Results 921-940 of 1,730 for speaker:Aisling Dolan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: The school transport system is vital for tens of thousands of families across the country. This is especially so in rural areas and I am sure in the Minister's own constituency as well, where there is just no other choice. He will be very aware of that. In areas of east Galway and Roscommon around Ahascragh, Kilconnell, Ballyforan and Dysart, we do not have a myriad of transport options....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I know that the Minister is very much aware that there is pure frustration among families and parents about this issue. There is no space or capacity on the buses. Suddenly, everyone has learnt about the criteria in respect of full eligible tickets and concessionary tickets. There have been last minute notice emails. There is the communications side of things and the family portal....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I pay my condolences to the British ambassador who was here earlier on the impact of the loss of the Queen. She made such a stir when she travelled to Ireland in 2011. It tugged at everyone's heartstrings to see the effort she put into every meeting she attended and speech she gave when she was here. It built an awful lot of bridges that we need to continue fighting for. I also want to...

Seanad: Energy: Motion (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this motion and I thank the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth, and also the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who was in the House earlier. We are seeing the rising costs of energy. I thank the Senators who tabled the motion. The budget will be very much about mitigating and reducing...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: With the budget coming up, we are all looking to the supports that will be put in place. It is really important that we look at the fuel allowance, which the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, has been reviewing. This is hopefully something that we will look at next week. Along with the supports we put in place for individuals and those who are most vulnerable, it is crucial...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome our MEPs. I take it that they represent Ireland as a nation when they are in Dublin, as well as the east. I am speaking from the Roscommon and Galway area from the west. My questions here are specifically for Ms Fitzgerald. Reference was made to just transition, which is of major interest to me because Shannonbridge is some ten miles away from Ballinasloe and Lanesborough is...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Does Senator Higgins wish to continue on amendment No. 52?

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: The Minister had finished his response.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I will bring in Senator Warfield. Senators should note that amendments Nos. 52 to 55, inclusive, are being discussed together.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Amendments Nos. 56 to 58, inclusive, 75, 76, 84, 115, 142 and 143 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the visitors in the Public Gallery who are joining us for this debate. Does any other Senator wish to contribute?

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: It is clear, when we are talking about the brand new technological universities and even the renaming, such as the University of Galway and so on, that many new bodies have reached university status in Ireland. Higher education institutes, HEIs, is the common term that is used when we talk about third level education. The Minister mentioned research legislation that is coming down the...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I agree that excluding certain groups, not least people in the public service, could to some extent discriminate against those who, on the basis of merit and experience, might be capable of facing the Committee of Public Accounts. Amendment No. 69 would provide that the chief executive would not have the last say on the funding, but the chief executive is the person who is responsible to the...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: The chief executive will have control of a new body that will have many responsibilities and there will be a great deal of diligence around the role. We want to ensure the best person will come forward for the role and he or she will be appointed by the board. The onus is on all of us, but we hope that through this process, there will be a strong person to represent the body, who will look...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Amendment No. 67 mentions including "reflecting regional concerns". I would see our technological universities represent the regions they come from by their very nature. The new technological universities we are seeing, for example, in Athlone, Galway and Sligo are university campuses that are now in small regional towns. The agricultural campus is in Mountbellew. There is now a...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: There is a necessity for a balanced approach in all types of research. I am coming from an arts background, and as someone who did history and French, in our "brand new" University of Galway, I very much understand that. I understand how, all the elements in a university that drive it to be excellent across all topics and subjects that we must also acknowledge that the research and...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Encore.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I am delighted with all that is happening across the country this week. The National Ploughing Championships commenced yesterday and continues today and tomorrow. Very many people attended yesterday and are there today. I look forward to getting there tomorrow at some stage. However, one needs to know where one is going because the event is so huge that it feels like a jungle due to the...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: There are a range of amendments. Where the composition of these governing bodies is concerned, it is important that students be included and that the student voice be heard. It has traditionally been a closed shop to students. Senator Higgins referred to the principle of nothing with us without us. It is true that the student voice needs to be heard. It is important that students' unions...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: So many more students are coming into our universities and college, which is fantastic, but the need for accommodation is crucial, as the Minister is aware, and the new technological universities will have powers in that regard. In my area, I constantly try to highlight the rent a room scheme and the relief that is available, whereby people can rent out a room within their house. We have to...