Results 21-40 of 5,868 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Post Office Network: Statements (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber to give us the opportunity to say what we feel and to outline the importance we place on this vital service, which is the heartbeat of many of our communities. Over the past few days, I have thought about the impact, just in my own life, of those working in the service. I could not stop thinking about that jingle, "Who Are the People in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the professors for being here. I appreciate their legal experience, wisdom and understanding of Ireland's constitutional obligations and EU obligations. They have a perspective on the broader geopolitical implications as well and they are important. I will try to just ask three questions of each witness. I will go to Professor Butler first. We are taking a twin-track approach...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Professor Butler answered on the precedent and will not respond on the legal or economic retaliation. Does he think it would have a big impact or would it be symbolic as some people say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Professor Butler. Both are important. Symbolism is important as well. My next question is for Professor Tridimas. He has criticised the Attorney General's earlier opinion as flawed. What were the most glaring omissions from that advice? Second, does Professor Tridimas think, if we get this Bill through both Houses and it were to include services, it would survive a legal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have a simple, basic question that I put to all the witnesses. When services in the occupied territories are spoken about, what exactly is their interpretation of that? Is there confusion between services that come from Israel and those that come from the occupied territories?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am putting it to all the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Does Ms Ní Ghrálaigh think there is confusion between the two?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I just feel that in conversations with people, members of the public and colleagues who are not members of this committee, that this is the case in terms of services. I agree with what Ms Ní Ghrálaigh said about it mainly being the tourism and tech industries. Many people, however, feel those services are actually in Israel, as opposed to on the land of the occupied territories...

Committee on European Union Affairs: Findings of the 2025 European Movement Ireland EU Poll: European Movement Ireland (9 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate the opportunity. My first point is similar to what Senator Andrews just said. An interesting thing I found was that sometimes we tend to think people are not finding their information from the traditional sources. While newspapers are not mentioned, TV and radio was cited and, generally speaking, one feels that information, at least, is going to be fact-checked and proper...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Centres (8 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here. My question concerns the development of the Riverbank Arts Centre and the new Kildare branch library. In the late 1990s, I was involved with a group of like-minded people who lobbied for an arts centre in Newbridge. Eventually, the Riverbank Arts Centre opened its doors in 2001 as County Kildare's arts centre. The centre has given great...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Centres (8 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State, I might as well tear up this response because there is absolutely nothing in it on development and particularly on River Bank Arts Centre. I am sure the Minister of State agrees that it makes far more sense to be able to have the full jigsaw, so to speak, happening at the same time. Meanwhile, there is €1 million unspent years...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is fine. It is no problem at all.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will first comment on what our esteemed Senator from County Meath said. She only mentioned one Minister but I remind Senator Nelson Murray that it was in fact her Meath colleague, the former Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who introduced this legislation that is now difficult for the Government to deal with. Regarding the subcommittee, I also remind her that there are three...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending EU Regulation 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level; No. 2, motion regarding the proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Rabbitte raised the issue of CPOs, in particular those relating to the N63 road. I was quite shocked to hear the details that an arrangement was apparently made in 2014, but a landlord has not been paid since. That raises a lot of questions because the individual has suffered a loss of income. As the Senator said, that has caused a lot of stress. We need clarity on CPOs. They...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I extend my welcome to the distinguished guests. Times are difficult across the world and there is a lot of doom and gloom, some of it merited and some of it not. We all need moments in our lives where we get to witness joy and to see creativity and music. It was incredible to hear so many people speaking about tuning into Glastonbury over the weekend. My youngest brother was there. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have witnessed Senator Black’s passion and compassion over recent years since she introduced this in 2018. Things were very serious then but have escalated to an unbelievable situation now so the question I would ask is “If not now, when?” This has to be an absolute priority. The Senator spoke of her grandchildren, looking into their eyes and thinking of the children...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We always have to have hope.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Senator for that. It is important that we have a twin-track approach and that we try to bring European countries with us but as the Senator says, there is an opportunity to show legal and moral leadership on that and I totally agree with that. I thank Mr. O’Neill for his very powerful testimony. I know Christian Aid has been involved in Palestine, in the West Bank,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Yes. I have been there.