Coughlan, MaryThursday, 11 November 2010 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Order of Business
It is proposed to take No. a5 — Motion re membership of committees; No. b5 motion re proposal that Dáil Éireann notes the report of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service entitled Repor...
First, as all Members know full well, it is not my job or that of the Government to adjudicate on Standing Orders or on the independent decision-making of the Ceann Comhairle’s office.
Second,——
Sorry, I am entitled to say what I must say. Second, the logic——
The logic of Deputy Gilmore’s argument is that if issues arise now in the context of health when Deputy Howlin was Minister or in finance when Deputy Quinn was there,——
——or Deputy Noonan, then they would be accountable,——
——but the position is that the matter is one for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
However, as somebody who is——
——the most familiar with this issue——
I am on my feet, a Cheann Comhairle.
As the person who is most familiar with this issue and the person who gave a considerable amount of time to it, I will give it in the context of what has happened. First, the Court of Auditors has re...
Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle——
——I am entitled as a Member of this House to be heard.
I am not.
As I stated earlier, this is a criticism of the European Commission.
Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, we deal with the facts of the matter or what people think are the facts of the matter.
In 2006, there was a restructuring of the sugar regime arising from the WTO negotiations with which all Members are familiar.
Second, as then Minister for Agriculture and Food, I opposed the Commission’s proposals, as the Members will be aware——
——and led the group of 14 in its opposition to that reform.
I led that opposition with a number of other colleagues in the European Union.
Deputy Burton knows nothing about it and, therefore, is not entitled to criticise me.
A Cheann Comhairle——
——I am entitled to articulate the position.
If the Deputies would sit down, I would tell them.
I am entitled——
——to deal with political accusations across the House.
I was trying to articulate the position with regard to the issues raised by Members of the House. As I indicated, this is a criticism of the Commission. It was in the context of the WTO. We led the...
——in opposition.
When it became clear at that time at political level that support was not going to be——
I am as entitled as anybody——
The situation is that——
——I have been asked in my capacity as a former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to give my views to the House.
I can agree to a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
It was a special share, not a golden share.
I put the Order of Business to the House. In the ruckus that was happening earlier in the House I indicated that I was prepared——
I was prepared to give my views on this issue, even though I am not the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
The Members opposite did not have the manners to afford me that opportunity. I said that on this basis I was prepared to amend the Order of Business, in consultation with the Whips, to provide for a ...
It is a matter for the Whips. I have offered to afford the opportunity for a debate today and I am prepared to amend the Order of Business to facilitate this.
I am not the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
It was nothing to do with restructuring at all.
Question put: “That No. a5, motion re membership of committees, and No. b5, motion re proposal that Dáil Éireann notes the report of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service entitled Repo...
Voted Yes
The Finance Bill will be introduced in the normal manner.
Proposals for legislation will be available at the end of the year but a date has not been set for the publication of a Bill.
The Minister will not be making a statement and, as Deputy Gilmore is aware, the Irish Government is not in the market.
Legislation is promised in this regard. The matter will go before the Government next week and it is the intention to publish the Bill at the end of that week.
The specific answer is “No”.
I am not aware of the matter but I am sure it will be dealt with in the normal way.
We expect to receive the report before the end of the month.
The letter will be with the Deputy shortly.
Yes.
There is no promised legislation on that specific issue.
If the Deputy wishes, the specific matter he has raised can be brought to the attention of the committee.
The Deputy asked me about the specific issue of compound interest. One cannot legislate for compound interest.
On Tuesday evening, the Taoiseach advised the House of a number of measures that have been undertaken by this Government. Further measures will be taken after we have received the final report. As I...
That will happen next year.
I will ask the Minister to revert to the Deputy on that specific issue.
Written Answers - Redundancy Payments
Was asked: when applications will be processed in respect of the European globalisation fund for redundant workers of Waterford Crystal; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Was asked: if she will review the decision to refuse a vocational training opportunities scheme place in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Residential Institutions Redress Scheme
Was asked: the cost of the redress board to compensate victims of institutional abuse; the amount awarded in compensation to victims and the amount spent in legal costs; and if she will make a statement on the ...
