Results 1-20 of 1,678 for speaker:Aisling Dolan

Seanad: Housing Commission Report: Motion (29 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: It is great to have the opportunity to speak on this motion. As of 2024, €5 billion has been allocated to housing. That is a commitment from Government to ensure we have a plan in place. It is true that this is the number one priority of Government. It is a number one priority to make sure we have more access to housing, including local authority and affordable housing. You need...

Seanad: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (28 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to the House. She knows that this is fundamental and landmark legislation. As she stated, one third of people do not have access to a pension at the moment. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, TILDA, has stated that the population over 65 is going to double between now and close to 2050. People in Ireland are living to an average age of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (22 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I thank Senator McDowell. I welcome the Minister of State. I know he is looking at this matter within the Department of Transport. I appreciate his time coming in and speaking on this issue. This relates to the Galway to Athlone cycleway, which will transform our towns and local communities in the west with a world-class cycleway linking towns and completing probably the first...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cycling Facilities (22 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister of State. Is he able to share the estimated timeline for completion? When is it proposed that will be the case? Are we looking at maybe 2027 or 2028? I appreciate contractors will be in situ, hopefully, in quarter 4 2024. It is key that we build on the work that has been completed to date, that we move the project forward in a smooth way and that the teams will work...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Cathaoirleach. The deadline for the increased cost of business, ICOB, grant is coming up on midnight next Wednesday. It is wonderful that the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and Government have decided to extend this grant but I want to ask that all local authorities - the ones that manage the rates' payments - are ensuring that a reminder is issued. Businesses need to receive a...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State in his new role and congratulate him. It is fantastic to hear about the new future Ireland fund and the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. It is fantastic they have been welcomed internationally and here by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. It looks in particular at four areas, including demography. I believe our population is now 5.2 million and it...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: Can I come back in?

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (21 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: We know this new agency is going to be ground-breaking and transformative. It is about research and innovation across all disciplines. What is phenomenal is that it now places research, particularly in the arts, social sciences and humanities, on a statutory footing which previously did not exist. We are going to see that this new agency has a statutory footing for funding in those areas....

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I will address the funding partnerships briefly. There are some excellent partnerships in place already. For example, I mentioned previously the US-Ireland partnership. These are international level partnerships across the world. This one I am referencing is with the United States. It links with the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation as well as universities in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I wish to apologise as Senator Higgins is correct-----

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I thought amendment No. 93 was in question.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: As the Minister of State said, it is great to see that this new agency will open the possibility of engaging in more partnerships and funding with a number of different groups. I highlight that section 51(7)(b) provides: a reference to a body to which this section applies means [and it proceeds to list a number of bodies] or (xi) a body established by or under an enactment in which...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: This legislation is welcome. In Taighde Éireann, we are going to have a brand new agency for all research disciplines and for innovation. We have spent time debating the Bill, its strengths and the opportunities it is going to give to everyone working within the third level sector and in the area of research, including research assistants, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students....

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: If I might, I will join with my colleague in offering condolences to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, on his loss. It is always a very tragic time when it comes to family. There are a couple of issues I wish to raise. Ballygar, in County Galway, is running an event focusing on well-being and mental health. The event will feature Professor Brian Hughes, a psychologist from the University...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (8 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: With the withdrawal of Aircoach from 8 April 2024, and the X20 service in 2021, on the Dublin to Galway route, those services have been stopped. We currently only have Citylink, which goes every two hours between Dublin and Galway and services the towns between those two cities. This Commencement matter was intended for the Minister for Transport. I am frustrated. I raised this in 2021...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (8 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: The Minister of State knows very well that he is standing in for the Minister, Deputy Ryan. Any Minister who comes in here to reply to any Commencement matter is speaking on behalf of the Minister that they represent. It is unfortunate and I would like the clock to be reset, please. What the Minister of State has provided me with here from the NTA is supposed to be the rural Ireland...

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: I acknowledge the importance of accessibility and of this Bill. Senator Clonan is raising a lot of things we in government are reviewing and looking at as well. I wanted to highlight the work at regional level that we see across the likes of Roscommon and Galway. I ask the Minister of State to address this in her response but I wish to highlight the just transition programme currently...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: The Minister of State and the Senator have acknowledged the importance of governance. Governance is crucial. I hope we will see an increase in the Exchequer funding that goes to the agency but governance is of the utmost importance. The Minister, Department and chair of Tailte Éireann will need to be able to speak to this. It is important that the relevant Minister be the Minister...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Aisling Dolan: We have spoken previously on this as well with Senator Higgins. This agency is for research and innovation. Innovation is about bringing the fruits of research out into our communities and out into society to ensure that it has an impact and that it does not sit on a dusty shelf somewhere. That is what is really crucial about this. Much of this knowledge transfer and technology transfer...