Results 11,221-11,240 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: Opposition Senators may be comfortable with that, but I certainly am not.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: Talk of people with degrees paying for that through the taxation system is all very well, but what about people on low incomes who pay tax and pay for the wealthy to get into colleges for free? Where is the social equity in that?

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: There are people on low incomes who will never see the inside of a third level institution and Senator Ryan knows many of them. I had the impression from Senator O'Rourke's contribution that she felt I questioned her right to express her views on this matter. I have no difficulty with that. She is entitled to her view. Her experience in the Department of Education and Science is obviously...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: One aspect that has not changed for the better is the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend third level. It has disimproved.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: An Agreed Programme for Government also contains a commitment to build a culture of review of public spending by publishing regular evaluations of key spending programmes. It is perfectly logical to assess a student support programme that cost €380 million last year, of which some €240 million was spent on so-called free fees. The aim of the review of student support provisions is to...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: I accept that it initially assisted those middle income groups who were finding it difficult to support second and subsequent children in the third level system. I mentioned earlier the top-up grants system, of which 3,500 people availed last year and 7,000 will avail this year. Such a targeted initiative is a much better way of encouraging people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: I took time to read it. It is another piece of poorly researched, hastily constructed documentation from the so-called champions of the disadvantaged. It will keep the gates open so that disadvantaged people can look into third level campuses and still wonder why the hell they cannot get in. The last time the Labour Party cobbled together such an initiative was in 1995, so it is obviously a...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's amendment fully reflects the complexity of the issues involved in achieving equity and social justice in third level education. I commend our amendment to the House.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: I did not think the Senator was so sensitive.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: Does the Senator recall Declan Costello and the concept of the Just Society?

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: The Senator knows a lot about being left out.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Noel Dempsey: It appears some 15,000 houses were sold on 14 November.

Seanad: Report on Immigration Policy: Statements. (27 Nov 2002)

Noel Dempsey: On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, I welcome this opportunity to discuss this important issue in the Seanad. I convey the apologies of the Minister for not being able to be present. He is abroad on Government business and has asked me to stand in for him.

Seanad: Report on Immigration Policy: Statements. (27 Nov 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Single seat constituencies.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo anocht le cúrsaí oideachais a phlé. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an gCathaoirleach agus le gach Seanadóir as ucht bheith tofa mar Sheanadóir.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Although I hope I will not have to do so, I assure the Deputy that I will not go down without a fight in relation to tackling educational disadvantage. My colleagues in Government are committed to tackling disadvantage.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: I hope Members on all sides of the House are similarly interested in the struggle against disadvantage. I ask them not to conceal the nature of their opposition to my proposals or attempt to dress up their affection for vested interests and the wealthy as concern for students. Senator Fitzgerald spoke of the Government's record. I am sure he does not need to be reminded that the Fianna...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Improved access for all socio-economic groups to third level education relies on increasing the number of available third level places. The Government's record in this regard since 1997 has been outstanding: full-time student numbers at third level exceeded 126,000 in the 2000-01 academic year.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: This represents an increase of nearly 19,000, or 17%, on the numbers for 1996-97. Departmental expenditure on access measures to tackle disadvantage at third level has increased from €508,000 in 1997 to €24 million in 2002. I ask Fine Gael and Labour Senators to consider this statistic as an indicator of the performance of their parties while in power. In addition to increasing...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Our overall approach to tackling educational disadvantage has been framed within the context of the national anti-poverty strategy. The NAPS approach is based on continuum of provision from early childhood though adulthood, with a focus on preventive strategies, targeting and integrated community responses. Challenging and ambitious targets have been set under the key headings of school...