I wish to advise the Deputy that the cost of the Redress Scheme from inception to date is €1.038 billion. Of this €832 million was paid in awards. The total third party legal costs associated with t...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: the position regarding the remaining sanction required to facilitate the construction of a new school (details supplied) to go to tender; when it is expected a decision will be made to sanction comme...
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. A stage 2B submission has recently been received by my Department and is currently be...
Was asked: the progress regarding the construction of a new school building for an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that the project will progress to construction in the near future...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs
Was asked: if additional resource hours can be allocated to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers...
Written Answers - Gaeltacht Scholarships
Was asked: the position regarding a person (details supplied) who was offered a Gaeltacht scholarship from her Department but shortly afterwards the scholarship was withdrawn; if she will explain the reason for...
My Department offers Gaeltacht Scholarships on a competitive basis to the top 15 students from Gaeltacht areas who, amongst other things, have attended an all-Irish second level school, sat their Leav...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: when approval will be given to a school (details supplied) to proceed with its new school project in view of the fact that its current accommodation is totally inadequate, it has been in this tempora...
I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school building. In accordance with the published criteria for large sc...
Written Answers - Telecommunications Services
Was asked: the methodology used to select schools for the high speed broadband for post-primary schools; if she will identify the relevant criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The schools were selected by a working group made up of representatives from: the Department of Education and Skills; the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources; the National centre...
Written Answers - Grant Payments
Was asked: the position regarding the entitlement of Irish persons to apply for a maintenance grant under the higher education grant scheme for study in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on t...
The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order t...
Written Answers - School Transport
Was asked: if a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Home Tuition Grant
Was asked: if she will issue a decision on a home tuition grant in respect of a person (details supplied); when this grant will be paid; if there are any impediments to proceeding with this grant; and if she wi...
The application referred to by the Deputy is currently being considered by my Department and a decision will issue to the family in question shortly.
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: if she will appoint a design team for the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare
The project to which the Deputy refers was announced earlier this year for appointment of a design team. My Department has recently forwarded a Schedule of Accommodation to the school and will shortl...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs
Was asked: if she will outline the results of her audit of the special needs assistants programme; the decisions made to date in respect of the service since the audit was completed; her views on the developmen...
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) has carried out a review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations. The NCSE h...
Written Answers - Third Level Fees
Was asked: in the context of the ongoing public debate regarding third level registration fees, if she will acknowledge the huge accommodation costs imposed on rural families with children studying at third lev...
I acknowledge that the cost of attending higher education is an important factor for a great number of students and their families. However the Deputy will appreciate that some 43% of all undergradua...
Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: the amount of money owed to private firms by her Department
I refer the Deputy to the attached most recent quarterly return made by my Department in accordance with a Government Decision of May 2009, regarding prompt payment of invoices by Government Departmen...
Written Answers - School Staffing
Was asked: the number of retired teachers working in schools here; if these retirees have received any training before or during their return to work; the amount spent on any such training in each of the years ...
In September 2010 there were nineteen retired post primary teachers employed on a part-time contractual basis in the voluntary secondary and community /comprehensive sectors. During that month claims...
Written Answers - Departmental Reports
Was asked: the number of external reports and reviews commissioned by her Department in 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; if she will name each report and review; if she will outline the spending on external repo...
The information sought will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy.
Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: the amount spent by her Department on security for schools in the years 2009 and to date in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Decision on the need or cost of security for schools is a matter for each individual Board of Management. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available, and given that there are ov...
Was asked: the total capital spending allocated to her Department in 2010; the total allocated moneys spent; the allocated capital spending within her Department in 2010 for each project in tabular form; the am...
The total capital allocation for the Department of Education and Skills in 2010 is just over €785m including a €79m carryover from 2009. Actual capital expenditure at the end of October amounted to €4...
Was asked: the amount spent by her Department on public relations and advertising in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department incurs expenditure on public advertisements in connection with a wide range of educational programmes and schemes including, staff appointments in the education sector; invitations to a...
Written Answers - Education Welfare Service
Was asked: if provision can or will be made to provide a computer to assist the education of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department provides for a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment for the use of students in second-level schools who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and/or communicative ...
| Last Updated: 16/03/2011 18:01:10 |
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