyone's life and it is depressing to think there are children who, purely for financial reasons, will not be able to achieve what they possibly could. That is something that we need to tackle immediately. Mr. Farrell outlined that parents who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Facilities and Costs: Discussion (29 Aug 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...-being of individual principals but due to the fact that principals are the team leaders in schools and if they are stressed then everybody else is affected, namely, teaching colleagues and pupils. Children in the classroom are being short changed as a result. The issue must be addressed. I am interested to hear the answers to the two questions I asked.

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...the Traveller community greater confidence and security and would be a very positive step in the right direction. We need to foster conditions conducive to pluralism in society. We need to raise children's awareness of their culture and attune them to the fact that there are other ways of behaving and other value systems. We need them to develop respect for lifestyles that are different...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...surrounding the death of Sergeant Mick Galvin at Ballyshannon Garda Station in County Donegal in May 2015. Sergeant Mick Galvin's death was a terrible tragedy for his wife, Colette, their three children, their wider family circle and his Garda colleagues and community in that particular region. The report raised serious issues about the way the Garda Síochána Ombudsman...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Employment Equality Act Order: Minister for Education and Skills (5 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...stated to the Minister in the Seanad, if Damien, a four year old character in the film "The Omen", arrived at the doors of any school, he would be welcomed with open arms. Some 15% of school-going children in north Monaghan, my area, are non-Irish but that is not an issue and, thankfully, they are integrating very well into society. We must keep abreast of the matter but I am satisfied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I found this debate to be informative. What I will take away from the meeting is that we all want the best for children. I speak as a parent. What I want for my children is that they would be as best equipped as possible to face the many challenges that lie ahead of them. Mr. Curtis said that in many ways here we are like a rabbit in a headlight and that is true. The world is moving at...

Seanad: Education (Digital Devices in Schools) Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...introduction of this Bill by my colleague, Senator Craughwell, we are having a conversation in this country about digital devices and the harmful effects of the overuse of such devices, not only by children but by adults as well. While we all welcome the advances in technologies and must embrace them, including the use of iPhones or whatever, it is time that we as a society had a general...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ..., including secondary schools, and the Minister's proposed admissions policy. I have a couple of questions to which he might reply. What standard of Irish has he in mind when he refers to children speaking Irish in "a non-educational environment"? Who will set that standard? Appeals can be made to the Department, which means that the Department will ultimately set the standard. How...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Advanced Skills Teachers and Special Classes in Mainstream Schools: Discussion (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: ...role of the school principal and its future direction. They are responsible for everything in that school from the point of view of legislation, administration, curriculum, dealing with parents and children, boards of management, the running of the school and so on. The role has got to the point where it is difficult to take this role on board on top of what they are doing. It is a big...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: .... I acknowledge that the Minister comes to the Seanad on an ongoing basis and that is very much appreciated. I commend and thank the teaching profession for their hard work and dedication on behalf of our children. We are very fortunate to have so many hard working and dedicated teachers. Today I am raising the current role of the school principal. In primary schools, the school...