Results 5,721-5,740 of 5,853 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I wish the Minister well in all the challenges that she faces. On this day, I also thank the former Minister, Stephen Donnelly, for all the tremendous work that he did in starting a revolution around women's healthcare. I am conscious that this is about International Women's Day as well as about women's health. I am also conscious that women comprise 45% of Seanad Members, which is...

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: With the permission of the Leader and with the kind support of the Minister I put forward to the House that notwithstanding the Order of the House today, the statements to mark International Women's Day shall now conclude at 5 p.m. if not previously concluded.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Costs (19 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, is very welcome to the Chamber. It is the first opportunity I have had to welcome her here. I wish her well in her role as Minister of State. I have no doubt she will do an excellent job. The Commencement matter I am raising today is not new to this House. I have debated it ad nauseam within the Dáil and the Seanad. Like countless others, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Transport Costs (19 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State did not get to say it, but I saw when I read ahead that the key element is that it will happen by the end of April 2025. The answer to my question on the start is that it is not being delayed further. I am very glad to hear that. It is important. I acknowledge that the NTA is responsible for the day-to-day operations, but it is not implementing Government policy....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I accept and support the Order of Business, as outlined. I hope that everybody had a good and enjoyable St. Patrick's Day, wherever they celebrated it. I thank all of the amazing volunteers around the country who put so much time and effort into ensuring that towns and communities had their own parades. It is important to note the very many missions across the world that celebrated St....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the restoration of Bills to the Order Paper, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate, and No. 2, statements on Ireland's national plan under the Common Agricultural Policy, to be taken at 1.15 p.m., with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, those of group...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On International Day of Happiness, I wish everybody a very happy weekend.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We started off the Order of Business this morning with Senator Linda Nelson Murray, who spoke about the report that showed that a lot of people who are making claims are going towards litigation, rather than going for mediation. There has been a 17% increase in the number of cases going through litigation. Basically, the insurance claims that are being paid out are higher than those in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am responding that, to the best of my knowledge, that is the way that works. It is very regrettable when we have a situation like that. If there is something that can be done at a national level, certainly that should be done. The Senator might bring that to our attention. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the issues of vexatious claims impacting on retail workers. It is shocking. We...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: He wants a year of celebrations. We could have that as well. In fact, his birthday is on Thursday so we are having lunch in Leinster House because this is the place he felt he would want to be to celebrate. All here are welcome to come in and sing “Happy Birthday”. Senator Davitt also spoke about national roads and that we need a debate on TII. When it comes to roads and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We will get an update on that. The Senator is right about rural housing. It is hugely important in my own county and throughout the country. We need to see rural communities survive and thrive. We cannot do that at the moment with the stringent conditions there are on rural housing. I acknowledge former Deputy, Eamon Ó Cuív, who did a lot of good work and put a lot of good...

Seanad: Restoration of Bills to the Seanad Order Paper: Motion (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 180 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the Bills which lapsed by reason of the Seanad General Election, January, 2025, and are set out in the Schedule to this motion, shall be restored to the Order Paper at the stage specified in the Schedule below: SCHEDULE Bill Title: To be restored...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy National Plan: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am sharing time with Senator Clifford-Lee. I welcome the Minister. I have had the opportunity to congratulate him privately but it is nice to be able to do it in a public forum. The electorate of Kildare South was certainly very pleased to see a Cabinet Minister from the constituency, so I wish him well in his onerous role. I know that, as a practising farmer, he brings a lot of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: About three weeks ago, I went to see a play called The Ferryman in the Gaiety. It is an excellent play. It is about three hours long but it lays out in a bare way the trauma for families who have a disappeared among them. This trauma is generational. It is important we talk about the news last night that the disappeared commission has confirmed the body exhumed from a grave in County...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (26 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Commencement matter. Last August, the then Minister of State with special responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, launched the national swimming strategy. This was the first such swimming strategy. Its purpose was to show the determination to make swimming a key focus in respect of giving everybody the opportunity to learn to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (26 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which I am disappointed with because I hoped for some new information. I raised this issue previously as a Commencement matter and, as outlined in the response, I have been in contact with Department officials on a regular basis. When we have such a good community asset in an area where there is no public swimming pool, it is regrettable and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. As our population grows and ages, we increasingly have people living longer, which is very much to be welcomed. People in Ireland live longer than in any other European country. However, more challenges and health issues come with that. One area where we see a lot of growth is the number of people presenting with dementia. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding establishment of the Seanad Select Committee on Subsidiarity (European Union Legislative Scrutiny), to be taken without debate on conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, motion regarding the restoration of Bills to the Order Paper, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I totally endorse all the comments that have been made about Aisling and I absolutely approve of the suggestion by Senator Wilson that we invite Aisling back for a day to give us the opportunity to acknowledge her and show that we value and appreciate all the work she has done. Senator Kennelly spoke about the lack of respite care in Kerry and about St. Francis school in Beaufort and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: If that has not come up yet, I would suggest that she puts it down again. It is clear that engagement with the stakeholders is needed. We will write to the Minister for Education to say that. Senator Gallagher raised his grave concern about the ambulance service in Monaghan. He explained how, this week, 16 12-hour shifts were not covered and it will possibly be 19 next week. There is...