Results 1-20 of 85 for going forward speaker:Kathleen Funchion

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: Thank you. I have a few questions I want to ask. This is more for TikTok and it relates to the algorithms. It is true of all platforms that if you post something and you are getting a large number of negative comments, the algorithm picks this up. What it nearly wants is negative feedback. How are children being protected from that? Part of what is going to be covered on the programme...

Paediatric Orthopaedic and Urology Services: Motion [Private Members] (20 Feb 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: ...not want to hear that it is "not good enough". Families do not want to hear that the Minister of State has empathy. Families want to hear that she has a plan and a solution. We are putting that forward in our motion tonight. I cannot believe the Government is not going to support the motion. The never-ending trauma inflicted on children and their families will have a permanent and...

Commissions of Investigation (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Feb 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: ...terms of reference, but there may be a way of putting it in that it has to be part of the terms of reference or something else. If we can get a commitment that we can work on that, that would be good. We basically do not want a situation where what happened already happens again. The Minister is saying the commission of investigation has to come with a factual situation. If we look at...

Commissions of Investigation (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Feb 2024)

Kathleen Funchion: ...open up honest and truthful dialogue on a shameful chapter in our history and begin a process of healing for survivors and their families. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Instead, we got a report with particular findings stating there was a lack of evidence regarding forced adoptions, abuse and discrimination despite testimonies contradicting this. I give that as a bit of...

Special Report by the Ombudsman for Children on Direct Provision: Motion (30 Nov 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...in relation to the protection of children. We are now nearly two years into that situation. We cannot keep saying that it is an emergency or an unexpected situation. At this point we have to have forward planning. Children are bearing the brunt of the Government's failures. The housing support organisation,Threshold, reports that children in emergency accommodation suffer from...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Meteorological Services (26 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...was a meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, 17 and 18 October 2023; if information from those meetings on those dates can be shared with the public; if there is a plan to share this type of information going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47074/23]

Funding for Persons with Disabilities: Motion [Private Members] (17 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank my colleague, Deputy Tully, not just for bringing this motion forward this evening but for all of her work in this area. We are very lucky to have such an excellent spokesperson. My colleagues have spoken about the strike action. It is true that it was averted at the very last minute. As somebody who used to work in the trade union movement, I can tell the House that no worker...

Childcare Fees: Motion [Private Members] (3 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: .... On that committee, I was the rapporteur for a report specifically relating to workers in the early years sector. The committee received unanimous support in the Dáil for a motion it brought forward in respect of the workers. Something popped up on my Facebook page today from our budget launch in 2017 when I was delighted that something I had sought for the workers was...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...equality policy. Also in attendance are officials from the HSE in support of their colleagues. They are Mr. Bernard O'Regan, head of operations in the HSE's disability services, and Dr. Rosie Gowran, clinical lead of the national clinical programme for people with disability. Our meeting will be in two sessions. This session must conclude not later than 4.30 p.m. I will go through...

Commissions of Investigation (Amendment) Bill 2023: First Stage (20 Sep 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ..., had this legislation been in place at the time of the mother and baby homes investigation. Unfortunately it was not. However, we should try to amend this legislation now in order that we can do better going forward. Obviously, we would all love to have a situation whereby commissions of investigations would not be necessary. However, that is unrealistic. We know that they have to...

Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: From the Seanad (5 Jul 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...I have come across, both in Ireland and throughout the world, for their courage and bravery in sharing their stories. I have always been struck by how, every time we speak about this, somebody new comes forward to tell their story. I always feel that is such a personal and difficult step to take, and I want those people to know that was not taken for granted, at least by me and other...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...issues that disproportionately affect women, everything seems to be a battle, and if it was not for the women and the advocacy groups that continue that battle, would we actually be here? I look forward to the day when we can be in here discussing issues that are not both long overdue and years in the making. I particularly welcome this in relation to rural areas. My constituency is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child and Family Agency (4 Jul 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...to know more about the Barnahus project about which the Minister spoke because I want to be solution-focused here. The report is damning and very upsetting. We want to see how we can prevent this going forward. I am not sure if it is possible for us to get some more information, obviously, not in this answer but even outside of that as a committee. We can maybe do a visit, if that is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic Violence (20 Jun 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thought the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, would be here, but I understand that people cannot necessarily be everywhere. I was going to start by saying that I know she has a strong track record on this issue and that she is genuinely committed to it. The reason I wanted to raise this matter is, in the first instance, because I have an interest in it. I do a lot of work locally...

Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Survey 2022: Statements (Resumed) (17 May 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...of under-reporting. We have to ask ourselves why there is such a high level of under-reporting. We know there is a fear and that some ask whether people will believe them. People know they are going to be asked questions but they wonder if they are going to be asked so many questions that they will start questioning themselves. There is a sense of guilt that some people have which they...

Final Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy: Motion [Private Members] (27 Apr 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...here because of the pressure they, as parents, put on in standing up for their children and because of the help of Senator Seery Kearney, who has guided us all and continues to do so. She is my go-to person whenever I have a question on surrogacy. I note that there is a strong Kilkenny contingent here to balance out the Wicklow group. I really welcome this report. In the seven years...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Protection (30 Mar 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank the Minister and I welcome that update. This process is going to be key. It is worrying, though, to think that an organisation dealing with children was finalising its child protection statement up until November 2022. I think that is what the Minister said. I mention those who have come forward and told their stories. I commend them on their courage and bravery. From dealing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (30 Mar 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I appreciate the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, may not have this information as he is not the lead Minister, but is there a rough timeframe for that going to committee? There are so many people who do not have the luxury of time in relation to retrospective recognition. I understand the complexity because we dealt with it in the committee and it was very complex. However, we came up with very...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Integration and Refugee Issues: Discussion (21 Feb 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: I thank all of the witnesses. This is the first of a series of meetings we will have on this topic. There will be another meeting next week and further meetings will be scheduled. It will be an ongoing debate and I am sure the witnesses will tune in to it. I agree with much of what Ms Crickley said about looking for solutions. There is a lot in the witnesses' opening statements and...

Co-ordination of International Protection Services: Statements (16 Feb 2023)

Kathleen Funchion: ...and constructive way by RTÉ. I am glad we are having this debate and that time was given to it. It is important that we continue to hold constructive and open conversations about how we are going to tackle the situation. It is also important for the Government to listen to the Opposition and those who are working in this field, who have come forward with constructive suggestions...