Results 241-260 of 743 for speaker:Jim D'Arcy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Managing Back to School Costs: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I do not think the costs of going back to school are rising at all but parents are finding it more difficult to meet the costs. The cost of textbooks and school equipment for kids peaked a few years ago. The number of textbooks has been reduced and it should be cut further because there is an over-reliance on textbooks. The point made in the CPSMA submission would cut the cost of going...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I welcome the statement of the Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter, that all young offenders will be moved from St. Patrick?s Institution by 2014 on foot of the Reilly report. The young people in St. Patrick?s Institution have been humiliated, suffered sensory deprivation and worse. Is it any wonder that children who go there as young offenders sometimes come out badly damaged mentally with cold...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (18 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I also wish Mr. Clark very well in his new post. If I heard him correctly, he is doing this on a voluntary basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairman Designate (18 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: That is very good. I hope the new body will be a success. It is a big responsibility for Mr. Clark.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Restorative Justice Programmes in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I am going to mention County Louth. I was impressed by the witnesses' engagement with the committee. As regards community restorative justice and its link with crime and punishment, if somebody commits a low level crime he or she is generally punished or sanctioned. This retributive or utilitarian justice wipes the slate clean and the criminal justice system no longer pursues him or her....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Much has been said and written in recent days about the news that the process of change in the patronage of schools at primary level is under way, with parents in Arklow, Tramore, Castlebar, Trim and Whitehall ? I did not mention anywhere in my constituency-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: -----being asked what patron they would like to see running the local primary school. The responses of parents will be used to decide the changes to be made. One newspaper had a headline that parents are to vote as the church's grip on schools weakens. I do not see it as a weakening of church patronage of schools but as a matter of choice in primary education. I am strongly of the opinion...

Seanad: Junior Certificate Reform and the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy: Statements (23 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire arís. The major overhaul of the junior certificate replacing a once-off State examination with a school-based model of continuous assessment is welcome. I congratulate the Minister on his courage in going even further than most people expected with the process of reform. Speaking on RTE recently, the ESRI's Emer Smyth said that the variety of teaching methods...

Seanad: Junior Certificate Reform and the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy: Statements (23 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Discussion with Teachers Union of Ireland and National Adult Literacy Agency (24 Oct 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I know what the witnesses are talking about in terms of the inspectorate. If that legislation had been introduced 40 years ago I would have been sent to jail on several occasions. Regarding what he said about the length of time it takes to get a degree, then a teacher qualification and then a few hours teaching, that is a serious situation. I have two children at college who want to go on...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I welcome the announcement that Nextag will create 125 jobs in Drogheda. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is sometimes criticised in this House, but he is doing a great job with the IDA. Nextag has already started to recruit locally for these jobs. Often when American or other multinational companies establish operations here they have to source workers from abroad, but...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Like Senator Bacik, I welcome the report compiled by the Department of Education and Skills on retention rates for pupils in second level schools. This country has fantastic retention rates in comparison to its European counterparts, particularly its nearest neighbour Britain. We should remember the strength and quality of our education system. Retention rates are increasing all the time....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I could not believe the rate was so high. Sligo is next and then Waterford, county and city. Retention rates in Border counties, including that in which I live, Louth, are generally lower than the national average but I am pleased by the fact that the report shows them to be increasing all the time. As Senator Bacik said, we must look at the good aspects of education when debating it. It...

Seanad: Matter raised under Standing Order 30 (8 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her in the strongest possible way on the magnificent work she has done in bringing this referendum before the people. While it has been forthcoming for many years, the Minister has brought it through. The people and the children of Ireland will forever be indebted to her for that. I ask those who might be contemplating voting "No"...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Like others, I congratulate the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, on the magnificent success she has had with the recent referendum. The people, particularly the children of Ireland, will forever be in her debt. We have talk of another referendum but there should be a moratorium on referenda for four years because referendum fatigue is setting in. Will the Leader...

Seanad: Measures to Address Bullying: Motion (14 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I move: That Seanad Éireann- expresses deepest sympathies to the families and friends of all those who have lost their lives so tragically to suicide recently; - recognises that tackling bullying in all its forms is a key objective of this Government; - notes the existence of resources such as internetsafety.ie and webwise.ie, which have been produced to provide parents, teachers and...

Seanad: Measures to Address Bullying: Motion (14 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: The best things are often said spontaneously.

Seanad: Measures to Address Bullying: Motion (14 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: As the proposer of the motion, I thank the Minister for coming into the House and listening to us. I welcome in particular his promise to pass on our deliberations to the working group. Perhaps we could also forward the transcript of the debate. I thank the 21 Members who contributed to this debate for the variety of insights into this issue. I was shocked to hear that our Acting Chairman...

Seanad: Measures to Address Bullying: Motion (14 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank the Minister for attending and particularly for staying for the entire debate, given that he could have nominated someone in his place and have his officials take notes. There are two sentences in the Minister's speech which sum it all up for me. The first is: "Lenders must engage properly with customers.". The second is: "If our financial institutions refuse to engage, then we will...