Results 16,621-16,640 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue. I want to approach it a little differently in so far as I want to concentrate as much as I can on the children who may be described as the problem or part of the problem and on the need to give children the opportunity to succeed rather than fail. I like to think we could intervene with many of these young people before they get to the point...
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Many of teachers are in schools that do not need them and not enough of them are in schools where they are needed. That is an important issue. Support should be provided where it is needed. When standardised testing is introduced, the Department will be in a better position to determine that. However, no child should leave school without being literate. The provision of special needs support...
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I will not get into an argument about results because this is a much broader issue. The atmosphere and culture that prevails in schools is important and the student voice is important in that regard. Student councils are needed in all schools. A significant number of schools do not have such councils and I suspect they do not always have an effective role and voice in the schools in which...
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: A few months ago, I attended a forum in Kilkenny where school students were brought together with various education professionals and asked for their views, especially on the school curriculum. Students feel their voice is not heard much of the time. With regard to the discipline issue, children are described as the problem. The group is called the task force on discipline and it is about...
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: John Hanna, a former principal of St. Augustine's school in Limerick, is a member of the task force. St. Augustine's is a youth project which does excellent work for young people for whom regular school is not appropriate because they failed to have a positive and nurturing experience. Alternative provision is needed for certain young people but it should not be imposed on them after they...
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Young people who may be better off in a different environment should be identified at an earlier stage so that hey can have a positive experience. That is what schools such as St. Augustine's provide. The XLC project in Waterford also takes in children who have been removed from other schools. I do not know whether the Minister is familiar with Nuala Jackson's XLC project but she works with...
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I do not understand why the Minister has held on to it for so long and not shared it with the rest of us.
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: It would be interesting if the voices of Opposition Members and interests outside the House were heard inââ
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I am talking about the implementation of the task force's recommendations. The Minister implied she was planning the implementation before she let us see what was in the report. I respectfully suggest it might be more useful if we and other interested bodies, such as parents, students and teachers, could have a look at what is in the report and have a say in how it should be implemented.
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I hope the Minister has heard what I have said tonight.
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I will sum up. This important topic is about future opportunities for our children. I welcome the motion tabled by the Fine Gael Party and supported by the Labour Party. I hope that when the task force report is published we will have a further opportunity to debate the issues and ensure the recommendations are implemented for the good of all the children in our schools.
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister is not being fair to the Fine Gael proposal.
- School Discipline: Motion. (28 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister allocated less than â¬15 million this year for this purpose.
- Written Answers — Avian Flu: Avian Flu (23 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Question 46: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have had a role in advance planning for treating a possible outbreak of avian flu here; if the Defence Forces may be called upon to help secure ports, airports and points of entry here should the virus spread across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7180/06]
- Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Question 82: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to legitimate desire for independence of the Sahara Arab Democratic Republic; if Ireland has changed its position from full recognition accorded some years ago at the UN; the proposals he favours for the achievement of international law in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7003/06]
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Question 148: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has studied the recently published report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presented to King Mohammed VI of Morocco; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7002/06]
- Written Answers — Control of Animals: Control of Animals (22 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Question 370: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the widespread problem of feral cats in housing estates which are causing problems for tenants and residents; if there is legislation that addresses this problem; if not if he will consider introducing legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7284/06]
- Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Question 79: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the continuing deterioration in postal delivery service here; if the universal service obligation is being fully implemented; the steps he is taking to ensure the universal service obligation is upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6710/06]
- Order of Business. (16 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: I concur with Deputy Stanton on a Bill for a register of persons considered unsafe to work with children. We have been raising this matter for years but are continually told it is not possible to give any indication on its publication. It is important legislation in terms of child protection. A third level student support Bill is in the programme for Government and we have been told its...
- Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second and Subsequent Stages. (16 Feb 2006)
Jan O'Sullivan: Government incompetence is the reason the Bill is before the House. Given that the work required to ensure appointments to the teaching council conformed to legislation was not done, "lacuna" in this context is a fancy word for incompetence. With competence part of the remit of the teaching council, it is ironic that the Department has set such an early example of incompetence to...