Results 1-20 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo anocht le cúrsaí oideachais a phlé. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an gCathaoirleach agus le gach Seanadóir as ucht bheith tofa mar Sheanadóir.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Although I hope I will not have to do so, I assure the Deputy that I will not go down without a fight in relation to tackling educational disadvantage. My colleagues in Government are committed to tackling disadvantage.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: I hope Members on all sides of the House are similarly interested in the struggle against disadvantage. I ask them not to conceal the nature of their opposition to my proposals or attempt to dress up their affection for vested interests and the wealthy as concern for students. Senator Fitzgerald spoke of the Government's record. I am sure he does not need to be reminded that the Fianna...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Improved access for all socio-economic groups to third level education relies on increasing the number of available third level places. The Government's record in this regard since 1997 has been outstanding: full-time student numbers at third level exceeded 126,000 in the 2000-01 academic year.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: This represents an increase of nearly 19,000, or 17%, on the numbers for 1996-97. Departmental expenditure on access measures to tackle disadvantage at third level has increased from €508,000 in 1997 to €24 million in 2002. I ask Fine Gael and Labour Senators to consider this statistic as an indicator of the performance of their parties while in power. In addition to increasing...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Our overall approach to tackling educational disadvantage has been framed within the context of the national anti-poverty strategy. The NAPS approach is based on continuum of provision from early childhood though adulthood, with a focus on preventive strategies, targeting and integrated community responses. Challenging and ambitious targets have been set under the key headings of school...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: The projects are a mixture of greenfield developments and refurbishment and replacement of existing buildings, at primary, post-primary and third level. In addition, public-private partnership contracts have been concluded for the provision of five new state-of-the-art post-primary schools catering for 3,500 students. These schools are located at Tubbercurry, Ballincollig, Clones, Dunmanway...

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Noel Dempsey: The Senator might be in a better position to find out what happened in Trinity College.

Seanad: Report on Immigration Policy: Statements. (27 Nov 2002)

Noel Dempsey: On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, I welcome this opportunity to discuss this important issue in the Seanad. I convey the apologies of the Minister for not being able to be present. He is abroad on Government business and has asked me to stand in for him.

Seanad: Report on Immigration Policy: Statements. (27 Nov 2002)

Noel Dempsey: Single seat constituencies.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Noel Dempsey: It appears some 15,000 houses were sold on 14 November.

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

Noel Dempsey: And wealthy people.

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

Noel Dempsey: We are to the left of the Labour Party now.

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

Noel Dempsey: Is the Labour Party lurching to the right?

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

Noel Dempsey: The Senator should read James Connolly, rather than telling us to go back to our roots.

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

Noel Dempsey: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the issue of tackling education disadvantage, social inclusion and equity. That is what this is all about, even though the Senators opposite do not want to believe it.

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

Noel Dempsey: For the information of Senator Cummins, in case he thinks I am out of touch, I have two daughters at third level education. Therefore, I am well in touch with what is happening. Senator Bannon and I have been friends for a long time and the advice I would offer him is that he should not cite polls too often because they are a bigger embarrassment for Fine Gael than for anybody else.

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

Noel Dempsey: It is disappointing to find 20 Senators banding together to support a one sentence motion on third level fees that lacks any analysis of the issues and lacks concern for the less well off in society. That any so-called socialist party would acquiesce in a motion of this nature is nothing short of astonishing.

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

Noel Dempsey: I am not reading from the entire script. I am reading from notes.

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

Noel Dempsey: If the Senator listens, he will hear everything.