Results 1,881-1,900 of 3,476 for speaker:Charlie O'Connor

Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I welcome the opportunity to make my brief contribution to this important debate. I am glad to note that my colleagues across the floor are in good form, presumably because of the short holiday we are going to enjoy. I intend to spend St. Patrick's Day in Tallaght, in case anybody is looking for me. I was interested to hear from the Dominican order this morning that the next time St....

Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: Education has been the main theme this week and the Acting Chairman, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, was kind to me last night during Private Members' business when I spoke of a school in my area. It is important that I support educational facilities in my region and I made the point, as did my colleagues, that there is an accommodation crisis in the Holy Rosary national school, Ballycragh. The...

Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I always had a very strong commitment to further education but I did not quite make it to university. I have met many people recently who have found themselves in the same situation and who had an opportunity to return to education. In that regard I particularly applaud the efforts of Trinity College on its access programme, the TAP, which has taken students from many places, including the...

Student Support Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: There is also one student from County Cork. I hope more students will come from the country and that the facilities and the courses in Tallaght IT will continue to develop. I wish to speak about access to third level education. I am not saying my constituency is any more disadvantaged than elsewhere. Over the years, the so-called County Dublin area of need has been designated as far as my...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern of parents regarding the accommodation crisis at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; if she will give assurances to the local community that everything is being done to deal with the matter; her plans in that regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11001/08]

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this important debate and compliment our colleagues in the Labour Party on giving us that opportunity. I am pleased to see so many prominent members of the Labour Party, including future leaders, in the Chamber to hear my contribution. I appreciate their support. In her fine contribution last night the Minister said she was glad to...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: ——Templeogue, Bohernabreena and Brittas. In preparation for this debate I decided to be up and about early this morning and visited Holy Rosary national school in Ballycragh, which was a great experience because——

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I did not promise them anything. I went to see the school to have the opportunity to talk to the young people, teachers and community.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I thank the Acting Chairman for protecting me. He will be interested to know that in all the classes——

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: The Deputy should let me make the contribution. I will represent the school in Ballycragh.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: In a number of classes the principal asked pupils if they knew who I was and, thank God, they did; they knew other colleagues also.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I ask the Acting Chairman not to tell anyone this story but in one particular class the principal asked the youngsters if they knew who I was.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: One hand went up and the youngster said, "Yes, I know who he is." The teacher asked the child the name and the child replied, "Charlie Lenihan".

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: It is a true story.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I am determined to make a number of serious points.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: Holy Rosary national school in Ballycragh has a large international population. Deputy Lynch said — I do not deny it nor am I afraid to say it — that they are taught in prefabs. Other schools in other regions have overtaken it in terms of permanent accommodation.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I say from the Government benches and have said to the Minister directly that this is the type of school that should be facilitated. The community should not have to wait for this. I have often made the point that there should be more joined-up thinking between the local authorities — in my case South Dublin County Council in Tallaght — and the planners in the Department of Education and...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: ——the local school is a good example of what happens in many others. There are 1,100 pupils in St. Mark's, a school that was founded in 1973 and opened on the day Erskine Childers died in 1974. It is unique because almost 500 pupils come from 48 countries. I have heard Deputy Burton and others talk about the particular demands in certain areas. This is the type of school that should...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I could be on the Opposition benches having a more comfortable life but I am on the Government benches and not afraid to highlight the concerns of my community. I will continue to do so. I look forward to more such debates. I support the Government amendment.

Cancer Services Reports: Motion (12 Mar 2008)

Charlie O'Connor: I welcome the opportunity to make a very brief contribution to what I consider to be a most important debate. Other colleagues have made their points and colleagues opposite are entitled to make their political points. I have no real difficulty with that but we should all try to support the Minister in so far as we can. I do so strongly. This is about human suffering and the need to...