Results 601-620 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: There was the money spent on the e-voting system, the €150 million we heard about today and the millions of euro referred to in this blue document. This is taxpayers' money — apart from those liable for tax from whom the Government has not collected tax — but this arrogant Government seems to have forgotten that. It is interesting that there are more than 500 social welfare frauds...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (4 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 150: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to reports that BSE has been transmitted naturally between ewes and lambs at a Government experimental farm in Britain; the implications of this development for policy here regarding BSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26463/05]

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (4 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 381: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will arrange for an impact study to be carried out in advance of any decision to alter the bilateral agreement between Ireland and the US on transatlantic air routes in the context of open skies negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26790/05]

Interpretation Bill 2000: From the Seanad (5 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have no objection to the amendment, but can the Minister explain why it has taken so long for this legislation to pass through the Houses? I also share the concern about the Oireachtas being paramount in terms of laws we make in this House. In interpreting the laws, the courts should give primacy to the intention in this House, as we are the voices of the people.

Interpretation Bill 2000: From the Seanad (5 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: It sounds confusing. Is it possible to clarify it? I assume it will not alter the way in which Bills are already laid out.

Interpretation Bill 2000: From the Seanad (5 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: That sounds like good advice. In a Bill such as this, making a generalised statement concerning EU regulations and directives would seem to be taking a chance in terms of subsequent problems. While it is difficult to understand the advice given by the Minister of State on this matter, it appears to make more sense to deal with it on a case by case basis. There would be more clarity and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance when the Government will honour the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government that 80% of all earners will pay tax only at the standard rate in view of the fact that the proportion of taxpayers paying at the higher rate is expected to increase from 32.61% in 2004 to 33.17% in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26642/05]

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (5 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the recent report of the Competition Authority showing that Irish consumers were continuing to pay over the odds for bank services; the steps he will take to ensure transparency and fair treatment for users of the banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26641/05]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (5 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 295: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made regarding the application of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under either the criterion of marriage to an Irish citizen or having an Irish born child, who qualified under both headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27117/05]

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 55: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the withdrawal from Gaza as a first step or as an alternative to the roadmap for peace proposals of the quartet. [26844/05]

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 96: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on recent events whereby a US soldier has been found guilty of abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and sentenced to three years' imprisonment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26843/05]

School Transport. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will establish a commission to review catchment boundaries for school transport in view of the huge demographic changes that have taken place since these boundaries were put in place in the 1960s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28018/05]

School Transport. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am disappointed the Minister of State has refused to carry out a full catchment boundary review in view of the fact that boundaries were established in the 1960s and that significant demographic changes have subsequently taken place. There is neither rhyme nor reason to many of the catchment boundaries currently in existence. In terms of population, some areas have grown enormously since...

School Transport. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: To return to the question of ad hoc provision, I will give an example from my area. Many of the children coming from areas outside the Limerick city catchment have bus tickets. The same must be true in other parts of the country. The transport liaison officer in each county makes these decisions in which many parents see no logic. They do not know why one child receives a ticket and another...

School Transport. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is not true.

School Attendance. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: I support Deputy Enright in her call for more funding for the National Educational Welfare Board, which is under stress to carry out its statutory duty. I am somewhat surprised that the Minister does not have up-to-date information. Under the Education (Welfare) Act, the National Educational Welfare Board should have such information available. If this is not the case is it because the board...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: The average OECD class size is 21.4 while in Ireland it is 24. We are still above the OECD average. The Minister quoted statistics from 1997, which is the date that is always picked.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: However, more of our GDP was being spent on primary and second level education at that time. It has fallen from 5.3% in 1995 to 4.2% of GDP now. Statistics can be used in different ways but that is a worrying figure. In what timeframe will the Minister be able to implement the noble aspiration in the programme for Government regarding class sizes of 21 or fewer for children under nine years old?

Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is the aspiration aspect that we do not like.

Educational Disadvantage. (11 Oct 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister's reply but I was hoping for more detail about what will happen in the schools. Will there be a band of schools that will be considered particularly disadvantaged and will they get more resources than the other disadvantaged schools? All Members are aware of schools that have a high level of disadvantage and are struggling to cope with the social problems that exist in...