Results 9,641-9,660 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: Except for assessment. There is no surrender on assessment.

Leaders' Questions (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: The Government damaged that relationship. That is the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I welcome all the groups and thank them for their submissions. My first question relates to their statements, some of which used the terms "offensive", "scaremongering", "insulted" and "anger" in putting forward their case. As they were saying this, I wondered whether they understood where we and the Minister were coming from - that we are concerned that it is a public safety issue and we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I want to commend him because he is on the front line, and we know who we are talking about. If he has concerns about persons in certain cities and certain towns and about gangs finding out who owns the legally held weapons, these are genuine concerns. My question is, do they appreciate the broader concern of society that weapons are dangerous? They use them for sports and they are very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: Mr. Flood used the word "insulted".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: About the fact that broader society has concerns?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: Preserve public safety.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I am using the United States as an example because I do not want this country to ease up on regulation and go down that road. Whether the witnesses like it or not, there is an opinion that some within their associations would like us to ease up on regulation. I am putting down a marker. It was stated that 13,935 handguns are available in the North. At the height of the Troubles, and even...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I take Mr. Crofton's point about credible data, and it leads me to my next question. Mr. Crofton mentioned the idea of an independent risk assessment. I am very open to this because I want to see risk assessment from a legislator's point of view. What does Mr. Crofton mean by an independent risk assessment scheme and who would carry it out so that he and I would have confidence in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: So would I, on the opposite side.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Freedom of Information Requests (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 168. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a freedom of information application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3005/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason 30 teachers who have completed an honours degree are being penalised in respect of the further degree allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2949/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Provision (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding roads and cycling facilities in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3004/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3006/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (21 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: 246. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Road Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3007/15]

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: First, I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this important motion and commend it. I totally support reform of the educational services and all aspects thereof, and urgent reform is needed. My one major objection is that independent objective assessment also is needed in State examinations. As far as I am concerned, class teachers should not grade their own pupils in State examinations. An...

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: In addition, while the Minister claims to be listening to parents and teachers, last May an Irish Independent-Millward Brown poll showed that 60% of the public supported the view that teachers should not assess their own students for certification. If the Minister is listening to parents or to teachers, she should withdraw this particular aspect of the proposals, and then she will go a long way.

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: No boots over here.

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: Sometimes they are the wrong ones.

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Finian McGrath: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak in this very important debate on the recent conclusion of the talks on the North, in particular the Stormont House Agreement. I will be giving a different view to that of some of my colleagues. I warmly welcome the debate as I have major concerns that many of the real problems in the North of Ireland have been allowed...