Results 461-480 of 5,821 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Apologies; I thought we were waiting for another Minister to come in.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I certainly appreciate that the Minister of State is here to take on board what I am going to say. I have no doubt that he will go back to the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister for Health with these sad and pertinent points and the situations I am going to describe. Many of us deal with this issue for the people we represent. I know the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (14 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is very compassionate and is trying to do her best. I am also aware that a lot of extra money is going into the system but it is about outcomes, it is not about finance. The Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, said that there will be 43 new placements. These 43 placements will go nowhere. They would be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to adjourn at 5.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, and business will be interrupted at 2.45 p.m. for a sos of 30 minutes; and No. 2, Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2023 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 6 p.m., with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach. We started this morning with Senator Murphy, who quite rightly complimented all the ushers on how they deal with our school tours and all of the visitors who come to this House. This is the Parliament of the people. It is wonderful when everybody acknowledges when we have schools in. We have had four groups in already this morning. I thank Senator Murphy for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: He is absolutely on the ball. Senator Davitt spoke about the impact of Tara Mines on Westmeath. Senator Paddy Burke expressed his sympathies on the death of former colleague, Paul Coghlan. I would like to be associated with that, as I know everybody else in the House would be. He spoke about the disability grants report. It is a priority that we have a debate on that. Senator Craughwell...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Jun 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister is very welcome back and I wish continued good health to her and her family. As she knows, I previously introduced hate crime legislation in 2016 in the Dáil and in the Seanad in 2020. That Bill dealt with the area of hate crime but not hate speech. The reason I introduced that Bill at the time, and why my party supported it, is because it is a sad reality that hate crime...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Initially, I want to mention Private Seán Rooney, who lost his life so tragically in Lebanon in December while serving our country overseas. I understand that the United Nations is to award Private Rooney a medal to honour his memory and his sacrifice. This will be a very bittersweet but proud moment for his mum Natasha and his fiancée Holly. I just wanted to say this today and...

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (30 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the motion. Senator McGreehan is so passionate about the Good Friday Agreement and everything it brings that I thought she was going to use all of her time and possibly even go over time. I also commend Senator Niall Blaney on the work he does in this area. I welcome the Tánaiste to the Seanad. It is really important that he is here to celebrate, acknowledge and look forward...

Seanad: National Parks: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have been working with a wonderful team of people at Sensational Kids in Kildare, including Karen Leigh, CEO, and Ann Marie Sweeney, to try to realise their vision to transform access and therapeutic supports for children with additional needs and their families.On Friday last, I visited the enterprise's interim space in Kildare town once again and had the opportunity to tour its national...

Seanad: National Parks: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The bottom line is that the Department of Justice has pulled the rug out from under Sensational Kids at the last minute. It was approved for the IIP programme. It was told it could still access the required additional funding to complete the project after the IIP closed. It was never advised of a timeline to submit additional information and now it is in a situation where costs have risen...

Seanad: National Parks: Special Educational Needs (23 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: To clarify, it is not to get a response within 12 months but for the scheme to be extended for a 12-month period in order to get the additional costings, etc., in.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Last night I attended an online meeting organised by Newbridge community development group about commuter issues and particularly the proposed new national fares strategy outlined by the National Transport Authority, NTA, last month. It is regrettable that the NTA, despite being invited, did not attend the meeting. The NTA needs to listen to these customers and people, as the consumers of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Needs of Visually Impaired Students: Discussion (23 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome Mr. Mullaniff, Ms Doherty and Ms O'Dwyer. It is important we have the opportunity to have this type of engagement with them. I am conscious that the NCBI looks after 18,500 people within the cohort around the country. Reading their statement and submission, I wonder how many of those are in the category we are now looking at, when it comes to primary, secondary and third level...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (9 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I was told the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, would deal with my Commencement matter.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (9 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter and the Minister of State for making himself available.. The Tánaiste, as Minister for Defence, contacted me to apologise that he could not take this matter as he is meeting with PDFORRA, which is a very important organisation to the whole Defence Forces family, so I totally accept why he cannot be here. As a very proud...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (9 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. It is heartening to know this report should be ready in a few weeks and that the recommendations are currently being looked at. The national heritage status is absolutely key. While we may see this area being transferred to the OPW, which would be a good home, there are obviously a number of different Departments involved, including the Departments of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I add my voice of welcome to our distinguished guests, particularly to Michael Chambers and Denis Kiely, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at lunchtime. I can assure them that Senator Chambers is a beacon of hope and light and I have no doubt but that they are all incredibly proud of her. I wish to raise a few issues today and will first refer to foster carers. I have been dealing with a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Discussion (9 May 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise for being late. We had a number of conflicting sessions this morning, particularly in the Seanad, so I did not have the opportunity to listen to the opening statements, although I did have the opportunity to go through the statements. It is good to see Ms Dolan again and I wish her continued success. Given the area we are looking at, it was very helpful for the committee to...