Results 661-680 of 5,828 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Amendments Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, 47, 184 to 194, inclusive, 211, 213, 215 to 217, inclusive, 274, 275, 314 and 316 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this important subject as one of today's Commencement matters. I also welcome the young people who are coming into the Gallery. It is always good to have the opportunity to see young people coming into the Chamber, listening and engaging with our process. I also thank the Minister of State for being here. This issue I wish to raise relates to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I acknowledge that the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces is a substantial one, running to 224 pages and containing 69 recommendations. It is a colossal piece of work. I appreciate the complexity and the technical nature of devising an action plan to implement these findings. However, we cannot fall at the first hurdle. There must be a time-bound element to it. The report...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have just read through the notes and there is mention that it will happen before the summer recess. That is in the statement that was circulated.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, to the Chamber.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State and I must have a chat about Kilcash sometime because my grandparents were from there. They were the principals of the boys and girls national schools, respectively. What is now the community centre in Kilcash was then their home.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Students (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, back to the House.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have just come from an excellent briefing in the audiovisual room. I appreciate those who are here did not have the opportunity to go to it. It was from the Ukraine Civil Society Forum and about 65 different organisations that together are responding to the Ukrainian crisis within our country. We must acknowledge that, since 24 February, when Putin’s war of aggression started, the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. It came to my attention before I came into the Chamber that today is International Day of Parliamentarism. I wish Members a happy international day. It is important to recognise that we live in a country where democracy prevails. It is important also to appreciate and respect that. One of the issues I wish to raise today is in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Fair play, that is great.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (28 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I am disappointed that we do not have the Minister for Education or her Minister of State. I appreciate that the Minister of State may not have the level of detail I need and require, apart from the briefing he has been given. As we all know, education is the passport to the future because tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it. I am not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (28 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: There is nothing in the Department's response that I did not hear six months ago, when I last raised the issue. I had hoped that there would have been some update on the proposed new school. I note the Minister of State mentioned data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data. Of course that is important but 1,500 new homes are being built in Newbridge and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Young Social Innovators: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I must keep an eye on the clock because I will be raising a Commencement matter in the Seanad. I reckon I will cover what I want to say in the allocated eight minutes. It has been very refreshing to listen to all the students. Senator Pat Casey is an incredible advocate for the school and what they are doing. He shared with me a video that they put together, which is excellent. I commend...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I wish everybody a happy Bloomsday. It is a very important day in Dublin, Ireland and indeed across the world now. The final life-affirming words are not "... yes I said yes I will Yes" but in fact "Trieste-Zurich-Paris 1914-1921". The most Dublin of Dublin novels was actually written on the Continent and as we know Joyce was very deliberately European and a very proud European. He lived...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Tánaiste to the Chamber. It is a pleasure to be able to discuss this Bill with him. I welcome this legislation coming to the House. As was mentioned by my colleague, Senator Crowe, Fianna Fáil will, of course, be supporting this Bill. It is an important one because it gives all workers in Ireland the right to paid sick leave for the first time. This is something I...

Seanad: Cost of Living: Motion (15 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: There is no doubt that one of the greatest challenges facing us is the skyrocketing cost of living. Every single one of us in these Houses is being contacted all the time by constituents who believe the cost of a basic standard of living is becoming more and more difficult to meet. That reality is felt right across the country. I and no doubt the Acting Chairman are hearing it all the time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on Climate Challenges: Discussion with Foróige and Comhairle na nÓg (3 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Chairman and Senator McGahon, who is very kind as I did not wish to jump in ahead of anybody else. I am not a member of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action but this is a fantastic initiative and I thank Deputy Leddin, the committee Cathaoirleach, for leading and organising it and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad for also encouraging and supporting it. I was in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (2 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this very important issue for the Commencement debate, and Senator Boyhan for chairing this session. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is very welcome. I hope he has some good news for us in terms of the new bridge for Newbridge, which is my new mantra. I will put it up on everything that I do.Everyone in the House, in the Dáil and in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (2 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: With the greatest of respect to the Minister of State, I did not need a lecture on the URDF. While he correctly stated that Kildare County Council submitted four applications, this particular application was highlighted as the second most important of those four. It was bypassed for whatever reason. We were very disappointed to receive word that the project was not included. The...