Results 61-80 of 245 for speaker:Maura Hopkins

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Maura Hopkins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Maura Hopkins: Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Apr 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I wish to raise a very important issue with regard to mental health services. Roscommon mental health services have been undergoing an external review of service provision since that review was commissioned back in August 2015. I have been working very closely with the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, who has been actively seeking updates with regard to the provision of this report...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I raise concerns regarding stroke services. This morning, the Irish Heart Foundation launched its stroke manifesto. I, the Irish Heart Foundation, the many people throughout the country who have had strokes and their families have a number of very serious concerns. While we know there have been improvements, particularly in terms of acute care, there are serious challenges with regard to...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Stanton, to the House today and for facilitating this important debate on the migrant integration strategy. My contribution will focus on the integration of the individuals who have come to Ireland as part of the Irish refugee protection programme which was established in 2015. This was a direct response to...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: Teenagers within this group reached out to their counterparts in the Syrian refugee programme at the centre. I commend them on their actions. I will continue to work on this matter.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (17 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I hope he will provide good news on the upgrade of the N5 between Ballaghaderreen and Scramogue. I wish to emphasis how important the provision of capital funding is for this project, and it is a matter of urgency. I am very concerned about the high volumes of traffic using the road, which is our main route to the west. The section of road in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (17 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister for his response. I must emphasise the importance of the progression of this project. He rightly stated we need to focus on projects which deal with improving road safety. The N5 road between Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge is an identified accident black spot and we need to ensure everything is done to ensure that capital funding is made available. I will continue to...

Seanad: National Rehabilitation Hospital: Statements (23 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State and Senator Boyhan, who has raised this issue consistently for quite some time, as have I. I first became aware of the fact that 12 beds were closed on 14 February last. From January until mid-May, we have had 10% reduced capacity at our National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. As an occupational therapist who has worked in rehabilitation for...

Seanad: Areas of Natural Constraint: Statements (24 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. As he has rightly pointed out, almost 100,000 farmers benefit currently from the areas of natural constraint scheme, which is very important. It recognises the difficulties associated with rearing animals on marginal land and attempts to provide a small level of support to ensure that land remains farmed and in a good agricultural condition. It...

Seanad: Areas of Natural Constraint: Statements (24 May 2017)

Maura Hopkins: Excuse me. I did not interrupt the Senator. Many farmers have contacted me, in particular from Roscommon and Galway, and expressed concern about clarity as the Department is publishing maps showing proposed designation and when consultation will take place. The Minister alluded to it in his contribution. It is very important the Minister encourages the Department to invest effort in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Home Care Packages Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today. I want to raise the need for increased supports for home care packages and home help supports in County Roscommon, which has one of the oldest populations in the country and one of the most rural. We need to target areas with the greatest need and ensure adequate home care services are being provided to individuals who need them....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Home Care Packages Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for his update on services within the community health care organisation, CHO, area 2, which covers Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. However, I am still concerned about situations where health care professionals made recommendations on assessed need for personal care, domestic tasks and activities of daily life. I can provide specific examples to the Minister of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jun 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I thank Mr. McGuinness for his work and his contribution this afternoon. I live in Ballaghaderreen which is the headquarters of the WDC. Ballaghaderreen is like many other towns but not all rural communities are the same. As Mr. McGuinness said, rural decline is a complex issue. In my first contribution in the Seanad, this time last year, I asked for a detailed analysis of each town and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jun 2017)

Maura Hopkins: We hear a lot about collaboration, but how closely does the WDC work with local authorities across the west or with the office next door in the shape of the north and west regional assembly in Ballaghaderreen? Do further relationships need to be built across the different authorities to achieve its goal?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jun 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I read the presentation given by Ian Brannigan about viable rural communities, and while research is part of the role, so is delivery. That is what needs to change and there needs to be a shift of mindset in order that we do not just state the problems but invest in fixing the problems. It is very disappointing to hear that a person who is extremely passionate about rural areas has had to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I join other Members in congratulating Senator Buttimer on his engagement and in wishing him well. Yesterday evening, I attended an open meeting in Kilbride Community Centre, Four Mile House, Roscommon, in respect of issues faced by early years educators. There were over 50 early years educators at the meeting. They are very frustrated and disillusioned and feel very undervalued. The...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Maura Hopkins: In this decade of commemorations it is important that we recognise all those events which have contributed to the formation of the Ireland we know today and 21 January 1919 certainly was a pivotal day in modern Irish history. I thank Senator Swanick for his work on this Bill. We in the Fine Gael group will not oppose the passage of the Bill through this House. The first meeting of...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Maura Hopkins: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Jul 2017)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister. There is no better individual to handle the rural and community development portfolio. It is extremely important that the new Cabinet includes a Minister with responsibility for rural and community development. To be honest, it is also important for us. In 2011 the Department of Finance was divided in two and we are now in a position to support rural communities...