Results 1,081-1,100 of 5,924 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ratification of Optional Protocol: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank our distinguished guests for their submissions and their clarification of a lot of different areas. I am struck by why the optional protocol was deemed optional in the first place. It really should have been part of the whole agreement. There is so much confusion around it and also delay. I understand from what Dr. Lynch said that it may not be as long as we had originally thought...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for their insight and their expertise. They do wonderful work and it is appreciated and valued. My apologies, I had to come off the call for a short period to go to another meeting, but I feel I have a very good sense of this and I have, of course, read the submissions. I have a few general questions, and a lot of that is based on some of the findings we have heard...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. As we see the return of football, I commend the Kildare players on their terrific win against Meath yesterday. I am sure the Leader does not mind me saying it. I also congratulate the Kildare ladies who played against our other neighbours in Laois. This week is Men's Health Week. It is a week when we raise awareness of...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome this debate and it is good to see that the Bill has been strengthened since its incarnation in 2019. I also pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee, and Sonya Lennon who started the very good WorkEqual campaign in 2016 which certainly educated me and many others about this particular issue. Closing the gender pay gap is a priority for the Government and completely...

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It gives me great pleasure to second the motion, which goes to the very heart of the party I am proud to represent, Fianna Fáil. It is a party that has done much work in providing homes and sustainable communities. We are in a crisis. The time we have spent here discussing housing in the past week shows that it is the most crucial issue we are dealing with and rightly so. Much of our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank TII and NTA for their presentations. I have had the pleasure of engaging before with Mr. Creegan on issues in Newbridge. I have a number of questions to put to both organisations. I will first go to TII and then to the NTA. I have three questions for TII. It is good to see their access officer, Ms Sarah O’Donnell, in attendance too. When they commence tendering for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Today is Global Day of Parents when we celebrate parenthood. There is no doubt that over the last 15 months parents have had to learn a lot more about parenting, and homeschooling as parents, than they would have anticipated before. It is important parents at every level get as many supports as possible to help them on their journey. One of those areas is the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bullying in Educational Institutions (31 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. First, I acknowledge that schools in general are putting a great deal of time and effort into proactive strategies to ensure that school environments are as welcoming and inclusive as possible. We must, however, also acknowledge that bullying exists and is happening in the physical form, although less so now, and in the shape of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bullying in Educational Institutions (31 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I acknowledge that the parent and student charter will be welcome. There has been a significant delay in implementing the legislation but I am glad to hear it is approaching Second Stage in the Dáil. I accept and acknowledge that there are a significant number of supports but more are needed. As time goes on and more research is done,...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Ó Donnghaile, my apologies. You indicated to speak earlier. I had thought you were merely clarifying you were taking this instead of Senator Warfield.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Is Senator Ó Donnghaile pressing the amendment?

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We move to amendment No. 11, which the Minister of State has said he is going to accept.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Okay.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State has said he is going to accept amendment No. 12. I ask Senator Higgins to move it.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Amendments Nos. 13 and 14 in the names of Senators Higgins and Ruane have been ruled out of order.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is very welcome, and I appreciate her coming in to take my matter. This is about supporting SNAs. We have in excess of 16,000 in our inclusive education system. That inclusive education is hugely important to everybody. It is an aspiration that children with special needs, and special educational needs, will have the opportunity to be educated in their own...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I commend her and the Department on setting this up. Education is very important. It has to be valued in its own right in what it does for the individual as well as the continuing professional development. Everybody in the education world needs the opportunity as there are always new things to learn. I appreciate that there will be a review...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I endorse and support Senator Fitzpatrick's call for a timely review and debate in this House of the decision we, as a country, took three years ago. I also want to raise the important issue of young people in care in Ireland and how they transition from the system of foster parenting up to the age of 18 years to life afterwards. I commend the bravery and honesty of Danielle McGarry and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Scrutiny of EU Proposals (25 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with broadcasting equipment even when in silent mode. The minutes of the meeting on 18 May 2021 have been circulated to all members. Are they agreed to? Agreed. The next item is scrutiny of EU legislative proposals. In private session we discussed COM (2021) 89, COM (2021)...