Results 681-700 of 5,755 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (30 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for coming to take this Commencement matter. I would like to emphasise that my question was particularly related to the academic year 2022-23. While I appreciate that the long-term solution is in relation to this new school, as well as in the additional projects at Cross and Passion College and the Patrician Secondary School and Ard Scoil Rath Iomgháin, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (30 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State, and the Senator for raising the matter. This is a really important subject and I fully support the Senator's efforts to make the module mandatory. That is very important, from both a teaching point of view and, of course, that of the students and their families.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (30 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I also thank the Minister of State. I wish to welcome students from Loretto College, St. Stephen's Green, our near neighbours. They are very welcome, as is Ms Carroll, who is accompanying them. It is lovely to see them. They are the first school group I have seen in the Seanad Chamber since we opened up after Covid-19. They are very welcome. I hope they have a very enjoyable day and...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the Order of Business. Following on from what Senator Buttimer said, we welcome all of Ireland and beyond to Punchestown at the end of April. We have a world-class event and are always very welcoming and offer great hospitality to those who come.

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I begin by talking about the visionary announcement the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, made on the revised leaving certificate and secondary school reform. This is a real consensus and collaborative model. It is wonderful to see. Extensive consultation took place with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, teachers' unions, parent and student bodies and we did so at the...

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this really important motion. I commend my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, on putting it together. It is incredibly worthwhile. While we have had the opportunity to speak about the situation in Ukraine, it is important that meat is put on the bones in respect of the response, so I thank Senator Seery Kearney and her colleagues for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the Order of Business. I also wish to be associated with the sympathies expressed on the death of the former Senator and Deputy, Dermot Fitzpatrick. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend condolences to our colleague, Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, and to Niamh, who works in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I had the opportunity to meet Dermot a number of times. He wore his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Standard of Living and Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate the opportunity to be able to speak briefly. I had to run in and out of another committee meeting where a quorum was required. I apologise for that. I thank the Minister for taking the time to meet the committee today. We have been very clear in all our deliberations that we need to have a cross-governmental approach. We cannot have a situation where the challenges and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Standard of Living and Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will be late anyway, but I will catch up with the Minister at some stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36) (Appointed Day) (No. 2) Order 2022: Motion (24 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: My colleague, Senator Malcolm Byrne, was to be here. I believe there is a ministerial visit ongoing. I wish the technological university all the very best. I am familiar with some of the work of Carlow and Waterford institutes of technology. There is a tremendous amount of experience and wisdom there that will no doubt shape and guide the new technological university. I echo our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pharmacy Services (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for choosing this Commencement matter and I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, for coming to the Chamber to discuss it. Earlier this week, I met some pharmacy owners in my constituency in Kildare and I was quite shocked by what they told me about the major issues they are facing in terms of having pharmacists in their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pharmacy Services (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. I have no doubt she understands the position. She understands how critical the issue is. It is good to hear about the project that is in place and the scoping exercise but, honestly, it is far too late for that. This is a crisis and if the Government does not act, we will see community pharmacies cutting hours and not being open at crucial times. In rural...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the Order of Business as outlined by the Deputy Leader. I congratulate the Cross and Passion secondary school in Kilcullen, County Kildare on having been acclaimed as the first ADHD-friendly school in Ireland. I commend the dedication of the teachers and staff who have committed a lot of time to expand their own knowledge of ADHD and learn strategies to support students with ADHD...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in the mammoth task he is co-ordinating on behalf of the Government and the State. There is no doubt the people of Ukraine continue to suffer under the tyrannical and dictatorial actions of Putin. The scenes keep going from bad to worse every day. We see them on our telephones and television screens and in the newspapers. It is...

Seanad: Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I know how committed he is to this topic. When he was a member of the Opposition he spoke on this a lot and I know he has put in a lot of work on it since becoming a Minister of State. This is an important debate and any addiction is difficult and tough. Addictions often have far-reaching consequences for individuals and their families and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (10 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have just come from a committee meeting. I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter because it is something I feel very strongly about. I also thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to respond to it. I had submitted this Commencement matter before yesterday's announcement and did not have the information or knowledge I have now following the announcement. I was very...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (10 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am aware of the seven schools in County Kildare and appreciate the Minister of Education's inclusion of them in the system. I contacted the Minister's office yesterday to say I wanted this issue addressed in the Commencement matter after it had been selected, so I am disappointed there is not a response back specifically on that school. I appreciate that is not the Minister of State's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. I start by wishing everybody a very happy St. Patrick's Day next week. This is our last sitting day before that. It is wonderful to have a day where people throughout the world celebrate our country, our nation and our people. I am really pleased that the Taoiseach has committed to using all the diplomatic engagements that will...

Seanad: Proposal for a Council Decision on Hate Speech and Hate Crime: Motion (10 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...