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Posts about Batt O'Keeffe

18 Aug

Why I do what I do (part I) - Labour

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on neilward.ie

And for all the arguments I hear from the likes of Batt O’Keeffe at the moment, my personal experience will always underline my belief in the application of a principle of universailty to the area of education. I have similar beliefs in ... Continue reading »

17 Aug

'Nuclear' fees bomb defused by fearful FF

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on tribune.ie/section/news

But the question still remains: what happened in the last month-and-a-half to prompt new education minister Batt O'Keeffe to tell The Irish Times that the return of third-level fees was no longer ruled out as the government seeks to ... Continue reading »

16 Aug

Autism student a 'shining example'

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

SPECIAL NEEDS:A 17-YEAR-OLD student with autism who achieved extremely high marks in the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) was yesterday hailed by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe as a shining example of what can be achieved by ... Continue reading »

13 Aug

Incomes of over €100000 would be target for fees

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

ONLY FAMILIES earning well in excess of €100000 a year would be required to pay third-level college fees in the event of their reintroduction, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe indicated yesterday.... Continue reading »

12 Aug

How not to recruit home students . . .

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on ollscoil.blogspot.com

There is currently much discussion in the press about Batt O'Keeffe's announcement that the debate on fees will be reopened, as reported in the Irish Times. This is obviously a controversial topic which will spark heated debates. ... Continue reading »

I can see the ‘Fee-na Fail’ placards already. Sigh.

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on sineadkeogh.wordpress.com

In scenario A, maybe public outcry achieves its aim and Batt O’Keeffe gets back in his box. Sub-standard grants, sub-standard universities and sub-standard prospects after graduation remain unchanged. ... Continue reading »

Parties attack O'Keeffe's fees proposal

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

FIANNA FÁIL's Coalition partners and the Opposition parties have all come out strongly against Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe's proposal to reintroduce third-level fees for the better-off.... Continue reading »

11 Aug

ICT School Investment

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on blog.edware.ie

As reported in the Irish Times the TUI has called on the government not to cut the ICT budget for schools set aside under the 2007-2013 NDP, Batt O’Keeffe, TD has so far not made a commitment to proceed with the investment. ... Continue reading »

Ireland looks at tuition fees again

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on conorfryan.blogspot.com

and the prospect of a pay cut for lecturers to keep universities afloat, fees are back on the agenda. Ireland's university leaders will be hoping that education minister Batt O'Keeffe has the courage of his convictions.... Continue reading »

University fees for better off are back on agenda says O’Keeffe

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com/front

THE RETURN of third-level fees is no longer being ruled out as the Government seeks to ensure the universities are properly funded, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has said.... Continue reading »

10 Aug

Taoiseach supports bid to have autistic boy enrolled for new term

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on splintermind.blogspot.com

She has written to Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe a number of times about the situation since he took office in early May but said that she has not had any response. “I am a bit more hopeful now that I know the head of the Government ... Continue reading »

28 Jul

Funding the universities

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

The Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, is seeking a 3 per cent cut in payroll costs. In response, the universities are threatening a range of measures, including cutbacks in the range and number of courses on offer to students. ... Continue reading »

26 Jul

Education cutbacks

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on donroche.com/newblog

Third level institutions and VECs are already feeling the pain when, less than 24 hours after Brian Cowen claimed that Education services would be exempt from a 3% payroll cut, Batt O'Keeffe demanded these institutions cut their ... Continue reading »

19 Jul

Irish Republican Information Service (no. 158)

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on fenian32.livejournal.com

Tá Conradh na Gaeilge ag lorg cruinniú leis an 26-Contae Aire Batt O’Keeffe chun moltaí an Chonartha i dtaca le múineadh na Gaeilge sa chóras oideachas a phlé sna sála ar thuairisc de chuid chigirí na Ranna Oideachais agus Eolaíochta ... Continue reading »

10 Jul

Property Ireland 2008 - Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble…

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on daftproperty.blogspot.com

However, Mary Harney and Batt O’Keeffe were to be given the roles of knife throwers’ assistants as they dodged the blades being thrown all around the Government wage bill after being told they would escape the cuts. ... Continue reading »

