Minister Mitchell O’Connor to address Future Skills Needs and Gender Equality in Higher Education at the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. Minister of State for Higher Education will attend the seventh edition of the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (10th and 11th February), to participate in the Advanced Skills Global Policy Platform.

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Ministers McHugh and Mitchell O’Connor allocate €23 million in funding under the new Higher Education Innovation and Transformation Fund

The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. and Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today announced that 22 projects across 23 educational institutions have been awarded a total of €23 million under the new Innovation and Transformation Fund.

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Mary Mitchell O’Connor will not run in EU election

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/mary-mitchell-oconnor-will-not-run-in-eu-election-37794321.html

Philip Ryan

Philip Ryan  

February 7 2019 9:58 PM

Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor has decided against running the European Parliament elections.

Speaking at Fine Gaell constituency event, in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Ms Mitchell O’Connor told supporters she would not be putting her name forward.

In a statement, the Minister said: “Having taken some time to consult with my family, friends and constituents, I have decided not to run in the forthcoming European elections.”

She said was persuaded by “senior colleagues” to consider running in the Dublin constituency in the May election.

“After much consideration, the draw to continue to serve my constituents in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown won out. The opportunity to represent Dublin and Ireland in Europe was one that was worthy of serious consideration, but I’ve come to the conclusion that I would prefer to continue making a positive difference for my constituents in Dáil Éireann,” she added.

“Added to that is the fact that I genuinely love my current ministry and wish to continue to develop policy in the area. We have work left undone in many areas but in particular, we’ve work to do in making sure that our third level institutions lead the way on areas such as gender equality and the correct teaching of issues around consent.

“Similarly, I’m keen to continue progress in areas like establishing our technological universities, increasing funding for third level colleges, the new professorial apprenticeships, the green initiatives within our HE Institutions, improving English Language Schools and improved access for all to Higher Education and Further Education.

“I wish to sincerely thank An Taoiseach and senior cabinet colleagues for their support and patience while I reached this decision,” she added.

Deferral of introduction of new minimum entry requirements for Primary Initial Teacher Education students starting a Professional Master of Education

Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. and Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today announced that changes to the minimum entry requirements for the Professional Master of Education (PME) for primary teaching will come in to place in September 2020.

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Bio Green Café – Plastic Free Café at UCC

As part of my visit to UCC today (Monday 28 January) I got a guided tour of Bio Green Café, Ireland’s first plastic free café. No plastic packaging or single use plastic cutlery to be seen. I look forward to other cafés and businesses following their example as we work to reduce our dependence on single use plastics.

Minister Mitchell O’Connor launches innovative Online Bystander Intervention Programme at University College Cork

The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (28th January 2019) launched the Online Bystander Intervention Programme at University College Cork. The programme was developed by Dr Louise Crowley in the School of Law, UCC.

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Minister launches new Irish Sign Language Bachelor of Education programme for deaf students

Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. has today formally launched a new undergraduate programme in DCU that enables deaf and hard of hearing people who use Irish Sign Language (ISL) to enter primary teaching.

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#Dáil100

On 21 January 1919, Dáil Éireann sat for the first time in the Mansion House. Today we celebrate Dáil 100

Minister of State Mitchell O’Connor welcomes record number of enrolments in Higher Education Institutions in 2017

Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor has welcomed today’s release of key statistics from the Higher Education Sector in ‘Higher Education: Key Facts and Figures’ by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

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Minister Mitchell O’Connor appoints mediator for the English Language Education Sector

The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D., has today appointed the former General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI), Mr Patrick King, to work with relevant stakeholders to explore the potential to address some of the employment related issues that have arisen in the English language education sector.

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