Results 10,761-10,780 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage (6 Oct 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Oct 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On a personal note, as this is the first legislation I have introduced as a Minister of State, I wish to say it is a privilege to be able to do so. The Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011 is a short but very important Bill amending three sections of the Patents Act 1992, to allow for the eventual ratification by Ireland of the London agreement. I...

Job Losses (5 Oct 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As I reported to the House on the 22 September, Aviva is undertaking a review of its operations in response to a significant reduction in demand for insurance and pensions products. Aviva has found it necessary to review its operations here to ensure its cost base is in line with domestic demand to ensure sustainability. The CEO of Aviva Ireland...

Job Losses (5 Oct 2011)

Seán Sherlock: Let us be straight. If a global company such as Aviva decides to restructure, it is pertinent, if there is engagement with the trade unions in the organisation, that we allow such a process to proceed. I have stated IDA Ireland is in dialogue with the company on potential future opportunities. I have also stated it is in contact with the company at both corporate and local level, with a...

Employment and National Internship Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I hope I can respond positively to all the ideas that were put forward. I acknowledge the contribution by Members to the debate on the past two evenings. Members have been generally constructive in their comments to date. I wish to put on record press releases from the IDA which outline certain examples of foreign direct investments made in the past two weeks. On 26 September the headline...

Employment and National Internship Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I apologise to Opposition Members because my time is limited and I would like to respond. Since July, some 1,400 people have signed up to the jobs initiative and the national internship scheme. It will not be a panacea for all our ills but it is making incremental progress. That is how the Government will proceed. We will not have a great leap forward within the next thee or four months...

Employment and National Internship Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: It is a slow, incremental process but our hearts and minds are in the right place. If I am to engage in a bit of rhetoric along with some of my counterparts in opposition, I would say that to govern is to choose. That means we will have to make tough decisions in future, but at the same time we are trying to keep the basics right. I would like to address the habitats directive and farming,...

Employment and National Internship Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: We will work together constructively with those on the Opposition benches.

Employment and National Internship Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I extend the invitation.

Employment and National Internship Scheme: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I extend the invitation to Opposition Members to engage with us on a personal level and we will do everything we can to bring their agenda to the House.

Job Protection (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I acknowledge the Deputy's statement. There is no sense of complacency on the part of the Government on this issue. We must have regard to the fact the Cabinet has asked the IDA, given its knowledge of the company, to continue to work with it to mitigate any possible negative outcomes. Let us be frank. I can dance around the language of redundancies and job losses but if a multinational...

Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: The Teaching Council recently carried out a survey of post-primary schools to ascertain the qualifications of maths teachers. The results of the survey show that a significant majority of teachers - 68% - teaching maths in 258 schools are fully qualified to do so, that 29% have pursued some studies in maths and that only 2% have not obtained third level qualifications or pursued studies in...

Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: To give the Deputy a straight answer, I am not in a position to do this. As he is well aware, the boards of management of schools have autonomy in respect of who they hire and fire. There is an issue of governance in that regard. I ask the Deputy to have faith in the process being undertaken. We must obtain the results of the survey and analyse them. As announced on 12 September, a...

Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: Is the Deputy referring to the teaching of maths?

Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I ask that the Deputy table a separate parliamentary question on that matter. This question relates to the teaching of maths. With regard to Deputy Smith's question, there are no exact figures for the take-up of CPD. However, I will endeavour to come back to him at a later date with additional information on the matter. If he is asking whether I am satisfied with the rate of reply to the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: In relation to concerns regarding the teaching of mathematics, I expect to receive shortly full figures from a Teaching Council survey of the qualifications of mathematics teachers in second level schools. Initial indications from the schools which have responded, approximately one third, are that some 68% of maths teachers are fully qualified to do so, 29% have undergone some studies in...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: As the deputy is aware, Project Maths is a major programme of reform in mathematics in second level schools, which is designed to encourage better understanding of mathematics. Project Maths began in 24 project schools in September 2008. Strands 1 and 2 began in all schools in September 2010 for first examination in 2012 at Leaving Certificate and 2013 at Junior Certificate. Strands 3 and 4...

Job Protection (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter. My primary concern is with the workers facing uncertainty today. Taking account of the domestic economy, Aviva has decided to review its operations to ensure its capacity is in line with domestic demand to ensure sustainability. Industry figures show that general insurance has fallen by more than 20% in the past two years, while life insurance...

Job Protection (22 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: Yes, certainly.

School Curriculum (20 Sep 2011)

Seán Sherlock: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this issue, which provides me with an opportunity to outline some of the ongoing developments in mathematics and science that are most pertinent to the matter she has put forward for debate. Providing for high quality teaching and learning of mathematics and science is of strategic importance to the State and I welcome the opportunity to discuss...