Results 1-20 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: When I offered to speak, I thought this was the last day on which the Seanad would meet. As somebody in transition, it is appropriate that I inform the House I will not be seeking re-election to the Seanad. I thank the Leader, Acting Leader, Chief Whip and Assistant Whip, the Leader of the Opposition and leaders of the other parties for a most interesting, stimulating and effective exchange...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: What about disadvantaged areas and class sizes of between 15 and 20?

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Opposition did not acknowledge that.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Seanad Éireann commends the Government on hiring 4,000 more primary teachers since 2002 and 7,000 since 1997; notes that last year there were 80,000 fewer primary schoolchildren in classes of 30 or more than in 1997, while the number of children in classes of 35 or more was just one fifth of the 1997...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I tried to figure out whether this was about having an effective debate on education. If my party officer handed me a motion such as this and told me to debate it in the Seanad, I would call on my leader to have him sacked instantly. The motion comprises six or seven elements and I will comment on each of these presently. It reads like a litany of moans to an agony aunt and concludes by...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: When I read it first it took me back to a time in my youth when I witnessed a frustrated farmer going out with a scatter-gun to shoot the crows eating his corn. He fired at everything in sight but hit nothing. That sums up what Senator Ulick Burke is afflicted with tonight and what his spin doctors have foisted on him. The scatter-gun approach he has taken in this Chamber this evening does...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: With his professional background and his expertise in education it must be a major embarrassment for him to be sent in here in this manner. I sympathise with him in that regard as I do with Senator Browne, who seconded the motion. I acknowledge that each of the areas listed in the Senator's motion is an important area in its own right. The Minister of State will concur with that view when...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I have no doubt his achievements will be equally spectacular to those of the Minister. It must be said those achievements have been publicly acknowledged by all partners in education. I remember the comments made in recent years by partners in education at all levels of education and I challenge anybody to contradict me——

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——on that and produce quotes in that regard. Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed with the way the motion is structured and its obvious intent, I will comment briefly on each of the items in so far as time will allow me do so. On the school buildings and maintenance programme, Senators Burke and Browne referred to the long delays that can take place in the building of a...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——I understand is working successfully in entrusting to local boards of management much of the initiative in regard to fast-tracking development. I will leave it to the Minister of State to expand on that if he has the opportunity. On the issue of school building and school maintenance in general, one set of figures alone tells a major story. This year the Minister and the Minister of...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: That is a multiple of six.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I realise the truth hurts and memories can fade but I will jog the Senators' memories on that. The Minister and the Minister of State will have 1,500 projects under way this year ranging from very small works to new roofs, windows, large extensions and new schools. They will seek further funding next year and the year after and, given their record, I have no doubt they will succeed in...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am only starting; we will have another day to debate this issue. That increase brought the primary capitation grant to more than €163 per pupil. I have another reminder for my colleagues opposite.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: Rather than the grant being €163 per pupil, it was €57 per pupil when the parties opposite were last in office. I want to speak in detail on educational disadvantage, students with special needs and class sizes because the Senators opposite misrepresented the position. I challenge any speaker in the House or any person outside it——

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——professional teacher or parent, to state in public that the Government was wrong to give priority to the areas of special needs and educational disadvantage. I challenge any teacher, professor, parent or politician to have the courage of their convictions and say the Government was wrong to prioritise the areas of specials needs and disadvantage, which is what we did from 2002 onwards.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: That priority was right. The Government made the right decision. That is what is at the core of this issue. I commend the amendment to the House.

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Senator should answer my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: The national skills strategy report has raised some fundamental challenges which I am sure will be embraced with enthusiasm by the Government and turned into opportunities. If one takes the main elements of the report and the key challenges that have been identified, initiatives are already significantly under way to address them in the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise,...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: I join with other Senators in requesting the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House and review the implementation of the special education programme in our schools. I acknowledge a national framework was established by the Government such as was never in existence previously. As somebody who had many dealings with special needs children during the 1970s...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

Liam Fitzgerald: Does the Senator know something we do not?