Results 681-700 of 5,828 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I add my voice of welcome to the distinguished ambassador with us today. I have enjoyed many pleasant times in his country. I cannot claim to know any Danish, but the Gaelic version of my name, O'Loughlin, is Ó Lochlainn, which means "The Viking", so I reckon I am descended from Viking blood. I also welcome the boys and girls from Tipperary, because I also have blood from the county...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I also welcome the ambassador and wish him well during his time here. I have had the good fortune and luck to avail of wonderful hospitality in his country over many years and I look forward to doing so again. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I would also like to be associated with the condolences the House has offered to the Jackman family and to the Fine Gael Party on the passing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am going to suspend the meeting for two minutes until the Ministers come back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister and Minister of State. I thank all of those who have put in place so many positive systems to ensure that Ukrainian students at this time of major trauma have welcome places in schools. I thank in particular school principals and teachers and, of course, the other children in the classes who have made our guests welcome. I will ask about some particular areas, one...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I add my voice to the welcome for the Croatian ambassador and the pupils from Malahide.They are all very welcome in this distinguished Chamber. I wish to raise a number of items. The first is on the decision announced last night regarding the provision of special education regional centres, seemingly across Dublin. I was surprised and shocked when I read the level of detail that was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing Disability Services: Discussion (26 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank all the witnesses. I am utterly depressed, although I do not why I am more than normal, after listening to these testaments. The story that has been painted is just so utterly bleak. In whatever way we can, we must try to give hope as well as support to families in this position. I thank the witnesses for their honesty and courage in coming to tell us their stories. I have a...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 - Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn at 2.45 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be given no...

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.