Results 61-76 of 76 for "direct provision" speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Direct Provision System (26 Jun 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...long the contract is for? How long does the Minister of State expect the hotel to be used by the Department? I accept what the Minister of State has said about a competition for plans for a new direct provision centre in the mid-east area. However, the mid-east does not include County Laois. It covers Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, as the Minister of State is aware. Will there be...

Other Questions: Asylum Seeker Employment (5 Jul 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...use of agency workers. The decision made in May 2017 to strike down the absolute ban on asylum seekers working as unconstitutional has forced the Government to finally address the need for reform of the direct provision system. The Minister mentioned the waiting time for a decision on an application for asylum, but it is still too long. It also takes too long to hear an appeal. Does...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...in mental health supports is unprecedented and the significant increase in funding for the disability sector is to be recommended. The extra funding, which amounts to more than doubling the funding for direct provision, to help support the end of direct provision is very important. I am a believer in local democracy and empowering our local authorities and councils is hugely important....

Fourth Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (Resumed) (21 Feb 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...some type of dignified memorial on the site, we are speaking about historical abuse of women and children. We cannot lose sight of women and children who are suffering today. Some 1,400 children are in direct provision, while almost 4,000 children are in emergency accommodation. While it is important that we look back on the wrong deeds that were done to the children of years past and a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...or nursing homes or whether it was caring for individuals in their own homes. I am going to address the circumstances of essential workers who are asylum seekers, many of whom are living in direct provision and often forgotten about. Elsewhere in Europe, the contribution made by foreign healthcare workers has been recognised with a commitment to fast-tracking their citizenship. Numerous...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ..., that there should be a national lead appointed to drive planning, co-ordination and implementation. That is very important. Another main recommendation, and this related to the White Paper on ending direct provision, was that a refugee agency would be established. Even taking those two key recommendations would be beneficial. We have only one more chance to try to get this right. It...

Period Poverty: Motion (13 Mar 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...Given the price of rent, the cost of student fees and general living expenses, college students too are running an exceptionally tight budget. It goes without saying that women living in homelessness and in direct provision have severely limited access to these products. Periods are an entirely normal part of life for every woman worldwide. Both the United Nations and the leading...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Eligibility Criteria of Student Universal Support Ireland: Discussion (12 Sep 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... It has been improved. Mr. Connolly has outlined some of the improvements that have been made. Obviously, things need to go further. The flexibility about which everybody has spoken is very important for people in direct provision and for families who find themselves in difficult situations for various reasons. I have dealt with a family whose means exceeded the threshold by...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...to support them to deal with rising fertiliser prices. That should be an absolute priority for us. I express my condolences to the family and friends of Paulina, who died in the Ashbourne House direct provision centre in Cork. There are concerns that she may have died four days before she was found. There must be an investigation into this.

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2016 (Resumed) (22 Jun 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...target. Last week, of course, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission raised this issue and called on the Government to move without delay in implementing in full the recommendations of a steering group on reform of the direct provision system. I note the statement by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, that several of the recommendations would be provided...

EU Migration and Refugee Crisis: Statements (28 Apr 2016)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...up with concrete proposals for the successful integration of refugees and migrants. Deputy Niall Collins referred to the undocumented in Ireland. There are approximately 8,000 people living in direct provision centres. These people have no control over any aspect of their lives, including how they eat their food. They are merely existing without dignity in their lives. The...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...of the colour of his skin. A young gay couple, Anthony and Gearóid, were attacked and stabbed in Newbridge because of their sexuality, only 100 yd from my home. We have also seen the arson attacks on direct provision centres and the vandalisation of a mosque in Galway. This list is only a few examples of some of the events that have taken place in the recent past. Each of us will...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the colour of his skin. A young gay couple, Anthony and Gearóid, were attacked and stabbed in Newbridge, because of their sexuality. This was only 100 yd from my own home. We have seen arson attacks on direct provision centres and refugee accommodation areas. We have seen mosques being vandalised. Those are only a few examples of some of the events that have taken place in the...

Report on the Arts: Motion (7 Nov 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...Griese Theatre Company, which is based in Ballitore, have given to young people as they try to navigate their lives. They explore many topical societal issues, for example relating to sexuality, direct provision, immigration and domestic violence, through the form of theatre. I have been to see a number of productions in which young people have collaborated and improvised to use the arts...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Facilities and Costs: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Aug 2018)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...enabler to move children and families from social exclusion and poverty, particularly in vulnerable situations such as my colleague, Deputy Catherine Martin, outlined in terms of children who are in direct provision and children who are homeless. We must do better. In terms of the recurring themes from all the opening statements and from the members here, the key issues are to seek an...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... It has a huge responsibility to help those who are fleeing from persecution. Regarding the situation of those not having papers and those seeking asylum here, something that we hear quite often – I certainly do about the direct provision centre that is just beside my office – we need to have these situations dealt with in a quicker fashion. We need to have both...