Results 621-640 of 5,755 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (19 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise for the disturbance caused by my phone during that exchange.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The first issue I raise is that tomorrow Ireland will be taking the presidency of the Council of Europe for the first time in 24 years. It is an important time. Ireland was of course one of the ten founding members of the council. When we think about how the world and indeed Europe have changed over the past 24 years, we see that the commitment and values of the Council of Europe to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Welfare Service (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On 30 March, a conference took place down the road from here that celebrated 20 years of the school completion programme, SCP. The conference gave people the opportunity to hear about the transformative work that happened in schools and communities as a result of the programme. The Taoiseach, who established the programme as he was the Minister for Education at the time, acknowledged all of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Welfare Service (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to give a response. While I certainly welcome the expansion of the DEIS programme, my question was not about that. It was specifically about the welfare office. I accept that the Minister of State said that more than 700 young people receive interventions. That just shows the number of young people and the extent of the community that need this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Before I allow the Minister of State to reply, I want to say I completely support what the Senator is saying. The forward planning is very poor in providing adequate places. Only yesterday I heard of a child in Brittas, County Wicklow, who has to travel to Rathangan, which is in County Kildare on the Offaly border, and a child from Rathangan must travel to Straffan which is right at the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister. We now move to to the third Commencement matter of the morning which has been tabled by Senator Craughwell. This refers to the need for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the consultations undertaken with industry experts and other stakeholders ahead of the publication of cybersecurity legislation. I notice that the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is having a very busy morning with us. He is going to complete more than a hat-trick. He is here for the final Commencement matter as well.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Before the I bring the Senator in, I would like to add my voice of welcome to the boys, girls and teachers of Glandore National School from west Cork, who are being hosted today by Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan. They have had a very long journey to come up here. I was in Glandore last summer and it is just such a beautiful part of the world. We appreciate that they have taken the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That concludes the Commencement matters. I am suspending until 12 noon.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The first issue I wish to raise relates to unauthorised developments. At the moment in County Kildare, as with many other counties, we are going through the long and arduous process of the county development plan. All Members know how difficult it is to get planning for a one-off house or many other types of development. Unauthorised developments, however, are popping up to a significant...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, given the price of fertiliser and the profitability of the company despite the lack of availability. This will put farmers under significant pressure. It is a difficult issue for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deal with, but something has to be done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Employment and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses. It has been an interesting discussion and I take on board the points that Senator Flynn made, but I want to place a value on the work that has been happening. I know Val and Una Cross in Drumshree, Rathangan, who are wonderful ambassadors for the concept of social farming. It was the first time I had heard of it. As hosts, they have gained a great deal. They have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Employment and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. McManus.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (11 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this important issue. The Minister is welcome to the House. As a member of Fianna Fáil, I can say we are proud of our role in the history of the State, especially of our involvement in the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement. I again offer my gratitude to former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, for his tireless work on that agreement. At a time...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is familiar with this matter as his mother is from beside the Curragh.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting this Commencement matter on the Curragh Plains. As the Minister of State will be aware, the Curragh is a jewel in the crown of Kildare. It is something we are truly proud of as Lilywhites. It is incumbent upon us as political leaders to ensure we do everything in our power to protect the Curragh's heritage and ecological value and ensure we use it to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am pleased to hear that the conservation management plan is due to be submitted to the Department and Kildare County Council in the coming weeks. Obviously there will be a plan around the potential development of the plains. While the study is scheduled to be completed in June 2022, I am not sure that we should seek the deadline to be extended because we need action sooner rather than...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined. I give a shout-out for an event, Calves for Ukraine, happening in Kilcullen Mart. The sale of 50 calves is happening on 20 April and has been organised by the Kildare and west Wicklow branch of the Irish Farmers Association. It is great to see so many different factions in our community supporting Ukraine. The Deputy Leader will remember we had...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I did not speak earlier because I did not want to impede the passage of this legislation within the specific time. However, because of filibustering in the Chamber, we had to go over time. This debate and the result of it are important but I also want to acknowledge that the Minister of State had an important meeting at 3.30 p.m., which she postponed to be able to stay with us. I want to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate that Senator McGreehan from my own group has swapped with me because I have a Commencement matter to raise today. I thank the witnesses for their compelling testimony. Day after day at these meetings, I am humbled by what I hear. We had the pleasure of meeting Ms Browne a few weeks ago. She is a compelling witness. I will ask a few key questions. Mr. Kavanagh spoke...