Results 15,461-15,480 of 33,470 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: This is from the Minister, issuing on 2 April. This is not from the Department of Health.

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I thank the Minister for his work regarding direct provision. I have, however, to place on record that it has been reactive. I know it has been difficult because the situation before Covid-19 was inhumane in the first place. I was at the meeting in Oughterard and I know the complexity the Department was facing. It was an inhumane situation, however, and Covid-19 has now brought that into...

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I take it from that that the Minister is aware that direct provision did not feature once in the minutes of the NPHET committee, not even once. The Minister can tell me if I am wrong and I will be corrected, but that tells me then that it was not given priority at all by NPHET. Everything has been reactionary, every single step. I thank the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy...

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: Deputy McNamara-----

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I pushed it because we are over time. I gave the time. We have to take a break of 20 minutes.

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I must stop the Minister there to allow Deputy Paul Murphy to speak. If there is time at the end, the Minister can come back in.

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: One at a time.

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: The Minister has a minute and 25 seconds to answer all those questions.

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I thank the Minister. I acknowledge that the amount of time for his response is unsatisfactory but I must move on.

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I am sorry to interrupt the Minister but other people will be deprived. It is not his fault. We will move on to Fine Gael Members. Perhaps we will gain time from them.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I will use my five minutes by way of a question-and-answer session. I thank the Minister for his work. I do not believe it was easy to come to this decision. I would have been of a different view. I believe the leaving certificate should have been abandoned this year - I agree with that part - but opened up for third level and apprenticeships but that is my personal view. I say "well...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: Very good.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I welcome that. Other Deputies have mentioned practical subjects, some of which already have taken place and the results are available. How will the practical subjects such as science, art, woodwork and so on be taken into account?

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: The projects will be taken into account and the teachers will be doing the assessment.

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: Regarding external students, the Minister has clarified that the tutors will be giving their assessment but for those students, particularly mature students, who do it themselves, the Minister has not worked out yet what is going on. Is that right?

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: Regarding students with dyslexia, will the tutors' opinion and assessment be taken into account? Tied in with that, I want to ask about special needs, which I have mentioned repeatedly in the past two weeks and will repeat again now. We have all received the letters. I have raised them with the Taoiseach. They have written to the Taoiseach directly. I agree with them. For approximately...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I am sorry but my question was specific. Will consideration be given to opening up special schools as a distinct entity?

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: On that, I have to say I am unhappy because I do not see any voice at the top level committee in regard to that vulnerable group of people. I do not even like the word "vulnerable". We should treat them with equality, dignity and respect. That group requires routine, structure and so on. I do not have the time to read out all of that; the Minister is fully familiar with it, and I respect...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: I appeal to the Minister to look at this distinct group and re-assess the effect of the decisions being made on their lives and the lives of their families. My final question, for my last 14 seconds, relates to UL. What progress has been made on the return of rent on a pro ratabasis?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 May 2020)

Catherine Connolly: The points have been made. From the little bit I have read, I understand a motion by both the Seanad and the Dáil is needed. There is no Seanad, so it does not make sense to put the motion before the Dáil today in a piecemeal fashion. Even if we were to pass the motion today, the report would remain in the Oireachtas Library, as I understand it. Are we going to withdraw half of...