Results 801-820 of 1,730 for speaker:Aisling Dolan

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: It is clear, when we are talking about the brand new technological universities and even the renaming, such as the University of Galway and so on, that many new bodies have reached university status in Ireland. Higher education institutes, HEIs, is the common term that is used when we talk about third level education. The Minister mentioned research legislation that is coming down the...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I agree that excluding certain groups, not least people in the public service, could to some extent discriminate against those who, on the basis of merit and experience, might be capable of facing the Committee of Public Accounts. Amendment No. 69 would provide that the chief executive would not have the last say on the funding, but the chief executive is the person who is responsible to the...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: The chief executive will have control of a new body that will have many responsibilities and there will be a great deal of diligence around the role. We want to ensure the best person will come forward for the role and he or she will be appointed by the board. The onus is on all of us, but we hope that through this process, there will be a strong person to represent the body, who will look...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Amendment No. 67 mentions including "reflecting regional concerns". I would see our technological universities represent the regions they come from by their very nature. The new technological universities we are seeing, for example, in Athlone, Galway and Sligo are university campuses that are now in small regional towns. The agricultural campus is in Mountbellew. There is now a...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: There is a necessity for a balanced approach in all types of research. I am coming from an arts background, and as someone who did history and French, in our "brand new" University of Galway, I very much understand that. I understand how, all the elements in a university that drive it to be excellent across all topics and subjects that we must also acknowledge that the research and...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Encore.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: The school transport system is vital for tens of thousands of families across the country. This is especially so in rural areas and I am sure in the Minister's own constituency as well, where there is just no other choice. He will be very aware of that. In areas of east Galway and Roscommon around Ahascragh, Kilconnell, Ballyforan and Dysart, we do not have a myriad of transport options....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I know that the Minister is very much aware that there is pure frustration among families and parents about this issue. There is no space or capacity on the buses. Suddenly, everyone has learnt about the criteria in respect of full eligible tickets and concessionary tickets. There have been last minute notice emails. There is the communications side of things and the family portal....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I pay my condolences to the British ambassador who was here earlier on the impact of the loss of the Queen. She made such a stir when she travelled to Ireland in 2011. It tugged at everyone's heartstrings to see the effort she put into every meeting she attended and speech she gave when she was here. It built an awful lot of bridges that we need to continue fighting for. I also want to...

Seanad: Energy: Motion (14 Sep 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this motion and I thank the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth, and also the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who was in the House earlier. We are seeing the rising costs of energy. I thank the Senators who tabled the motion. The budget will be very much about mitigating and reducing...

Seanad: Animal Welfare: Motion (14 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I acknowledge Senator Hoey's very heartfelt contribution. I look forward to getting an update on it from the relevant agencies. I thank the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, for being with us today to speak on the motion. Working together for Animal Welfare - Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 is welcome. It is great to see all stakeholders coming together on how we look after...

Seanad: Animal Welfare: Motion (14 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the proposer of the motion for those comments. Perhaps some of the marts and farmers might disagree about some of the income coming from live exports.

Seanad: Animal Welfare: Motion (14 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I very much agree with the Senator's points on MADRA, which is fantastic. In the Galway Advertiserwe always see the little stories about pets. I thank all Senators, particularly Senator Hoey, for their contributions.

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I want to bring up the HSE service plan and Westdoc. Westdoc provides GP cover and many people around the country would know that this service comes in under different names in different regions. It provides out-of-hours and red-eye cover. That is, out-of-hours between 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock in the evening until 12 o’clock at night...

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State. This is fantastic legislation. The Minister of State has shown the whole time she has had this portfolio the changes she has sought to make. We talk about resources within our schools and special schools. We are looking at bringing children back into the mainstream. That has been a real policy over recent years. Specifically, with this Bill, the Minister...

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Fantastic.

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: Does Senator Warfield want to come in first?

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister of State for that excellent news on special classes. It is important. She mentioned she was in contact with over 14 schools located in the Dublin area, but it is crucial that the total number of special classes is being increased. I represent Roscommon and Galway. When take in conjunction with Athlone and Westmeath in general, the overall catchment area is extremely...

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Aisling Dolan: On a point of order, the Senator has to speak to the amendment. I understand the frustrations here but------