Results 121-140 of 371 for speaker:Michael Conaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: But it is the main issue and if it could be catered for, the school could stay open.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I am sorry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: It is important to understand that the impetus for this measure is not coming from teachers, principals or boards of management. I am quite clear in my mind that it is coming from the Archbishop's House. I am certain of that. I will give an example. I happened to bump into a group of students from De La Salle when they were visiting the Dáil with three or four of their teachers, who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: Viable to whom? What if it is not viable to the parents?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: Parents, we are told, are the primary partners in the education process. They ought to be the first to be consulted. However, in Ms McDonagh's book, they are the last to be told. They are not consulted at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I suggest that the impetus for this so-called reconfiguration is not coming from the De La Salle Brothers in any sense or in any form but from Archbishop's House solely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I believe differently and I will not be convinced otherwise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I know and I will not be convinced otherwise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: Yes but it is a mis-recording-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: It makes no sense to close down the best and squash everyone into the inferior campus, and I do not mean in schools. I am talking in terms of physical space and the buildings, architecturally and physically. It is an insult to the people. Everyone in Ballyfermot is angry, and not just the parents, because this is a landmark building. It stands out and is a very attractive building and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I live in lower Ballyfermot and taught for 33 years. Ms McDonagh has said that all this talk was going on but I never heard talk of this sort from parents, teachers or principals.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Possible Reconfiguration of Schools: Archdiocese of Dublin (25 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I welcome the delegation and the parents from the De La Salle school. I have some experience of the matter under discussion and I met Ms McDonagh at her office. I have also exchanged telephone calls, letters and so on. What struck me in my first interface with the archdiocese was rather different from what I am hearing today. I remember making the statement that parents must be the...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (17 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I thank the Minister for her response which was very knowledgeable and informed. I am aware she has direct experience of visiting the area and has visited the school. People come from all over the country because of the innovations in the school and its comprehensive curriculum and orchestra. It is the one place in the city where children go to school with a schoolbag in one hand and a...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (17 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address this matter. I would like to start by quoting a letter I sent to the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, on 29 August 2013.Dear Minister I wish to refer to gang slayings in the city. These are occurring with a regularity that now breeds acceptance. This is proof to the criminals who profit from these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Supports for SME Sector: European Commission (11 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I welcome our distinguished guest. Is it not the case that currently in Europe there is not a single economy? There are, for example, countries that were unaffected by the economic downturn and then there are countries that are struggling to recover from an economic downturn. Would Mr. Calleja Crespo not expect two different sets of advice for those economies, rather than a general...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2014: Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (10 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I welcome the delegation. I have been here for only a few minutes but what I have heard is very disturbing. Are there other countries in Europe that might be worth studying in terms of dealing with some of the issues that we have heard about? Is there a way we can find out?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Commission Country Specific Recommendations: Discussion (10 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: I welcome the Minister and the senior staff from the Department. How does the content and tone of our ten country-specific recommendations, CSRs, compare or contrast with those in other countries in Europe, for example, the economically troubled countries in southern Europe, such as Italy, Portugal and Spain, and the more economically stable countries in northern Europe? Where do we sit in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion with Dublin Business and Innovation Centre. (5 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: Is BIC based in Thomas Street?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion with Dublin Business and Innovation Centre. (5 Jun 2014)

Michael Conaghan: It strikes me that while those of us in Dáil Éireann are very aware of various enterprise-support initiatives, the public is unaware of the significant effort that is going into such initiatives. Much of the effort is not paid for in the sense of people being called upon at all times of the day and night. The public ought to know more about this kind of work because it is both...