Results 10,241-10,260 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I take the Deputy's point on the position in certain areas of the country where there is a one-teacher school and, owing to geographical or other considerations, pupils may not be able to avail of the nearest school with their ethos. This is an issue with which we have to grapple. I know from my experience in my constituency where the Department has had consultations with the local bishop...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank Deputy Charles Flanagan for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the issues raised. The Government has protected front-line services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank Deputy Charles Flanagan for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the issues raised. The Government has protected front-line services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: On the first question, I can facilitate the Deputy in ensuring he receives guidance on the guidelines on and processes involved in amalgamations. On the second question, the Constitution does not allow for either positive or negative discrimination in schools based on their religious ethos.

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I take the Deputy's point on the position in certain areas of the country where there is a one-teacher school and, owing to geographical or other considerations, pupils may not be able to avail of the nearest school with their ethos. This is an issue with which we have to grapple. I know from my experience in my constituency where the Department has had consultations with the local bishop...

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: There is nothing worse than being patronised.

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: This is particularly so since I have served in this House since 2007, longer than the Deputy yonder. I know I have earned my place here. Over the past two nights, there is no doubt that we have had an interesting and passionate debate and valid points have been made by both sides. Sometimes it turns a little bit raucous and many interventions have been quite rhetorical. In response to...

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Is that the figure for the Twenty-six Counties or the Six Counties?

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: What is the figure for the Six Counties?

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I refer to child poverty rates in certain parts of Belfast.

Job Creation and Economic Growth: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: That is a very dystopian version.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I fully acknowledge the points made by Senator Higgins. To be helpful, I will make sure to speak to the Minister on the issues she has outlined in respect of her constituency. A legitimate question arises if no queries arose regarding individual farmers' applications and if the files still have not been dealt with expeditiously. I will certainly relate this to the Minister.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Senator Higgins for raising this matter and convey the Minister's regrets that he cannot attend this debate in person. To set the context, the position is that payments by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the agri-environment options scheme, or AEOS as it is commonly known, are well advanced at this stage. Before discussing the details, I emphasise the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Consumer Protection (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I note the article in The Sunday Business Post of 24 February states that a shift dress on sale in the Monsoon chain is priced at £129 in Britain, which converts to just under ¤150, whereas the Irish price is ¤199. The word "shift" in Cork parlance has completely different connotations. Perhaps the Senator will enlighten me on the matter afterwards.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Consumer Protection (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The question posed by her as to whether there are any plans to introduce legislation to tackle higher prices charged by traders in this jurisdiction as compared with prices charged in the neighbouring UK jurisdiction seems to presume that price control measures can protect consumers from what may be perceived as high or unjustified prices. In so...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Relocation (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I am responding to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position on a proposed new school building for Summercove national school. The school has applied to the Department for large-scale capital funding for a new...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Relocation (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: I appreciate where Senator O?Donovan is coming from. It does me no good to say that a school in my own county cannot have a definitive timeframe for the provision of a new school. The Government is faced with Hobson's choice at the moment because demographics do come into play. We are now faced with a situation in this country where there are pockets in metropolitan and urban areas where...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Intellectual Property Protocol (12 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The aim of the Intellectual Property Protocol is to encourage the commercialisation of all forms of intellectual property arising from research in the publicly funded research sector, with a view to maximising the economic and societal benefits, in particular the creation of sustainable jobs. The IP Protocol aims to encourage industry – both indigenous and FDI companies – and...

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: Is the Deputy serious?

Other Questions: EPSEN Act 2004 (7 Mar 2013)

Seán Sherlock: The Children's Rights Alliance report noted that the Department of Education and Skills received an overall "B-minus" grade for solid progress, particularly in literacy, patronage and school buildings. This is one of the highest grades given to any Department and reflects well on the overall performance of our education system. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has advised...