Results 561-580 of 2,211 for speaker:Paul Connaughton

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. An increasingly globalised world economy and outlook must be reflected in our education institutions and I welcome the objectives of this Bill in terms of paving the way for more international students to study in Ireland. More Irish students should have an opportunity to study abroad and we should encourage more international students to come...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Technology Adoption Programme Payments (5 Feb 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway did not receive a sheep technology adoption programme payment or a beef technology adoption programme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5204/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (5 Feb 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 163. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway received a substantial reduction in their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5205/15]

Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I very much welcome the extension of the Central Bank's code of conduct to lenders that are currently unregulated as it provides additional and much-needed security for home owners and owners of small and medium businesses whose loans are currently in arrears. At the time of the sale of the Ulster Bank loan book by the IBRC, I was approached by many home owners who were concerned that...

European Debt: Motion [Private Members] (3 Feb 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion, which was tabled on foot of the results in the recent election in Greece. I wish the new Greek Government the very best. It was democratically elected by the Greek people. Certainly, the Greek Government will not need my approval as a backbencher from County Galway, but I do not see why we would stand in its way. I wish its members the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (3 Feb 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 335. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments of agri-environment options scheme moneys and hardship grant regarding TB restrictions will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4613/15]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: Representatives from Bord na gCon appeared before the committee in December. We asked for some additional information. Have we received anything?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I welcome all the delegates. The issue of the turf compensation scheme was previously covered by Deputy Costello. Unfortunately, I am only two well aware of the concerns about this issue. Counties Galway and Roscommon had many of these designations. I come from an area where my father cut turf in a bog that has now been designated. I am well aware of the frustration and anger that there...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I understand this, but a concern for many landowners throughout the country who are affected is that the designation means their land has been rendered valueless. People want to use their land as collateral but the banks refuse because they know the owners cannot do anything with the land and it is not worth anything to them. It cannot be farmed and it cannot be sold because of the...

Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Motion (Resumed) (28 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to the motion. As the centenary of the issuing of the 1916 Proclamation approaches and the stated aim of the Proclamation being a new Irish Republic “cherishing all the children of the nation equally”, there are few more stark examples of how the reality of life in the Republic failed to live up to the ideals of the signatories of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 259. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when 25% payment in respect of single farm payment and the agri-environment option scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3573/15]

Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to speak on this motion. It is over a quarter of a century since the current junior certificate was established. At the time, for many students it was the last formal examination. Now, thankfully, only approximately 10% of children leave formal education at this stage. Our focus should be on the learning process and the skills learned...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (20 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 187. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person who works 20 hours per week or less and is not in receipt of any social protection payments cannot access funding to complete a security course, whereas if they were unemployed, they would be eligible for funding; her views that this is incentivising persons to continue in unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (20 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 285. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway had a 50% deduction on their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2267/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Recruitment (20 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 286. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to recruit graduates to his Department in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2268/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility (15 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a REPS payment has not been paid to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1927/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (15 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 103. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in relation to a matter (details supplied) regarding testing of calves diagnosed with BVD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1928/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (15 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment has not issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway regarding the beef genomic scheme for 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1929/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (15 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: 105. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if donkeys will be included in the stocking rate for disadvantaged area scheme payments for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1930/15]

Hospital Services: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jan 2015)

Paul Connaughton: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this extremely serious issue, which has been topical both in the past two weeks and for the past 15 years or so. I have no wish to present myself as an expert in identifying solutions to all the problems that exist. From what has been said during the past fortnight, it appears that no two experts have the same answer to this problem....