Results 681-700 of 5,821 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I find myself in the unusual position that I am directing my response only to the Government side of the House. Senator Chambers opened proceedings and spoke of the anniversary of repeal. It is hard to believe that it is four years since we had the referendum on repeal. She noted that it actually started 35 years ago. We as legislators need to ensure that the will of people around...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is agreed on this side of the House.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (19 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for accepting this Commencement matter on the terms and conditions of employment for childcare workers. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to reply to this Commencement matter. I appreciate that it is within his brief and I hope he will have something substantial to tell us on the matter. Many of us who work in these Houses would not be...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (19 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. It is good to hear the progress that has been made. We need to emphasise that it is important for members of the public to get involved in the public consultation process. There is still an opportunity to submit proposals by 31 May. I understand from the Minister of State's response that there is to be a second opportunity to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Abortion Services (19 May 2022)

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

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome our visitors to the Gallery. It is great to see young people coming back in and having the opportunity to listen to the debates, in both the Dáil and the Seanad, on issues that impact on their lives. I hope they have an enjoyable day in Leinster House today. If there are any follow-up questions they would like to ask us about afterwards, I will be very happy to respond.

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...