Results 10,121-10,140 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am pleased to be here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, to discuss the proposed resolutions from the Dáil and Seanad approving the draft of the order which I will be proposing. The order seeks to reserve 32 places in the first year of the Bachelor of Education degree course in the Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, for students who are members of the Church of...

Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: If we are sending a message from the House, the important thing is that we give the assurance that no student can be disadvantaged as a result of an error on the examination paper. I doubt any student is watching these proceedings but if their parents are watching or if this debate is reported, it is important to give them a sense of confidence that whatever errors occurred will be reflected...

Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Context is everything and the overall examinations infrastructure in Ireland stands up to international scrutiny in terms of the level of educational attainment, etc. I acknowledge the validity of the points made by the Deputies that the number of errors in the examinations is a cause for concern. The State Examinations Commission has expressed its regret for the errors made. In response...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Deputies for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on this issue. The Government has protected front-line services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget. Therefore, there will be no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013 to 2014 school year. The DEIS scheme for...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Deputy Ross referred to five Protestant comprehensive schools which do not charge fees. Second level schools such as Kilkenny College and previously Wilson's Hospital, have demonstrated that they believe they can maintain and promote their Church of Ireland ethos through the free second level scheme. I have referred to the report and the analysis which we cannot dismiss. It shows clearly...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: For the same reasons I outlined in respect of amendments Nos. 10 and 11, there is a danger inherent within the amendment that too short a view might be taken. At the time of SFI's establishment, it was generally recognised that the research it began to fund in 2000 would not generate the desired outcomes or impact for a horizon spanning perhaps ten to 15 years and we have not yet even...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The first thing to remember is that research prioritisation does not account for the entire SFI budget. We seek to move or evolve the research landscape in a way that will ensure that all of the State funders of research are, pretty much, on the same trajectory. One then seeks to identify new areas of opportunity where co-funding arises. For instance, a memorandum of understanding was...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I shall respond in general terms. I have always contended that science research and innovation is an apolitical space. With regard to the amendment, I ask that we debate the matter on Report Stage. I am openly disposed to accepting it as it would give the Houses of the Oireachtas a better opportunity to interrogate relevant issues, and I do not mean that in a loaded fashion. It would...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: While I am not accepting the amendment, I agree with the sentiment and spirit of the amendment. If one was to look at the scientific or the research landscape, there is clear evidence that female researchers can reach a certain stage but very few break through that glass ceiling. That applies to other sectors of the economy. I am not in a position to accept an amendment to enforce a gender...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am willing to look again at the issue on Report Stage but we must distinguish between the role of the chief scientific adviser and the director general of Science Foundation Ireland. The question is whether the chief scientific adviser has a role in interrogating or advising on Government policy because Government policy is determined by those who are given the mandate by the people to...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that we are taking the foot off the pedal in terms of basic research and moving into applied research. We are extending the remit but, as I said at the earlier committee meeting, one is the logical extension of the other. It is an almost impossible task and would require significant additional resources to be deployed within Science Foundation...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: SFI provides research grant funding to higher education institutions and research-performing entities and as such an entity must satisfy a number of criteria to be deemed an eligible body to compete for SFI funding calls. On page 5, lines 20 onwards, particularly lines 32 to 39, inclusive, the Bill clearly sets out how the extension of the remit of SFI will be provided for on an all-Ireland...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: It is on page 5, lines 20 onwards, particularly lines 32 to 39, inclusive. The Bill clearly sets out how the extension of SFI's remit will be provided for on an all-Ireland basis.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I can see where Deputy Calleary is coming from in terms of the spirit of this amendment. Appointments to the board of SFI are made by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in consultation with the Minister for Education and Skills and with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In reality, this proposed amendment captures what is already established...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The question here is whether one adheres to that by way of primary legislation or does it require a cultural or systemic change in our thinking. The view regarding the specific amendment is that while one would absolutely and utterly accept the sentiment expressed and the spirit of the amendment, putting forward a specific quota target for this piece of legislation would not be appropriate....

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I acknowledge the sentiments expressed by Deputy Calleary on the role of Science Foundation Ireland. I thank Deputies Calleary and Tóibín for submitting the various amendments and the first proposed amendment is essentially already captured when one considers section 7(1) in conjunction with section 7(6), specifically lines 13 to 18, inclusive. The wording of the Bill as presented...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: With regard to amendment No. 5, it is the Government's intention to inform the Houses of the Oireachtas of the strategic areas of opportunities for Ireland. This will largely be centred on priority areas as set out in the recommendations arising from the national research prioritisation exercise and through the prioritisation action group, whose work continues. I am currently chairing that...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am not in a position to accept the amendment, although I appreciate the concerns and subtleties of the point made by Deputy Calleary. I was concerned that by including "by another review process equivalent to relevant international best practice" we might somehow lessen the rigour of SFI's renowned review process of excellence. There is a danger inherent in that if it is dissipated in any...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I assure Deputies that SFI will continue to operate its rigorous multi-stage scientific peer review for the main cohort of funding instruments, such as research centres, the investigators' programme, professorships and other principal investigator programmes. The peer review process has been the bedrock of Science Foundation Ireland since its establishment in order to ensure continued...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2013)

Seán Sherlock: We can accept amendments Nos. 3 and 4 without any problem.