Results 1-20 of 157 for going forward speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...worth €2.45 billion to Ireland. I wish HRI CEO Suzanne Eade and her excellent team well with it. There is a particular focus on equine welfare, which I welcome. That will be very important as we go forward. It is an industry that is very important to County Kildare and throughout Ireland. It is important that the Government supports it. I want to briefly mention a public...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... That means these providers must spend 80% of their time on administration as opposed to with the children. The Department of children should examine this requirement to see how best it can support providers going forward, particularly small operators.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the desk of a garda. I know we all appreciate that when a garda starts his or her shift, be it day or night, he or she never knows what will unfold. To paraphrase another phrase I used, who is going to protect the protectors? It is important that we are mindful of this. My worst experience of seeing gardaí being mistreated was in Dolphin House. Eight years ago I visited there...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...have had large population growth in recent years. From talking to parents and schools, I know there are countless children aged 11 and 12 who are very anxious and worried about where they will go to school next year. This has been happening over recent years. I have raised the hurt, stress and fear experienced by parents and students because they were not successful in securing a second...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...witnesses' views on that matter. On the area of inclusion, I agree with Ms Byrne that we should be as inclusive as possible in respect of education, sport and other areas, but for some children going to a special school is better for their needs. I am conscious of the announcement of four new special schools. What will be the exact locations of those four schools? I know where three...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: North-South Student Mobility: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...issue. Before I mention specifics, I wish to make a general point around the impact of Brexit on the figures mentioned. Before Brexit, I imagine that the number of students from the Republic going to Northern Ireland was significantly higher. The witnesses might comment on the impact of Brexit in this regard. Before Brexit, there were concerns around Horizon Europe funding and...

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. I met this group of people on two occasions. It is important to stress that the terms of reference are very comprehensive and that they are being brought forward following very exhaustive consultation. The Tánaiste is absolutely committed to reforming the culture of our Defence Forces. This will be a very important public inquiry. It will be a...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is good to see my old sparring partner, Councillor Dermot Lacey, who is always an advocate for the importance of local government. I thank the Minister for being here. I know from being part of a delegation with him about two weeks ago that he is supportive of local government and councillors. Councillors are the backbone of our democracy. They do untold work on many levels in all of...

Seanad: Sports Funding: Statements (21 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...funding, Kildare was very fortunate to receive over €5.4 million for its sports clubs. The grants are making a huge difference on the ground. It was a high allocation and we are already looking forward to another high allocation in the next round. The diversity is important. Kildare has built almost 8,000 houses in the last four years but we need to build sustainable communities...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...and young people, with data from 2018 showing that one in ten children and young people aged 12 to 17 used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days. When driving by schools, we often see young people vaping when going into and coming out of school. Data focused on 16-year-olds found that one in five were using e-cigarettes in 2019, double the figure in 2015, and if it has doubled again by this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Rights-Based Care for People with Disabilities: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...as a committee, we have already stated that we would like to have the optional protocol to the UNCRPD adopted. It is important there is a mechanism whereby if something is not working, issues can go forward to an independent arbitrator. I am interested in some of the complaint procedures that some of the witnesses have in place because that is always important in trying to find a roadmap...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...week.I thank Senator Boylan for calling that out. We need to do that every day. Senator Wall spoke about the Castledermot youth diversion project and how important it is to acknowledge the work that is going on, and he is absolutely right. It is important that we show there is another path for young people who are vulnerable and who need those extra supports. He called for extra funding...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Transport Authority (17 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...try to ensure equity and fairness in the context of prices. A commitment was given by the National Transport Authority, NTA, that a fairer strategy on fares would be forthcoming. Initially, this was going to be in July then we heard it was going to be mid-September. It is now mid-October. People need to make decisions about whether they will buy annual tickets, and they will do so in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Transport Authority (17 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...published. I take it from what he is saying that the Minister of State expects to that to happen within the next few weeks and that there will be an announcement thereafter in regard to new fares going forward. Has he any idea of the timeline? Time is moving and people need to be clear about what their output needs to be and the savings that they can make.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jul 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...a super opportunity. Speaking about sport, of course, female participation in sport, and a higher visibility of female sport, is really important. We have seen all the excitement about the women's soccer team going over to Australia. I wish them well in their first upcoming match against the home country. There is a campaign for a player charter. It is really important to see ladies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students: Discussion (4 Jul 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...areas. It is certainly positive to hear about the ISL bachelor of education professional qualification. I wish those four who have graduated the very best of luck. That is a landmark that cannot go unnoticed. We look forward to more people having the opportunity. The standard of new buildings now and universal design are also very welcome. Buildings are certainly far more appropriate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (27 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...for the Athy food, drink and skills innovation hub, which will act as a home for our county-wide food cluster and education hub and manufacturing space. That is hugely important and we look forward to it. On the housing front, Kildare County Council reached its target of 372 new homes, in addition to 261 new homes through a social leasing programme and significantly increased expenditure...

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (30 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the motion. Senator McGreehan is so passionate about the Good Friday Agreement and everything it brings that I thought she was going to use all of her time and possibly even go over time. I also commend Senator Niall Blaney on the work he does in this area. I welcome the Tánaiste to the Seanad. It is really important that he is here to celebrate, acknowledge and look forward...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Costs (3 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...and opt to use public transport are completely discriminated against in terms of having a fair fare. With the costs involved, there are a lot of people bypassing an excellent station in Newbridge to go to Sallins, putting a lot more cars on the road, because the fares are much cheaper. The replacement of the current short hop zone with a zone with a more equitable radius of 50 km was...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Mary Butler, she said that the 42nd clinic is opening this weekend in Dungarvan. Multyfarnham is opening in about two weeks' time. I am looking forward to the full-time, permanent centre for Kildare. We have never had one, and that is going to be opening in Kildangan at the end of June or early July. Some 60,000 people live with dementia in...