Results 1-20 of 1,754 for speaker:Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach chuig Seanad Éireann. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé an-ghnóthach agus mar sin, tá mé an-bhuíoch dó as a bheith anseo. Tá mé féin an-bhródúil a bheith anseo mar Sheanadóir Fhianna Fáil cuibheasach nua.In my very brief time, I want to discuss our local councillors. By "our", I mean...

Committee on Children and Equality: Child Poverty and Deprivation: Discussion (9 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: The ladies are very welcome. I thank them for taking time out of their very busy schedules to come in here, for the work they obviously put into their opening statements as well as the work they do in general. They are all fantastic and their organisations are brilliant. In the limited time I have, I intend to put a question to each group. I ask them to be conscious that they might only...

Committee on Children and Equality: Child Poverty and Deprivation: Discussion (9 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank Ms Bayliss. Turning to ECI, how would aligning early years educators' pay and conditions with public sector standards improve its service delivery and reduce child poverty?

Committee on Children and Equality: Child Poverty and Deprivation: Discussion (9 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank Ms Heeney for that. Moving to the Children's Rights Alliance, how does Dr. Feely or Dr. O'Reilly feel the DEIS plus programme should be structured to effectively address intergenerational trauma and poverty in schools?

Committee on Children and Equality: Child Poverty and Deprivation: Discussion (9 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank Dr. O'Reilly. Turning to Social Justice Ireland, how does Ms Rogers think the child poverty and well-being programme office should be structured to ensure long-term strategic impact? I mean as opposed to short-term fixes, which I do not agree with.

Committee on Children and Equality: Child Poverty and Deprivation: Discussion (9 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank Ms Rogers.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I start by welcoming my colleague Senator Andrews back. I am glad he is back. As they would say in Cork, fair play to you, boy, for what you did. I wish to raise the issue of farm safety. Already this year there have been 16 confirmed deaths following accidents on farmyards and in fields, and obviously others could be added to that list. This number is higher than the figure for the...

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Apologies have been received from Senators Nikki Bradley and Laura Harmon. The purpose of today's meeting is to continue discussion on inclusive education for persons with disabilities. On behalf of the committee, I extend a warm welcome to Dr. Hartney, Dr. Tamming and Dr. Craddock and thank them for all the work they do. Before we begin, I will read a note on privilege and...

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Did Dr. Craddock wish to contribute?

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank Dr. Craddock and all the witnesses. We will now have a changing of the guard.

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I am multitalented. As my colleague said, I think the NDA for the very comprehensive information it sent to us already. A lot of the questions we had were answered in it, so fair play to the witnesses. It is now more a matter of expanding in this respect. What steps are being taken to improve teacher training awareness around assistive technologies in mainstream classrooms?

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Transition points, such as those from preschool to national school, national school to secondary school and secondary school into further training or the workforce, are a big step for anybody. One of the biggest steps for anyone with additional needs is actually from playschool or preschool to national school. Preschool can be very easy-going if children do not turn up. It is not as tied...

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Maybe it is something that could be worked on. Dr. Hartney mentioned Finland there, but the report mentioned Portugal, Italy and Canada. If the NDA had to name a few practices from these countries that could be effectively adapted here, what would they be?

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: It sounds amazing.

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Regarding the education therapy service, how can it be ensured there is equal access from a mainstream school and a special school? Will that be easily organised?

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: There is a job of work to be done.

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank the witnesses for all the information they sent in. It was actually hard to think of questions, so well done.

Seanad: Agricultural Sector: Motion (1 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for bringing forward this motion. I welcome the debate and Fianna Fáil will not oppose the motion. Our farmers are world-class food producers. They are the social, economic and cultural pillars of our rural communities and Irish society. From 2020 to 2024, with the leadership of the then Minister, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil worked...

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony: Ms Walker-Strong, Ms McGrory, Ms Lawlor, Ms Mortell and Ms O’Rourke are very welcome here this morning. I echo my colleagues’ comments in thanking them for the great work they do. Fair play to them. I have just a few questions. With regard to speech and language therapy, therapy done in school is obviously the way forward and the plan. This is being rolled out in some...