Results 121-140 of 1,730 for speaker:Aisling Dolan

Seanad: Remote Working Strategy: Motion (15 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House. In terms of his responsibility for employment affairs and retail businesses what we are discussing is really important. I commend Senator Currie on the work she has done on remote working and I welcome the strategy that has come forward. The remote working strategy recently launched by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of Technological Universities: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I am in Leinster House. I welcome Dr. Ryan, Professor Cunnane and the team. We only recently heard from them so it was good to get an update. I will comment on the opening statements. I welcome that Dr. Ryan mentioned digital skills and increasing expertise in this area. It is important in regional areas, especially for the digital skills divide. Dr. Ryan referred to three elements,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of Technological Universities: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I agree there has to be investment in research infrastructure. I would like to see that the research offices are supporting the teams in gaining access to funding. How the teams are supported in building their research capability is crucial. The people who attract the investment are key. How they will be recruited and retained within the technological university will also be crucial...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of Technological Universities: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I am very happy to hear about the panel review report which is coming through for AIT and LIT. I look forward to seeing it in mid-March. On education being open for all, I spoke to the regional skills forum recently, which pointed out that our education model is quite open. The graduates who come through the system have a very broad understanding of many subjects which is then pinpointed...

Seanad: National Climate and Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector: Statements (22 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. It is great to see the national climate and air roadmap. We hear many questions from the farming community and there is much concern. The sector has gone through a massive change in the past number of years. I grew up on a dry stock and suckler farm and there have been huge changes. The number of people who were able to do those jobs full time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. It is fantastic to get the update and I thank them for it. We note from the TURN report that digital literacy and skills are crucial, particularly in the regional areas we are looking at. I welcome the investment of more than €65 million. The student experience was spoken about, which is crucial for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Expansion of the Technological Universities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I just want to thank everyone again as it has been really informative. It is great news about the submissions going in from AIT and LIT. I realise the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, was previously a lecturer in LIT, so it is great to see it coming along.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister. I want to pay tribute to the fantastic team from Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the three county councils of Westmeath, Galway and Roscommon, based in Ballinasloe, leading the project for the Galway to Athlone cycleway. I hosted two public meetings last week, focusing on the blue and green routes, going through east Galway. We are advocating for the most...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the attendance by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to discuss this urgent and serious issue related to the building section of the Department. In 1996, the Department of Education amalgamated two national schools in Ballinasloe, St. Grellan's boys' school, which dates to 1937 and the opening of which my father remembers...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (1 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is important we get clear timelines from the Department. I request that the design team completes the current specification request of Galway County Council and meets the safety requirements, such as safe drop-off and pick-up zones, that the Department of Education commit to co-fund the land outside the school buildings section, that new...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: Due to the fact that amendments Nos. 2 to 7, inclusive, are logical alternatives to amendment No. 1, they cannot now be moved.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: When is it proposed to sit again?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. I particularly welcome the officials from Athlone, Tullamore and Dublin. Tá comhghairdeas tuillte ag gach duine because it is a significant achievement to have schools reopening again, particularly when we have got through such a difficult time in recent weeks and months. We are here today to speak in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I might bring in the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. I have a query on a programme that might potentially be one for the summertime. I have one final comment on the Central Applications Office system. We are putting in programmes to support students who are applying to the CAO. Engagement with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Impact of Covid-19 on Reopening of Schools and State Examinations: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I want to quickly acknowledge the Minister's announcement yesterday about delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, and DEIS Urban and reducing the staffing. I would like to point out to Mr. Loftus as the departmental official over school buildings that it is 25 years since Scoil An Chroí Naofa was promised an amalgamation and a new school. Planning permission has expired....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Acting Chairman, Senator Currie, who has taken the Chair on this auspicious day - International Women's Day. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit Collins and I thank him for joining us here today. Today, in Ireland, the actual amount of female representation in senior positions at third level is shocking to many. We need change and this has been proven by: the Equality...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: The Athena SWAN charter is one thing but it is not enough. We need to ensure that women come through. Although there is 26% of professorships, only 30% of applications came from women. In other words, we need to ensure there is funding available for starting investigators, PhDs, post doctorates and increasing funding at IRC and SFI level. We need to make sure that the centres of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gender Equality (8 Mar 2021)

Aisling Dolan: It may take another 20 years to do it.