Results 5,601-5,620 of 5,853 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Sector (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State has four minutes.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Night-time Economy (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is staying with us for the fourth Commencement matter. We really appreciate her time this morning.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Night-time Economy (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Queen of Peace youth group from Bray, whose members are here as guests of Deputy Brady.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined. I spoke yesterday about the bravery of Bláthnaid Raleigh. I have to mention her again because when I was driving in this morning, I heard her interview on RTÉ Radio One. It was a very compelling interview. I drove in and stayed in the car to listen to the end of it. I do not mind admitting that I shed tears listening to her. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. First, I congratulate the Irish National Stud and Gardens, in my own county of Kildare, on being named in the top 10% of attractions in the world by Tripadvisor. For any Members who have not been there, I absolutely recommend it. It has a new horse experience which I visited and participated on. I will say "on" and leave the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise that I missed some of the presentation. I had an education committee meeting at the same time and I am trying to double-job. The work DESSA does is very interesting. From my understanding, it is mainly in County Leitrim, but that some projects have been rolled out in other places. Am I right in that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: In terms of the work with the family resource centres, that is nationwide. Regarding the pilot project in County Leitrim, was there a link in with the service providers as well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Griffin for clarifying that. I assume from the fact DESSA was in a position to have individuals go on to the public participation network, PPN, that it had a good relationship with local authority access officers etc.?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The fact that the PPN comes through the local authority is important. Obviously, local authorities have a quota in terms of employment. I imagine what DESSA helps to do is to bridge the gap there as well, which is important. DESSA is probably familiar with our Oireachtas Work Learning, OWL, programme, and there are always some young people from Kildare involved because it is done in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: In terms of the work DESSA does, we heard previously from social farming and different types of social employment schemes. I refer to the experience of one social farm led by Mr. Val Cross in Rathangan, where I am from. It is tremendous to hear how those involved would speak about the involvement, from a farmer point of view, let alone those who get involved in it. Has DESSA had any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I believe Ms Claire Kinneavy is involved with that project. She is a tremendous champion in that area and told me a little about it. She is always progressing, doing things and is an incredible advocate. It is very interesting to hear what the witnesses have said and we can clearly see that there is a role to roll-out the pilot project. We will do what we can, will we not, Chair?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Teaching Council: Discussion (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is good. That is definitely much better than it was.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Teaching Council: Discussion (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Great. I thank Ms Healy. Will Dr. Ramsey respond to the question about Covid-19?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Teaching Council: Discussion (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The council probably will not have that in place for September.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Teaching Council: Discussion (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is fine. Due to the lack of teachers in specific areas, has any consideration been given, insofar as the Teaching Council is concerned, to reducing the two-year professional graduate diploma in education course, especially for the subject areas where we have a shortage of teachers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Teaching Council: Discussion (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We have recruitment and retention challenges, especially in Dublin and the commuter belt area. Much of that is down to the cost of accommodation and so forth. We see teachers going abroad. Do the witnesses have any views or suggestions on what the committee could look at and make suggestions on to encourage recruitment and retention, particularly around the large urban areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Teaching Council: Discussion (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise for having missed some of the meeting but I had another committee meeting at the same time. I thank the witnesses for attending. A lot of the comments I receive from people regarding the Teaching Council come from people who have left teaching for a period, some having worked abroad in teaching and others not necessarily in teaching, along with some who have left teaching, gone...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Group, I ask that we be associated with the sympathies for that wonderful public representative, John O'Mahony. We express our deepest sympathies to his family, community and the Fine Gael Party. I add my voice of welcome to my good friend and colleague, Councillor Noel Heavey, his wife Bernie and his four best canvassers in the local elections, Molly,...