Results 141-160 of 245 for speaker:Maura Hopkins

Seanad: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the passage of this Bill through its final Stages in the House today. As we have discussed before, one of the major elements of this Bill is to bring our legislation into line with the legislative regime in operation in the UK since 2013. That is particularly important in terms of the release of state papers. Aligning our release time lines will allow us to be given a much more...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I raise this morning the issue of home help support in the context of preparations for budget 2019. While it is very positive that 1,096 people are in receipt of home help support in County Roscommon, we have a further 30%, or 306 people, who are on a HSE waiting list having been approved for home help support which has yet to be put in place due to either funding or staffing issues. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I would like to be associated with the congratulations to the Tidy Towns committees across the country. Yesterday was a great day for recognising the exceptional work that is done by volunteers through the energy, time and commitment they give to ensuring our villages and towns look so well. As Senator Leyden has rightly said, we have had good success in Roscommon. Roscommon town,...

Seanad: Inclusion in Sport: Motion (26 Sep 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Like other speakers I want to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, to the House. I, too, strongly support the motion, which calls for greater involvement of people with disabilities in sport. I compliment and thank my colleagues, Senator Martin Conway and Senator John O'Mahony, for bringing forward the motion. We all know the benefits of being involved in sport and engaging in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Sustaining Small Rural Businesses: Irish Local Development Network (27 Sep 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I know Dr. Cooke, because we shared the pulpit in the speaker's corner in Ballaghadereen when we talked about the same subject of rural communities. The presentations answered many questions on LEADER. We know that certain rural areas are doing well and others have challenges. I ask Mr. Rice to outline why that is the case. He spoke about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Sustaining Small Rural Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I apologise for being late. I was in another meeting. My questions relate to Pobal's presentation. In supporting volunteers and committees, will Mr. Leamy elaborate on the toolkit to which he alluded? Senator Coffey mentioned the supports that are available, but we need to try to communicate them to people. What is Pobal's view of how we do that? Is it with financing, information or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42- Department of Rural and Community Development (17 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Like my colleagues, I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, on his appointment. As others have stated, he sat on this side of the table and he lives in a rural area so he has a good grasp of the challenges which face us. I wish him the best of luck in his new role. I have a few points to make. The people of Roscommon are delighted that €780,000 was awarded through...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Creative Ireland: Discussion (17 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank all the witnesses for their presentations today. There has been much discussion around the involvement of schools. My first question relates to the Creative Ireland programme which runs from 2017 to 2022. It is encouraging for all of us that we are trying to involve young people. Participation within schools is positive. The witnesses mentioned the pilot scheme in which 150...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I raise an issue in respect of the Dormant Accounts Fund and welcome the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, of the allocation of €1.2 million to upgrade eight volunteer information services to full volunteer centres. I have a particular interest in this because Roscommon is one of the locations that will be upgraded to a full volunteer centre, which is important....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Regional and Rural Transport Policy: Discussion (23 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank Ms Hanlon for her presentation. One of my questions is about the road network. I am from the west where there are huge concerns about the need to develop a fit-for-purpose road network. I live very near the N5. Everybody is aware of the need to upgrade both that road and the N4. The current map of Ireland shows that there is very little motorway access north of the M6. What...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greenways Development (24 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I emphasise the need for refocused efforts to progress the Athlone to Ballinasloe greenway. The project was paused in 2015 and it is important to see progress now. A report was completed on route selection and a number of options have been identified. The national greenway strategy was launched a number of months ago and it is important that this project benefit fully from the available...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greenways Development (24 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister. It is positive that the Minister is keen to see the greenway being expedited. However, I emphasise the need. When we are aware that there has been less opposition with regard to the Athlone to Ballinasloe section, I am a little concerned when the Minister stated, "we need to start again". I would like to see progress in terms of that section, particularly when it...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (24 Oct 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, to the House for this important debate on our very important agricultural sector. I also welcome the representatives from the Ulster Farmers Union. Living in Ballaghadereen, I am very aware of the importance of the North-South working relationship. We have a dairy ingredients plant and much of the milk used in that...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I call for a debate in the House with the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, on the HSE's winter service plan. We are now at the start of November and there are already capacity problems in our emergency departments. The figures for yesterday show 308 people were on trolleys nationally, at least 12 of whom were in Portiuncula Hospital. I raise this because this afternoon I received a...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (7 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: It is great to have the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, with us this evening. I welcome the introduction of this Bill into the Upper House. The Bill is focused on supporting families and allowing parents to spend more time with their children. It is very positive. It is important that we ensure that there are a number of options available to families in terms of spending time with...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I want to raise concerns, as I have done on many occasions, about the number of IDA visits to the western region. I have the figures relating to County Roscommon. I am aware that there were no visits in the first quarter of 2018 while there was one visit in quarter 2 and one visit in quarter 3. As I have stated on numerous occasions, I strongly believe that the IDA is not doing enough to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Hospital Equipment (20 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, for taking this Commencement matter. I am sure he is very well aware of the issue with the thrombectomy machine because it is situated in Beaumont Hospital, which is in his constituency. I raise this matter because I have worked with stroke patients for a number of years as a healthcare professional. I am...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Hospital Equipment (20 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State. I have two questions. I refer to the response with regard to the HSE, and I am aware of this issue from asking previous questions on it. The Minister of State said that the HSE will consider this development in the context of planning for 2019 and he mentioned the prioritisation of projects in the capital plan. When will we know that funding has been...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I want to raise the issue of rail services in the west of Ireland. I have received many calls about the issue in recent times and have experienced it myself as a frequent user of rail services. Recently the Sligo-Boyle-Dublin route has improved with the addition of an extra evening service. We also have an additional later service whereby the Dublin to Sligo service was extended by one...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2018)

Maura Hopkins: ----- to address practical issues in rail services serving the west of Ireland.