Results 401-420 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Teacher Education. (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Traditionally, primary schools have played a significant role in the faith formation of their pupils and this is still the case. The colleges of education, in recognition of this reality, aim to prepare student teachers to be able to mediate religious education curricula. The content of the bachelor of education programme is currently a matter for the individual colleges of education. The...

Teacher Education. (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Who is mathematically challenged?

Teacher Education. (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: To whom was the Deputy referring?

Teacher Education. (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I do not know whether I am mathematically challenged. I am legally challenged because I believe I am the only non-lawyer in my family. Since the Deputy has raised a very significant constitutional issue, the best thing for me to do is to refer the matter to the Attorney General to see whether he believes the Deputy is correct. Obviously, I cannot answer the question. I do not see how it is...

Teacher Education. (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: While the issue the Deputy raises clearly concerns a person's freedom of conscience, the matter would have to be examined. I suspect in the case cited that it would be impossible for a college to force someone to take a subject if a genuine issue of conscience arose. That is my instinctive view of how the Supreme Court would treat a case of this nature, although I cannot be definitive on...

Teacher Education. (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: While this may be a constitutional issue which would require clarification, in terms of a person's ability to teach within our system I suspect that, as 96% of primary schools are religious, it would be a requirement that a teacher be able to teach the subject to which the Deputy refers given that it is part of the curriculum. I do not believe a case has arisen to date of a person in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: This amendment is being inserted to clarify that it is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who will make any necessary orders. It does not affect the policy. The definition of "Minister" is being deleted in section 2, as it has now been included in section 1. The definition of "Principal Act" is clarified further and does not affect the policy. I propose that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I agree those are good points.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to respond to amendments Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 28 and 32 together. I thank Senators Norris, O'Reilly, Walsh, McCarthy, O'Toole and John Paul Phelan for contributing to the debate on this matter. I assure them the Minister is very much on board in relation to the spirit of the proposed amendments. The national bio-fuel obligation will incentivise the sustainable growth of...

Written Answers — Community Support Scheme: Community Support Scheme (3 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: As outlined in previous replies, the Community Support Scheme was administered through 14 LEADER companies including Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann in respect of island communities (including Irish speaking islands) and Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta, in respect of the Gaeltacht areas. Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teo also implemented the scheme on behalf of Comhar Iorrais...

Industrial Disputes (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Deputy Ferris for raising this important matter on the Adjournment. The strike involves a number of craftworkers who have been on strike since August 2009 in support of three dismissed colleagues. I understand this dispute arose following a decision by the company to dismiss the workers following an investigation into alleged improper use of the company's IT system. The union...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I thank the Deputy for providing me with an opportunity to clarify the position on Kerry County Council's proposals for water and wastewater facilities for Waterville and wastewater facilities for Kilcummin. The Waterville water and sewerage schemes are designed to upgrade the water treatment plant, provide a new...

Flood Relief. (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this matter. Protecting and enhancing our inland fisheries is a core objective of our inland fisheries strategy and a requirement of EU law under the habitats directive. In this regard, I welcome the matter of the weir at Fermoy being raised on the Adjournment. The weir is in the ownership of Fermoy Town Council. The council, which acquired the weir some...

Flood Relief. (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I fully appreciate that the need to remedy the problems of a barrier to fish migration at Fermoy has been contentious, but I hope the decision I have made will enable rapid progress to be achieved. I urge the council to expedite the repairs and engage actively with the fisheries board to monitor their impact. I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I also thank the people I met in...

Schools Building Projects. (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I am happy to reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects. Modernising facilities in our existing building stock as well as the need to respond to...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999, provides that the Central Fisheries Board shall submit draft annual accounts to the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) and that the Board is then obliged to submit to the Minister, as soon as may be but not later than one month after an audit by the C&AG, a copy of its annual accounts, together with the report of the C&AG. I understand the Comptroller and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 86 together. I have stated on a number of occasions commitment to the early provision of a legislative framework for the exploration for and development of geothermal energy. Accordingly, in the course of 2009, drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill with a view to producing Heads in early 2010 has been prioritised in the Department, with detailed...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: My Department, and others, have been working, and continue to work, on addressing the digital divide with a range of measures to promote digital engagement. One issue has been access to the technology and infrastructure – which is being addressed both by the market and, in the case of areas where broadband provision remains an issue, through the National Broadband Scheme, in which my...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I understand the Deputy is referring to the special local licences fees set, in the northern and north western fisheries regions, by the Special Tidal Waters (Special Local Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order 2009 (SI No 538 of 2009). That Order amended, inter alia, the Rivers Owenmore and Owenduff (Special Local Licences) Order 1967 (SI No 34 of 1967). Those rivers are located in the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (2 Mar 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 449 together. The Community Support Scheme (CSS) was administered through 14 LEADER companies and Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann in respect of island communities and Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta, in respect of the Gaeltacht areas. I recently advised the House, in answer to answer Parliamentary Question No. 911 on 19th January, 2010, of...