Results 11,481-11,500 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I strongly support the points made by the two previous speakers. It is unthinkable we would debate a schools admission Bill and not address section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act. That is the primary means by which children are discriminated against in the school system and the notion of taking the Bill without addressing that section is just laughable. I tabled an amendment to provide...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: Can I finish my contribution?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I shall not hold up the meeting either.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: Under no circumstances can the section 7(3)(c) amendment be deemed irrelevant. I wish to advise that I shall officially challenge the decision and return to it on Report Stage. The ruling is unacceptable and, therefore, I completely support Deputy Boyd Barrett's amendment that references the Equal Status Act 2000. His amendment is a good way to get around the obstacles that have been put...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: To what timescale is the Minister working on the proposals?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I move amendment No. 2:In page 4, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following:"Amendment of section 15 of Act of 1998 5. Section 15(2) of the Act of 1998 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (g):"(h) In performing the functions conferred on it, and notwithstanding subsection (2)(b), a board shall uphold equal respect and dignity for all pupils, regardless...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I cannot accept the Minister's rationale on this amendment. Other members have spoken about the need for a general education programme in schools on world religions, belief systems and philosophy. Such a programme would be very worthwhile. I also feel very strongly that we need to provide a moral and ethical education for all children in all State-funded schools, an ethical education based...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: With due respect, I think the Minister is over-complicating this issue. There is nothing onerous or complex about moving religious instruction to the end of the school day. That facilitates children at many levels. There has been many arguments put forward today on reasons of fairness and respect for children who may not share the religious beliefs of the patron of the school they are...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I move amendment No. 4:In page 4, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 30 of Act of 1998 7. Section 30 of the Education Act 1998 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):"(2A) In order to afford equal respect and dignity to all pupils, regardless of religion, ethnicity or family background, and to uphold their...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I cannot understand why the Minister is proposing that 25% of places would be set aside. I do not know what the justification for that is. I heard him say that continuity is important and that we ought to protect the continuity. We can replace the word "continuity" with the word "elitism", and that is essentially what this is about - that elitism ought to be protected. I am horrified at...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: It discriminates.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: This part of the Bill deals with admissions policies and sets out what a board can and cannot do when preparing an admissions policy. Included in this part of the Bill is a provision to allow a school the right to refuse admission where the child is not of the same denomination as that promoted by the school. This amendment would remove that right.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I will reserve my right until Report Stage.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: This part of the Bill deals with the designation of a special needs child to a school, in particular where parents have been unable to find a suitable place. It sets down the procedure to be followed by the NCSE or the Child and Family Agency for designating a special needs child to a school. Included in this is an appeals process where the school may appeal against this decision. The...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: If the best interests of the child applied we would not have discrimination on religious grounds. It is not any consolation this might be the case. The Minister has already spelled out he has deleted the grounds on which places can be refused relating to section 7(3)(c). My point is that having deleted this, the Minister's amendment seeking to reference the admissions policy of schools in...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: That is not explicit. It could well be interpreted in that way. It is providing local schools' admissions policies as a grounds for appeal. The Minister does not say it only relates to gender or special needs. The admissions policies of schools in the locality covers the right to refuse on the grounds of religion.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: I thank the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (27 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: 392. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons treated for a full or partial limb amputation in each of the years 2014 to 2016, by county; the number of those persons who had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29829/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (27 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: 397. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons treated for a full or partial limb amputation in each of the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, by county, in tabular form; the number of those persons that had diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29989/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (27 Jun 2017)

Róisín Shortall: 426. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 4 May 2017, if he will request the HSE to issue a reply to same. [30200/17]