07 Jul

State-run primary schools 'will cater to families of all faiths …

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on irishtimes.com

THE NEW State-run primary schools will “acknowledge and celebrate religious diversity’’ in an inclusive atmosphere, Minister for Education and Science Batt O’Keeffe promised yesterday.... Continue reading »

06 Jul

Wait continues for Gaelscoille children and parents

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on councillorkeithmartin.blogspot.com

In addition to this the Minister of Education, Batt O'Keeffe TD is unable at present to say how many primary schools in Mayo are educating pupils in prefabs. In reply to a question raised by Labour's Spokesperson on Education, ... Continue reading »

02 Jul

Arts Council Publishes Arts and Education Report

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on forumformusic.ie

The Report was presented to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, TD, and the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe, TD. The Report focuses on arts-in-education provision in Ireland and makes five key ... Continue reading »

07 Jun

More Albanian style schools

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on eastmeath.org/blog

Hopes were high that the construction of a new building, for which tenders have already been received, would begin over the summer, but, following a recent visit to the school, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe told parents that funding ... Continue reading »

06 Jun

drink-driving TD

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on unarocks.blogspot.com

Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Minister for Education and Cork North West TD Batt O'Keeffe said the deputy had apologised profusely. Mr O'Keeffe said Mr O'Sullivan was aware that it is inappropriate to drink and drive.” ... Continue reading »

O’Keeffe refuses to guarantee projects go-ahead

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on soapboxireland.blogspot.com

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe cannot guarantee that work will start on any more school buildings this year despite promises from his predecessor that projects would be given the go-ahead after Easter. ... Continue reading »

31 May

Musical chairs

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on sluggerotoole.com

Sir Reg Empey is hoping to attract Scottish University graduates to jobs in Northern Ireland and the Republic’s Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe is hoping to attract Northern Ireland teachers to the Republic.... Continue reading »

27 May

National Development Plan - the missing €252 million for ICT

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on paddybloggit.com

I congratulate Deputy Batt O’Keeffe on his appointment as Minister for Education and Science. I look forward to working with him over the course of the next while. I wish him well in his new position. In his response to Question No. ... Continue reading »

24 May

ICT School Investment

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on blog.edware.ie

Education Batt O'Keeffe that he was unwilling to make any firm commitment that the EUR252 million, allocated in the National Development Plan for the development of information and communications technology in schools, would be ... Continue reading »

20 May

Uniform rules referred to Integration Minister

An article about Batt O'Keeffe seen on goreymuslimcommunity.typepad.com/my_weblog

The Minister for Education has said he has asked Integration Policy Minister Conor Lenihan to consider the matter of school dress codes and cultural and religious diversity. Batt O'Keeffe's statement came as a Co Wexford secondary ... Continue reading »


Who is Batt O'Keeffe?

Party: Fianna Fáil

Constituency: Cork North-West

(Bartholomew) “Batt” O’Keeffe is a Teachta Dála for Cork North West and is currently the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.

Batt O’Keeffe was born in Cork in 1945. He was educated at St. Brendan’s College, Killarney, Co. Kerry and University College Cork where he received a Bachelor of Arts. O’Keeffe worked as a Lecturer in Cork Institute of Technology before becoming involved in politics. He also had a sporting career. O’Keeffe is the holder of 3 Munster Gaelic Athletic Association medals with Cork at Under 21, Junior and Senior level. He was also a Cork Intermediate Handball Champion. In 1985 he was elected to Cork County Council.

In the 1987 general election O’Keeffe was first elected to Dáil Éireann, serving in the 25th Dáil. He lost his seat to Micheál Martin in the 1989 general election but he was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann where he was Spokesperson on Finance. In the 1992 general election O’Keeffe was re-elected to the Dáil and has been re-elected at each subsequent election. Between 1995 and 1997 O’Keeffe was Opposition Spokesperson on Transport & Communications. He has also served on a number of committees including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Public Accounts Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee. In Bertie Ahern’s Cabinet reshuffle of 2004 O’Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Environmental Protection.

In 2006 O’Keeffe was selected unopposed to contest the 2007 general election in the re-drawn Cork North West constituency along with Michael Moynihan and Donal Moynihan. O’Keeffe was successfully elected though his party colleague Donal Moynihan lost his seat.
In 2007 O’Keefe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal.

- Excerpt from Wikipedia page for Batt O’Keeffe

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