Results 21-40 of 139 for speaker:Laura Harmon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Disability: Discussion (7 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the witnesses for their contributions this morning. It has been very insightful to hear from all of them. There is certainly a load of food for thought and topics that the committee needs to discuss. It is fair to say that inequalities exist for disabled people in Ireland with or without AI. It is very important that AI does not contribute to widening this inequality gap and that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Disability: Discussion (7 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: My next question is for the Disability Federation of Ireland. The UNCRPD has been mentioned. Will the witnesses expand on how we can ensure it is not abandoned as we rush to adopt AI? Will they give suggestions on how we can better codesign in terms of AI?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Disability: Discussion (7 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: My final question is for the NDA. Dr. Hartney touched on access to education and upskilling in her opening remarks. How can better access for disabled people be ensured and that jobs are not displaced for them when it comes to AI?

Seanad: Budget 2026 (Finance): Statements (7 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. It is safe to say this budget is giving "friends in high places" vibes. What I mean by that is that it is a budget for developers and in many ways for big businesses, for the likes of Starbucks and McDonald's. Instead of asking, "Do you want fries with that?", this budget in many ways asks, "Do you want elitism with that?" This budget...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the witnesses for being here today. This is an important topic and it is important that we hear from their communities. My first question is a general one about the accessibility of apprenticeships, particularly for people who might have caring responsibilities or other part-time responsibilities. How can apprenticeships be made more accessible in that regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank Mr. Talbot. I do not know if anyone else wants to come in on that question. It ties in to my next question, which is how we get more women into apprenticeships. I know progress is being made. The childcare issue is a part of that, as it is for men. Do the witnesses have specific recommendations as to how to attract women?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Apprenticeships: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Laura Harmon: I am conscious of time so the following will be my final question. It is for IBEC, in particular. Ms Costello mentioned the National Training Fund. If we were to unlock all of that funding, speaking hypothetically, what would be the top three things that IBEC would do immediately? What does it see as urgent to address?

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I am sharing my time with Senator Cosgrove.

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus gabhaim buíochas leis as bheith anseo linn inniu. Families in Ireland are facing extreme challenges in accessing school transport. Children all over the country, particularly those in rural areas, are being let down by inadequate transport links. This is an access to education issue. In August, parents in many areas across Ireland were...

Seanad: Pension Auto-Enrolment: Statements (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I will be echoing a lot of the points made by Senator Cosgrove. I welcome the roll-out of the new auto-enrolment scheme. This something we in the Labour Party have long been calling for. I also welcome the appointment of Patricia King, former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, to the board. ICTU has a positive role to play...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Older People: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the witnesses for their insightful contributions and for the important work they do. From listening to them this morning I am left with more fear and worry than positivity. They raised some important concerns and flagged a number of important issues. I was struck by the fact that Ms Loftus mentioned there is relatively no data in relation to this for those aged over 75. We also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Older People: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: How do we reach older people who want to improve their education in relation to AI? What is the best way to reach them? Much of this now happens in educational settings or maybe in workplaces. Have Mr. Moynihan and Dr. O'Reilly any recommendations there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Older People: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank Dr. O'Reilly and I know-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Older People: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: Great. That is a good point. I thank Ms Loftus. I want to give Mr. Moynihan and Dr. O'Reilly the opportunity to answer Deputy Geoghegan's question about how they use AI or their attitude to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Student Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank all the witnesses for their contributions. It is very clear that they have solutions and the will to solve this. They want to take action but are being prevented from doing that because we still do not have a plan in place and the commitments in the programme for Government need to be honoured, as they rightly said. We had student unions from across the country addressing the...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I propose to share my time with Senator Stephenson.

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I will not oppose the Bill on this Stage but there is significant work to be done on it and a lot of scope for amendment. I acknowledge the visitors in the Gallery. I thank the many individuals and organisations that have engaged with me in recent weeks on the Bill and raised their concerns. I refer in particular to Mental Health Reform for...

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank all of the witnesses. They have painted a really holistic picture of the experiences of children, students and parents in schools, and those working in the sector. I apologise that I was not here to listen to their opening statements but I have read them. I was attending a prior commitment in relation to workers' rights. I will direct my first questions to Inclusion Ireland. As...

Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: There is some time left. In relation to the narrative around appropriate school places, and our witnesses already touched on this, how do we ensure mainstream schools are also inclusive?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Sep 2025)

Laura Harmon: I welcome everybody back. I also wish Bridget Doody the best and thank her for her service here. We will certainly miss her. I wish the same to Martin Groves. I wish Martin Hughes the best in his role. I raise the issue of student fees. We are back from the summer recess and we hear there will be a €500 increase in the student contribution fee. It is being portrayed as a...