Results 281-300 of 743 for speaker:Jim D'Arcy

Seanad: Reform of Further Education and Training: Statements (Resumed) (5 Mar 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Just before doing so, I want to thank the Minister of State for his remarks. He is well on top of his brief and I give him ten marks out of ten. We will be looking to see if the changes happen, however.

Seanad: Reform of Further Education and Training: Statements (5 Mar 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address this very important issue. In an ever-changing world where many of the jobs that will be available in future have not yet been created, the provision of further education and training is a complex albeit essential part of our planning for employment. Although we are creating 1,000 jobs per week, the numbers of people...

Seanad: Reform of Further Education and Training: Statements (5 Mar 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I have much more to say but I have run out of time. I am passionate about this area, and I know the Minister of State shares that feeling. I am the son of a shoe factory worker and I know the future of the ordinary people in this country is at stake. We need to give this our very best shot, and I know the Minister of State is giving it everything. I have a point on the provision of courses...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I agree with Senator Bradford that we must condemn any expansionist aims by Russia in Ukraine but it was not Russia that destabilised the country. I have spoken to people in the Euromaidan who told me that they have lost faith in Ukrainian politics, both the government and the opposition. We need to support the reasonable efforts of the EU and all those who seek new free and fair elections...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I wish to mention external monitoring and I have spoken to the Minister about the matter. There needs to be an element of external monitoring of the new junior certificate for the medium term. If the problem was resolved we would have the support of teachers.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Beef Industry Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank the Minister very much for his response. If things do not work out over the next three or four weeks perhaps the Minister would consider a slaughter-out policy of male calves. Farmers are under pressure and there is a danger they will not continue to produce bull beef in the future.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Beef Industry Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, for taking time from his busy schedule to address the issue of the drop in beef prices in meat factories over the past weeks. This will have implications for Food Harvest 2020 and farmer confidence in stocking levels. Will the Minister consider bringing all the stakeholders together in an emergency beef summit...

Seanad: Teaching Council of Ireland: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire ar ais go dtí an Seanad. Molaim é as an obair mhór atá á dhéanamh aige mar Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna. Tá mé ag smaoineamh go háirithe ar an méid reachtaíochta atá tugtha isteach aige. Tháinig an chuid is mó de anseo ar dtús. In particular, I wish the Minister every success in...

Seanad: Teaching Council of Ireland: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Anyway, in a few years time I will probably be hawking my wares again.

Seanad: Teaching Council of Ireland: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Membership of the Teaching Council will be no burden to carry in that regard. Two of my children are studying to be teachers at present. I hope, in time, they will become registered members of the Teaching Council. That would be a great achievement for them and a great passport in life. The Teaching Council, established on a statutory basis in 2006, is a welcome and significant development...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I agree that we should support the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in the proper functioning of its duties and should deplore any bugging if it took place. It is not up with the Arms Trial and the bugging of the telephones of Geraldine Kennedy and Bruce Arnold, which were proven facts. Who was reputed to have provided the tape recorder for that event? We should also protect...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Senator MacSharry should get some tape recorders. What we need now are the facts, not to be casting aspersions on anyone. It could be a ball of wind.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I think Senator MacSharry will agree that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission should refrain from commenting on the airwaves on the credibility of whistleblowers.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: It has a big responsibility and we should get that office working correctly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion with Commissioner for Victims and Survivors (6 Feb 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank Ms Stone for her presentation which was one of the most comprehensive and clearest I had heard in a long time. Regardless of where I go in the North, it is not long before people raise this issue. When we were in Dungannon with Ms Gildernew, we heard people speak about it. The Justice for the Forgotten group discussed it recently with this committee. Does Ms Stone agree that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I refer to a very sad situation last week when the State had to decide to switch off the life support machine of a child. In view of the tragic death of the mother the child had no legal guardian. Unmarried fathers in this State have no automatic right to guardianship. It is time that situation was rectified. I was made aware some time ago that the Government was considering legislation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Civic Forum for Northern Ireland: SDLP (16 Jan 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Ms Kelly MLA referred to the Haass talks and said that retired police officers and others might be setting the agenda. Is she referring to DUP representatives or others who might not be representing the total community?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Civic Forum for Northern Ireland: SDLP (16 Jan 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Are they at the Haass talks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Civic Forum for Northern Ireland: SDLP (16 Jan 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Does Ms Kelly, MLA, feel a civic forum would open this out?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Civic Forum for Northern Ireland: SDLP (16 Jan 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Is it correct that the flags and emblems issue is the toughest issue at present? Would greater participation in a civic forum help that issue?