Results 5,441-5,460 of 5,853 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome Sinéad Byrne, who is interning with me. She is the daughter of the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and is up here for the week to learn what we do and what her dad does. She is very welcome and I thank her for her help. In terms of responding on the items raised on the Order of Business, Senator Conway called for a debate on flooding. He is disappointed that such a debate...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome our distinguished guests on both sides of the House. I also wish all the Czech nationals who live in Ireland a good day today as they celebrate their culture and history. The Order of Business is No. 1, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023 – Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn not later than...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Horkan made the point that diplomatic relations are always important. Diplomatic relations have been never more important than now in terms of the relationships that we have with both EU countries and countries outside of the EU. I would like to add my voice of congratulations to Mr. Rodney Walshe who has served as Honorary Consul General in New Zealand. It is quite incredible that...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am not being political but I think that the Tánaiste and, indeed, the Taoiseach are saying very important words. They really are calling out the atrocities for what they are. They have called for an immediate ceasefire while giving €13 million to Palestine. I know that every one of us here echoes that, following our debates last week.I thank Senator Boylan for calling that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I congratulate the Ministers, Deputies Harris and Darragh O'Brien, on the announcement we are expecting around now on support for accommodation for higher level students. Every year we hear of students not being able to get accommodation. The €434 million partnership that will see 2,700 beds across the country is welcome news. I welcome to the House the members of Network Ireland,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Ensuring Inclusive Local and EU Elections: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. O’Leary, Mr. Dolan and Ms Carthy for coming before us. Many of us would have loved an opportunity to have a discussion with Mr. O’Leary about six months ago.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Ensuring Inclusive Local and EU Elections: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am sure. It is great that the commission is in place. I wish Mr. O’Leary the best of luck with it. It is good to hear his experience in the Australian Embassy. Best international experience has to inform what we do here also. I am pleased to hear that research can be commissioned and carried out into different areas. Definitely the electoral register, as has been mentioned,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Protecting Autonomy and Assessing Decision-making Capacity: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank all who have given testimony this morning. Unfortunately, I had another committee meeting so I did not get to hear all the opening statements. However, I did have the opportunity to read them. When I came in, Ms Lazar was speaking about personal choice. I have a good friend, whom I met recently, and we discussed this. He is somebody who was very much against the repeal of the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I also add my voice of welcome to our distinguished guests and thank them for the work they are doing on behalf of victims. It is much appreciated. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, statements on housing, to be taken at 3.30...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senators Conway and Dolan raised the fact that after 91 years of excellent work, the NCBI has changed its name to Vision Ireland. Senator Conway said the latest census shows there has been a 400% increase in the number of people who are visually impaired. The fact that we have an older population means we are bound to have issues such as this. It is a concern when we have 300,000 people...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On the phone. Otherwise, you have to basically use ChatGPT to try to get a response. I agree. There is nothing more frustrating. Many people have unique questions particular to their situations and they just keep getting, "I do not understand your question" as a response. It is simply not good enough. We will send a call-out to the Minister to try to ensure these offices are available...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023: Motion (7 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: "That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2023, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 18th October, 2023, be referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with Standing Order 71(2)(b), which, not later than 22nd November,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Last night, Brigid 1500 was launched in Kildare because in 2024 we will celebrate 1,500 years since Brigid walked these shores. She certainly left a very meaningful cultural and societal legacy and one that it is really important we celebrate. In many ways she was a woman ahead of her time. She was very concerned about biodiversity, sustainability, education and the arts. Most...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Bearing in mind what my esteemed colleague has said, right across both Houses and cross-party we are all utterly heartbroken with the scenes we are seeing. There is a sense of helplessness. We are all calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, for aid into Gaza and for the hostages to be released. I have written to the Leader to ask if it would be appropriate that we in this House would...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Chair and I thank all of our guests for their presence here, their statements and their willingness and commitment in trying to make a bleak and difficult situation better. We have had some talk here about crisis situations and about what we do at that point. None of us wants to have a situation where any situation gets to a crisis situation. It is all about that intervention...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: It does.

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise for stepping out. I had gone to another meeting but I was called back to enable my distinguished colleagues to make their contributions. I call Senator Clonan.

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Senator. I will go to Dr. Hillery first.

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: Dr. Hillery and Mr. Leonard earlier highlighted the need for sharing good practice. All too often the committee speaks about and hears about situations that have gone wrong or people who are not being treated in the way any of us may expect or want. It is an important point that there are times when the patient gets the best possible care or there is a change, as we heard about when we were...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is a fair point.