Results 16,081-16,100 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: On a point of order. I asked a simple question about how many people are illiterate, not the percentage. We already have the information the Minister of State is reading into the record. He is wasting my time.

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: On a general point of order, I wish to put down a marker to both Ministers. Can we stop the filibustering replies from the Department of Education and Science?

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department has a standard word processor that churns out details in reply to every other question.

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: I say to Deputy Kennedy that I asked a specific question that was not answered. The question was not about the percentage of adults between 16 and 64 but the number. Does the Minister of State have that information?

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: No, the Minister of State is not.

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Can I interrupt the Minister of State?

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Whoever drafted that reply for the Minister of State was being economical with the truth. As we approach the 12 June and the Lisbon referendum campaign, in effect, a quarter of the electorate is functionally illiterate. Is that a fair interpretation of what the Minister of State said? Two million people are entitled to vote, give or take those aged between 16 and 18. The Minister of State...

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Does the Minister of State have up to date statistics of his own?

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: It is a reflection on the Department of Education and Science that the Minister of State is dealing with statistics from 1997, which is 11 years out of date. Despite all the money the Department is throwing at every problem it can see, it simply does not know the scale of the problem. Without knowing the scale of a problem, one cannot begin to address it.

Literacy Levels. (21 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: How does the Minister of State know?

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 110: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure farmers will continue to have payments by his Department issue to them by cheque should they so wish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19645/08]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 427: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the month and year when a decision will be taken on the tenders submitted for the building of a primary school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19693/08]

Tribunals of Inquiry. (20 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: At least Deputy Ó Caoláin is consistent.

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (15 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 31: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the family support initiatives available to families and communities to counteract anti social behaviour where there is a lack of recreational or sporting facilities available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18826/08]

Written Answers — Drugs Classification: Drugs Classification (15 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 37: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he proposes to re-categorise cannabis here in view of proposals to do so in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18827/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rationale for not paying child benefit and early childcare supplement to foster parents from the commencement of their foster care arrangement where it is known in advance that the arrangement is to be long-term in nature; and the review that she will conduct of this policy. [18601/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (14 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 113: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the qualifying criteria for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in order that low income families who derive earnings from self-employment may qualify. [18600/08]

Written Answers — Arts Schemes: Arts Schemes (13 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there is a system to promote internships for second level students in Government funded arts organisations and cultural institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17675/08]

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 278: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will give an employment permit or allow an employer to apply for an employment permit for a person (details supplied) who has a stamp three visa and waiting for a decision on a stamp four visa petition on the basis that other persons who are in the same situation have been allowed to work; and if she...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 May 2008)

Ruairi Quinn: Question 418: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to increase the number of primary teachers by at least 4,000 and the staffing schedule to be reduced from a general rule of at least one teacher for every 27 pupils by 2007/2008, by one point a year, to one for every 24 pupils by 2010/2011. [18349/08]