Results 21-40 of 5,951 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I express our sadness on hearing of the passing of Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy, who was rightly revered for her lifelong dedication to social justice, especially her work with the homeless, immigrants and marginalised communities in Ireland. She earned deep respect and admiration. We can look back at the organisations she co-founded: Focus Ireland, the Immigrant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade Relations: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise for being late. I had Seanad business that had to be attended to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade Relations: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Sweetman for his opening statement. One of the most interesting things I learned from reading it was that our economic relationship with the US is two-way and that Ireland is the fifth largest source of FDI into the US, with Irish companies employing as many people. In fact, when comparing the statistics, it would seem that there are more people employed in the US by Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade Relations: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Sweetman. It would be important to get another briefing when that happens. The Chairman has requested that when the chamber does its next survey, which will be around Thanksgiving, the committee should get the information. Obviously, we must concerned about the boycott legislation and the challenges that may arise in relation to including services in the occupied territories...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade Relations: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We know that a well-educated workforce is a big part of what attracts FDI to Ireland. Does Mr. Sweetman have any message in respect of higher education that we need to address at this point in order to enable that type of investment to come here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade Relations: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is good to hear. My colleague Senator Ahearn touched on the topic of opportunities after Brexit. How does Mr. Sweetman feel that Ireland can strengthen its position as a gateway to the EU for US firms in Europe? There are opportunities there that we need to grasp.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade Relations: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (4 Nov 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Sweetman for that. It is obviously important that we get a sense of the feedback that Mr. Sweetman gets from US companies. What has he heard from US companies about navigating Irish bureaucracy around trade compliance? There is a lot of red tape there, so I would be interested to hear what he is hearing back.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I too extend my voice of welcome to the Austrian ambassador. I also extend condolences to the Calnan family and to the Labour Party. Tomorrow is an important day, not just in Brussels but across Europe, for an Irishman Séamus Boland who is the first Irish person to take the presidency of the European Economic and Social Committee, EESC. Many...

Seanad: Election of Acting Chairperson (22 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second that proposal.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am sharing time with Senator Paul Daly.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (16 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome Councillor Caroline O'Reilly, who is with us this morning. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach. Gabhaim buíochas leis as a chuid focal. Last Friday, thanks to national and local funding, we had the opportunity to open the Shackleton museum in Athy. Shackleton, as the Taoiseach knows, was from Kilkea, just a few miles away. He is famous for having demonstrated great...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for being here. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, was keen to be here but she had a prior commitment and I appreciate that the Minister of State is here on her behalf. The issue I raise relates to Jigsaw and my disappointment at the fact that we did not get a Jigsaw service for Newbridge and surrounding areas in the budget...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge that I spoke to the Minister's adviser yesterday. I am not at all happy with that response. I went through the statistics earlier. County Kildare has the highest rate of youth suicide in Leinster. That has to stand for something. I always try to be positive about my town and my county because I believe in being positive. I do not believe in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó – Order of Business (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the former Senator, Professor James Doolan. I remember him coming to my house when my father was a councillor. There were lots of visitors and, living out in the country, one always looked forward to those who came canvassing for the Seanad election. He stood out. There was just something very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights at the United Nations: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: No. As the Chair knows, I have to get to our parliamentary party meeting, so I would really appreciate the opportunity to ask a question now if he does not mind. I apologise as I was at another meeting. I commend our Guatemalan guests for their bravery and courage in standing up to big business. That is really important to say. As members of committees – this is my first time as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights at the United Nations: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights at the United Nations: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: From the EU perspective, does Dr. O'Connell feel that this should be a focus for us when Ireland takes the Presidency of Europe? Does he think we can make a difference in that way?

Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement with Representatives of the Regional Assemblies (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for being here. They play an important role. There is one councillor from my county here, Mr. Robert Power. I know he was former chair and has done much work in the area. That is not taking away, of course, from the present cathaoirleach, Mr. David Healy. The witnesses are all very welcome. This is getting to be a weekly occurrence with Ms Coughlan. She is always...

Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement with Representatives of the Regional Assemblies (15 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: This was a really engaging discussion. Mr. Power brought up a very practical example that is making such a huge difference not just to the physical appeal of Athy but also in terms of lifting the spirits of people who live there. Are there are any cross-Border or transnational projects that have been led by any of the assemblies? Sometimes that is how we can secure funding. In terms of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on Current Situation in Ukraine: H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland (14 Oct 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the ambassador for her strong statement. As she knows, we are in absolute solidarity with her and her people. About three weeks ago, I travelled to Ukraine. Some of my colleagues did earlier in the summer. I was really glad that I travelled. For me, it was important to show solidarity but also to bear witness to and experience what it is like on the ground for those who are...