Results 41-60 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: It is a typically opportunistic performance and it shows that the only substance to their fair deal is another empty soundbite. In An Agreed Programme for Government the Government gave a clear commitment to improve the level and quality of participation and achievement at every level of education.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: We also said that we would expand significantly the number of mature students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds accessing third level education.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: The question of how funding for student supports, including free fees, can best be deployed is a pertinent one against this background. Can we as a society continue to justify the expenditure of millions of euro from within the finite resources available for student supports to meet the costs of free fees for the children of those in the highest income brackets when, at the same time, all the...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: Opposition Senators may be comfortable with that, but I certainly am not.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: Talk of people with degrees paying for that through the taxation system is all very well, but what about people on low incomes who pay tax and pay for the wealthy to get into colleges for free? Where is the social equity in that?

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: There are people on low incomes who will never see the inside of a third level institution and Senator Ryan knows many of them. I had the impression from Senator O'Rourke's contribution that she felt I questioned her right to express her views on this matter. I have no difficulty with that. She is entitled to her view. Her experience in the Department of Education and Science is obviously...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: One aspect that has not changed for the better is the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend third level. It has disimproved.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: An Agreed Programme for Government also contains a commitment to build a culture of review of public spending by publishing regular evaluations of key spending programmes. It is perfectly logical to assess a student support programme that cost €380 million last year, of which some €240 million was spent on so-called free fees. The aim of the review of student support provisions is to...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: I accept that it initially assisted those middle income groups who were finding it difficult to support second and subsequent children in the third level system. I mentioned earlier the top-up grants system, of which 3,500 people availed last year and 7,000 will avail this year. Such a targeted initiative is a much better way of encouraging people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: I took time to read it. It is another piece of poorly researched, hastily constructed documentation from the so-called champions of the disadvantaged. It will keep the gates open so that disadvantaged people can look into third level campuses and still wonder why the hell they cannot get in. The last time the Labour Party cobbled together such an initiative was in 1995, so it is obviously a...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's amendment fully reflects the complexity of the issues involved in achieving equity and social justice in third level education. I commend our amendment to the House.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: I did not think the Senator was so sensitive.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: Does the Senator recall Declan Costello and the concept of the Just Society?

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Noel Dempsey: The Senator knows a lot about being left out.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: It is a lot more than was ever shown on the far side of the House.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In case the Deputy did not hear, I was making the point that much more concern was shown for victims by the Government than was ever shown on the Opposition benches.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: We put it in place.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I hope the Labour spokesman will be better informed than in the past.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: On a point of order, I am not laughing about the victims of abuse and the Labour Party is telling lies in the House.

Order Of Business. (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I used the word "lies" so I will use "untruths" instead.