Results 741-760 of 5,756 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and thank him for the lovely event this morning to mark Seanad 100. It was very special to have Senator Norris and former Senator and former President Mary Robinson reflecting on the Seanad's role in society and politics and speaking about some of the issues that have been raised in the past and that we have to deal with now. The one element that really...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Bill and the opportunity to speak on it.The Minister is very welcome to the Seanad. I want to echo the comments and sentiments expressed by other Senators in terms of having a preference for more targeted measures. I accept the limitations of our ability to do that within a short period of time. It is important that measures are rolled out quickly to show the understanding...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Carbon Budget: Motion (15 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: To clarify, I am representing Senator Dooley, who is the Fianna Fáil spokesperson and a member of the committee. Unfortunately, he had other urgent business to attend to, so I am here on his behalf and that of the party. I thank all those involved on the committee for the tremendous work they did. I echo the support expressed for the committee Chairman, who did an excellent job of...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: On the Commission on the Defence Forces, I wish to thank the 15-member commission and the chair, Aidan O'Driscoll, for their work. It is noteworthy that there were 500 submissions. About 1,000 military personnel were interviewed. The report is going to foster real debate about the Defence Forces that Ireland needs as a modern European country. There are 69 recommendations in the report,...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister is welcome to the House to take this important Bill. I welcome it, and I commend all those, in this House and outside it, who have brought us to this point. We need to legislate for safe access zones at abortion clinics urgently. This issue is about respect and dignity. It is concerned with supporting women’s right to make these decisions and about supporting their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Education with the UNCRPD: Discussion (10 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank all of the witnesses for their compelling stories in a really important area. I have a number of questions that I will go through and I will mention the person I might like to answer. I will go in the order of the presentations. We first had Ms Hayes from the Open Doors initiative. Ms Hayes spoke about the need to transform employment opportunities for people with disabilities....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the establishment of the special committee on autism, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the establishment of the special committee on international surrogacy, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will try to get through this as quickly as possible. A number of interesting issues were raised. We started with Senator Crowe speaking about the judicial review on the Galway ring road. He said that Galway has been left behind in terms of infrastructure and the ring road is necessary both from the point of view of business, commuters and tourism. As somebody who has attempted to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Ward spoke about water quality, especially the quality of water in which to swim. He is correct that many people took to the waters during the pandemic, which was wonderful to see and I declare that I was not one of them. The Senator spoke about the gap between sampling and giving results so people may find themselves swimming in water that is contaminated and that will have an...

Seanad: Joint Committee on Autism: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders — (1) a Special Committee consisting of 5 members of Seanad Éireann be appointed, to be joined with a Special Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann, to form the Joint Committee on Autism; (2) the Joint Committee shall consider matters relating to the services and supports provided by the State for...

Seanad: Joint Committee on International Surrogacy: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders - (1) a Special Committee consisting of five members of Seanad Éireann be appointed, to be joined with a Special Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann, to form the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy; (2) the Joint Committee shall expeditiously consider and make recommendations on measures to address...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I am pleased she is supporting this amendment Bill and, in doing so, ensuring the work of my colleague Senator Chambers and of Una Ring and Eve McDowell in Stalking Ireland will come to fruition and help protect the women of Ireland and, indeed, some men. I welcome the taking of Report and Final Stages of this amendment Bill in the House today. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is important that the Seanad sends our congratulations to Leona Maguire on her fantastic achievement over the weekend. She has broken many records but the record she broke on the weekend by being the first ever Irish player to win on the prestigious LPGA tour is incredible and noteworthy. She has lifted women's golf and women's sport to a higher level. I congratulate her on that. Today...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is welcome. The change to the Title of the Bill was interesting in that it has brought two distinct areas together, but they are two important areas. I welcome and will support the introduction of the legislation, which will deliver a key commitment made in the programme for Government. In the case of mink farming, it will place a statutory prohibition on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I listened remotely to what were very convincing arguments and all of the witnesses put fairness and equity at the centre of all they said. I was struck by one particular comment, I think from Dr. Doyle, that no child's education should be impacted negatively because of his or her parents. That is 100% correct. The onus is on all of us to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (3 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber and I appreciate that he is here given the importance of this Commencement matter. I rise to seek absolute clarity on the future of Cathal Brugha Barracks and the Irish Defence Forces. We are all aware of the outrageous tweet from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, which came from left field and shocked all of us. Not only did it shock all of us in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (3 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister for his response and for bringing clarity to the debate. At the very least, we can say the tweet sent out by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was disingenuous and ill-informed.I thank the Minister for making it clear that no decision has been made by Government in terms of relocation and for acknowledging the very strategic location of Cathal Brugha Barracks and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I wish Senator Pauline O'Reilly well in her first day taking the Order of Business as Acting Leader of the House. Tomorrow is Countess Markievicz's birthday and, to celebrate and commemorate that, Women for Election are launching a new campaign called "Count Her In". It is about supporting women to stand for election. They will be having a photo call outside the gates of Leinster House at...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I congratulate Senator Flynn on her Bill. I was pleased, while acting as Leader of the House on Tuesday, to be able to accept the amendment to the Order of Business in order that Senator Flynn could introduce this Bill today. I am doubly pleased to support it on the floor now. Senator Flynn’s opening of this conversation has been phenomenal. It was the first time that I myself...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.