Results 741-760 of 5,821 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have one final point. The committee on a number of occasions had engagement in particular around bullying in schools. Senator O'Reilly referred to the report we produced, which recommended that every school would have access to emotional supports and counselling. We are talking here about third level education but building on Senator O'Reilly's first question, sometimes at third level we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Are there any other comments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We have had a very productive committee meeting. I thank all of the witnesses for their insights and experience. We ask them to please collaborate further. I can totally appreciate that balance because we all have to juggle every day deciding what is more important. Most certainly, this is an opportunity to work together. I can even see the synergy today between everyone, in terms of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: As the previous Senator mentioned, Saturday is World Autism Awareness Day, as designated by the UN. The theme this year is "Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities...". That is particularly important in Ireland because we have the lowest rate of employment for people with disabilities in Europe. It is something we have to be far better at and we need to reach out and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Independent and Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection - Safeguarding: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the three organisations and Professor Kelly for their thought-provoking and detailed submissions and opening statements. They have painted a grim picture of where we are in terms of supporting and protecting vulnerable people. This committee is considering what recommendations we can make to empower people to protect themselves from exploitation and abuse. We must also consider...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for coming to address this matter relating to secondary school places in south Kildare. I appreciate and respect the fact that he does not represent the Department of Education but I certainly hope that he has some positive messages for us. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue today and it is certainly not for the first time. I have raised this...

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.