Results 901-920 of 5,756 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (29 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: As we know, the just transition objective is to fund innovative projects that contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of those especially impacted by the move away from carbon. My county is impacted both with regard to employment and those who used the bog as a source of fuel for their homes. We were happy when Kildare was one of the counties where the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (29 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for his response. He mentioned the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which are completely understandable. I accept his Department will engage with Kildare County Council on the matter. The Minister of State mentioned the 750 local authority homes in the midlands across the eight counties included in the programme. If a third of participants have dropped...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on the first anniversary of his election as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. He has served and represented all of us with great dignity. He has brought in innovative practices, in as much as he could during the Covid-19 period. I congratulate him on that and wish him well in the time ahead.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: You are welcome. Kon'nichiwa. For those non-Japanese speakers of which I am one, that is basically “Hello, how are you?” in Japanese. That is to mark today which is the last day of the leaving certificate in 2021. Japanese is the last exam subject to be taken. It has been a difficult and arduous year for those leaving certificate students. They have shown terrific...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Traveller Education: Discussion (29 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is good to see Ms Joyce and Mr. Joyce again, both of whom I have had the pleasure of engaging with many times before, and it is nice to meet Ms Reilly for the first time, albeit virtually. I will take this opportunity to congratulate Ms Reilly and Mr. Joyce on their educational and academic achievements. I take my hat off to them and say "Well done". May it bring them many other great...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (28 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I say "Well done" to Senator Ruane. She is feeling the love. Senator Martin mentioned John Lonergan, who had a very enlightened view with regard to how we treat crime and prisoners. We need more voices such as his and, indeed, that of Senator Ruane.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Solar Panels for Public Buildings, Schools, Homes and Other Premises) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is a great pleasure to support this very worthy Bill. When we think of solar energy and the impact of having it in our schools throughout the country, what greater lesson and what greater leadership can we give our young people who, as we know, are often leaders in this area. It is a very strong statement in any community when we see public buildings, be they schools, Garda barracks,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Teaching Council of Ireland (22 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The issue I bring to the attention of the Minister of State relates to the Teaching Council. A friend of mine contacted me about a month ago because of issues she was having registering with the Teaching Council. We had an interesting conversation. She then reached out to her peers and asked them to contact me about their experiences. To say that I was inundated with correspondence from...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Teaching Council of Ireland (22 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I understand the reason for the Teaching Council and it is important it is efficient and effective. For the 109,000 teachers who are registered, there is a €65 fee, so there is quite a substantial amount of money going into the Teaching Council every year. However, the Teaching Council is not serving the teachers. I have a full file on those who have contacted me and that is just...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. Last week, we had world blood donation day. This is a very important day when we get to highlight the importance of blood donation and thank all of those who give blood. The theme was to give blood and keep the world beating. I want to highlight inequality and inequity in the system. At present in Ireland, gay men must abstain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for their detailed submissions, as well as their opening statements. It is good to see so much happening and the proactive approach that the Department is taking many areas of which we may not have been aware. I commend the Department on the preventive measures. There will be a national roll-out of CPD, continuing professional development, training for well-being...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Senator Chambers for agreeing to share her time with me. I thank the Minister for being here, for listening to the positions we are putting to him and for the legislation itself. It is really important because the county development plan and indeed the local area plans are the blueprints for how we live our lives into future as they look at both the economic and the social side of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ratification of Optional Protocol: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank our distinguished guests for their submissions and their clarification of a lot of different areas. I am struck by why the optional protocol was deemed optional in the first place. It really should have been part of the whole agreement. There is so much confusion around it and also delay. I understand from what Dr. Lynch said that it may not be as long as we had originally thought...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for their insight and their expertise. They do wonderful work and it is appreciated and valued. My apologies, I had to come off the call for a short period to go to another meeting, but I feel I have a very good sense of this and I have, of course, read the submissions. I have a few general questions, and a lot of that is based on some of the findings we have heard...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. As we see the return of football, I commend the Kildare players on their terrific win against Meath yesterday. I am sure the Leader does not mind me saying it. I also congratulate the Kildare ladies who played against our other neighbours in Laois. This week is Men's Health Week. It is a week when we raise awareness of...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome this debate and it is good to see that the Bill has been strengthened since its incarnation in 2019. I also pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee, and Sonya Lennon who started the very good WorkEqual campaign in 2016 which certainly educated me and many others about this particular issue. Closing the gender pay gap is a priority for the Government and completely...

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It gives me great pleasure to second the motion, which goes to the very heart of the party I am proud to represent, Fianna Fáil. It is a party that has done much work in providing homes and sustainable communities. We are in a crisis. The time we have spent here discussing housing in the past week shows that it is the most crucial issue we are dealing with and rightly so. Much of our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank TII and NTA for their presentations. I have had the pleasure of engaging before with Mr. Creegan on issues in Newbridge. I have a number of questions to put to both organisations. I will first go to TII and then to the NTA. I have three questions for TII. It is good to see their access officer, Ms Sarah O’Donnell, in attendance too. When they commence tendering for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Today is Global Day of Parents when we celebrate parenthood. There is no doubt that over the last 15 months parents have had to learn a lot more about parenting, and homeschooling as parents, than they would have anticipated before. It is important parents at every level get as many supports as possible to help them on their journey. One of those areas is the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bullying in Educational Institutions (31 May 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. First, I acknowledge that schools in general are putting a great deal of time and effort into proactive strategies to ensure that school environments are as welcoming and inclusive as possible. We must, however, also acknowledge that bullying exists and is happening in the physical form, although less so now, and in the shape of...