Results 1,081-1,100 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

State Examinations. (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: The question refers to the recent recommendation of the National Competitiveness Council for the immediate awarding of bonus points for mathematics. The uptake of mathematics is crucial for the future of the economy. It feeds into financial services, sciences, engineering and IT. Only 17% of students take the higher-level leaving certificate mathematics examination and similar figures are...

State Examinations. (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Does the Minister take note of the National Competitiveness Council report? Has he had any engagement with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment? There should be some crossover between that Department and the Department of Education and Science. Uptake of mathematics is essential and unless we focus on it we will not develop the cohort of graduates necessary for...

State Examinations. (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: We do not have time for the long-term solutions.

State Examinations. (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: The idea is to attract students.

State Examinations. (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister used the word "hope". We need more than the hope that curricular reform will work. Project Maths is being piloted in 24 schools at the moment. How long it will take to roll out and have an impact? We are staring into an abyss. I spoke to representatives of Engineers Ireland during the recent engineers week. They are seriously concerned over the number of students attracted...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: It is welcome news that the talks are back and hopefully we will not have the one-day strike next Monday. Apart from the chaos and inconvenience it would have caused, it would have sent out a very bad message from this country. It is one piece of good news today. I hope the strike can be averted because in this dire situation we do not need it. Everybody needs to pull together for the...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: The Tánaiste's recent decision to divert 25% of funding from the Skillnets programme makes no sense. It will be debated again and hopefully we will have the chance to do so next week through questions the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Diverting 25% of the Skillnets programme funding to FÁS makes no sense. Skillnets is very valuable. It supports employers and employees...

Schools Building Projects. (24 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for the positive answer.

Written Answers — National Training Fund: National Training Fund (24 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Question 163: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of funding she has provided for a company (details supplied) in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12278/09]

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Question 885: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when his Department will make funding available to Cork City Council to support the disabled persons grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11845/09]

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (24 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Question 886: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when his Department will make funding available to Cork County Council to support the disabled persons grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11846/09]

Schools Building Projects. (24 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: I am pleased to have an opportunity to highlight this matter, which I have previously raised on the Adjournment. The Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, who responded to me on that occasion, is familiar with the issues which are at stake. Ballygarvan, which is approximately ten miles from Cork city, used to be a small rural village. Like many other villages near large urban areas, it has...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (12 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Question 96: To ask the Minister for Finance the returns to the Exchequer from betting duty in 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10770/09]

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (12 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Question 97: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated returns to the Exchequer from the 2% betting duty in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10771/09]

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (12 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Question 98: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the increase in betting duty from 1% to 2% will encourage the placing of bets on Internet and tele sites whose operations may be based in other tax jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10772/09]

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: We are having this debate in changed circumstances to those that were in place when the framework for this legislation was drawn up under the social partnership agreement Towards 2016 in 2006. In that time the employment situation has changed considerably. The Government and the social partners could not have predicted such a haemorrhaging of jobs as has been seen recently. There was a...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Champagne and caviar.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (11 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: I thank my colleague, Deputy Bannon, for sharing time and welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I have been aware of the Minister's consultations on the legislation and have read some of the transcripts of meetings of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister and joint committee have been open to consultation and have invited submissions on...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Prior to the adjournment of the debate I welcomed the fact that the Minister is now attempting to put some structure on spending limits in elections, starting with the local elections this June. We already have limits for the European elections. The submission from the Standards in Public Office Commission contained a recommendation that the limits would come into play between 90 to 120...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Deirdre Clune: Postering is controlled under the Litter Pollution Act. I agree posters deserve better than being called litter, because they are of a high quality and standard.