Results 8,121-8,140 of 26,185 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Post: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: It was about announcing the stamp offer for Christmas. Senator Murphy is looking for an answer on the reduced stamp offer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Post: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are any members looking to come in? I have a few brief questions. I wish Ms Bolger well in her new role. In a former life, I was a self-employed chartered accountant. I dealt with many people who were setting up a business. If they came to me, we looked for core things in any town and village, namely a national school, a church, a bank and a post office. If there was a post office in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Post: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: We might look at the review of banking services to make certain that the terms of reference will consider the role of post offices. They are already playing a role in that they provide banking services. We should consider an enhanced role. Having enhanced services would enable An Post to retain and deliver its core services as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Post: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Ms Bolger.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Post: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: When Ms Bolger settles down in the role, we would love to have her back, along with her management team, to discuss a comprehensive future for An Post. That is vital. I would not like to see any slippage in terms of securing the future of An Post. Obviously, this concerns the postmasters, their employees and more particularly the people they serve on the ground. A letter and transcript of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Little did we think that two years after, we would still be very much living with and having to deal with Covid. We may have to do so for a number of years. Does the Minister believe the hybrid model that was adopted last year will be sustainable during any Covid period?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: 69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is considering arrangements for a hybrid leaving certificate for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57335/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: This matter follows on from the issue of leaving certificate reform. I liked the hybrid model used for the 2021 examination. The Minister will be aware that I conducted an online survey of parents in Limerick prior to the leaving certificate. They were very much in favour of this model and I think it has worked. I know the State Examinations Commission is due to report but will the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister might just give us her view on the hybrid model that was in place for the 2021 leaving certificate examination. What did we learn from that? I believe in that combination of continuous assessment and written exam for those students. I like the aspect of anonymity in the latter, but we have to give certainty to students. What did the Minister and the Department learn from the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does the Minister believe that the hybrid model for the leaving certificate in June of 2021, which involved calculated grades along with students being able to sit the examination, was a success and does she believe that is the type of future model that will be laid out when she issues her direction in respect of the advisory report she has received? When does the Minister expect to come...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: As a parent, and having put four through the leaving certificate in recent years, it is a hugely significant examination for students. In the past year, there was the hybrid model. While people may accept the point about memory retention, I believe there is scope for both. People have to be able to perform in an examination but, equally, they must be judged on their continuous...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: 61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her priorities for the reform of the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57336/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Examinations (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I want to raise the issue of the leaving certificate and of having certainty about what the leaving certificate will be about going forward. I note that the Minister has received the advisory report from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. When does she expect to make a decision on it? We saw that the hybrid model worked in the last academic year but it had the...

Climate Action Plan 2021: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: How much time do I have?

Climate Action Plan 2021: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome this debate. l confine my comments to two areas, namely, agriculture and transport. On agriculture, I have a basic and simple principle. We encouraged farmers, particularly those on the dairy side, to be more productive and increase cattle numbers. We have to find a way to support the productive farmer. If there are other areas where people wish to scale back, we need to...

Climate Action Plan 2021: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----have to ensure we put charging infrastructure in place and address cost. We need to get to the point where people will choose an electric vehicle the next time they change their car.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I raise the matter of University Hospital Limerick, UHL. It currently has the highest trolley count in Ireland, with 58 patients on trolleys. It has 56 Covid patients. Thirteen Covid patients are in ICU and 30 patients have been in ICU for a long time. That is above the number of ICU beds in the hospital, of which there are 12. There are also high-dependency unit beds too, bringing the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----the resources to be able to employ staff and junior doctors and to make that submission for funding to get us through this winter period?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (18 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I acknowledge the 98 additional beds that have gone into UHL. Some 60 modular beds, for which I campaigned over a long period of time, are in place. However, that 60-bed ward is being used as a Covid unit. It is not being used for that which it was really intended, which was to relieve the existing pressures in UHL. We have 49 patients in UHL with Covid. That is in the top three in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (18 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: University Hospital Limerick, UHL, caters for the medical needs of the entire mid-west, including my constituency of Limerick City. The region also has St. John's, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals, as well as Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, but UHL is the large cog in the system. On Tuesday, 16 November, 95 people were on trolleys there, which was the highest number since the Irish Medical...