Results 281-300 of 5,821 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank everyone for being here. I will ask my questions in one block to be efficient. As my colleague said, we could spend the whole day here discussing all of the really interesting aspects that have been brought to us. Can I thank Ms Healy for bringing so much colour into Leinster House today? It is great to see it. I really like her colour scheme. On 9 April I had the opportunity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. McLoughlin. Will Mr. English comment on the national skills week?

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: recognises that: - the system put in place by the Department of Education has been a largely successful model for planning school places up until recently; - the Department of Education is aware of enrolment pressures and is engaging with second-level schools in the affected areas to share application data to determine the full extent of...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Leader for facilitating this Private Members' motion and thank the Minister for making herself available to come to the House to discuss this important topic. I can appreciate how busy she is as she engages with all the different matters that come before her desk. The motion recognises that the system that has been put in place by the Department has been pretty successful until...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: No pressure.

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate we had both Ministers in the House to debate the motion. We all agree that while a lot of work is being done in the area in terms of providing capital funds for building new schools etc., the process of actually building schools needs to be streamlined because we have heard references to this right around the country. Senator Wall and I have spoken about the situation in County...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Next Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: First, I want to add my voice of welcome to Senator Malachai O'Hara. I look forward to working with him in a collaborative and positive way. It is lovely for him to have members of his family here. When all of us here were elected, it was during Covid so we had our first sitting in the Convention Centre and could not invite any family members or supporters. His family being here today is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister and her officials for coming before us today. She touched on a lot of key issues across many important areas, including special education, transport, STEM subjects and the school building unit. I will ask about a few issues. The Minister mentioned the RSE programme. The women's caucus here in the Oireachtas has decided that this year it will like to focus on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Role of Disabled Persons Organisations and Self Advocacy in Providing Equal Opportunities under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Implementation: Discussion (8 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I find myself in the humbling position of having to try to respond to the issues the witnesses have all raised. I say this in a very genuine way with a view to responding to their bravery and courage in sharing how their lives have been impacted. They have dealt with very adversarial situations in their lives and how their lives have been altered in terms of everything from employment to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will take this opportunity to wish the President a very speedy recovery. As we know, he will be in hospital until Thursday. It is fair to say that he has solidified his role at the heart of Irish public life. Many of us are looking forward to seeing him back in Áras an Uachtaráin, continuing to deliver for us as Head of State. Having a parent unwell in hospital is not an easy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Allocations of Special Education Teachers: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Chair. I apologise for not being in the room. I was at another committee. In addition, we are in a voting situation today. The witnesses will have to excuse me if I may not be able to stay to listen and respond. I have my colleagues on alert to come in and get me. I thank the witnesses for being here and for the work they do in supporting families and those who need extra...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Allocations of Special Education Teachers: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: But the school to which I refer is losing a teacher.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business, as outlined, and welcome our guests. I want to talk first about two very positive events which I attended. It is really down to the power of parents doing good things for their children. Yesterday morning, I had the opportunity to attend a coffee morning organised by Kathleen Murphy and the Kildare branch of Down's Syndrome Ireland which was held in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach and witnesses. In particular, I thank Ms Byrne for telling us about her experience and advocating for her peers. We really appreciate her making the effort to be here. It is important for us to hear from her and her peers regarding their experience and wishes in terms of the type of education they want. We can then make recommendations on that basis. ...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (27 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Last week, I raised concerns related to HSE-funded post-mastectomy products in the House. I am really glad that the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, showed real leadership and intervened as he recognised that the threshold of support provided under those new procedures may lead to some women receiving less support than before. He asked the HSE to amend the procedures to ensure that no woman who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (27 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. In her reply, she stated it was important to note "that the new proposed procedure in respect of hair loss was for cancer provision only and had no impact on non-cancer related alopecia patients". I take from that that those suffering from alopecia will still be entitled to the same allowance as before. That is bringing clarity and I thank the Minister of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (27 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate the efforts of the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I congratulate the Houses of the Oireachtas on winning the advancing disability equality award for organisations in the workplace with the OWL programme. The award was made at the Irish Centre for Diversity national awards. It is wonderful to see the Houses of the Oireachtas being recognised for this. We are the first and only parliament to organise an internship for young people from KARE...