Results 1,001-1,020 of 5,755 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Post Office Network: Motion (26 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: As part of my party's commitment to rural Ireland, we decided to put forward this motion and it is an opportunity to acknowledge the vital importance of post offices to all our communities. Post offices are the fabric not just of rural Ireland but also of urban Ireland and they provide an important social as well as commercial service. When I was growing up in Rathangan, and I am sure we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I endorse the Order of Business. I offer my congratulations on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party to Senators Horkan and Maria Byrne. I look forward to engaging and learning with and listening both of them. I wish them well in the term ahead. There are a number of issues I want to raise today, the first being maternity services. Every morning, as I come to Leinster House, I travel by...

Seanad: Future of Gambling Regulation: Statements (23 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I propose to share my time with Senator Malcolm Byrne. I will take six minutes and he will take two. I thank the Minister of State for being here and for giving us his update. This is a really important debate. Any addiction is difficult and tough. Addictions often have very far-reaching consequences for individuals and for their families and friends. Families are often torn apart,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Business of Joint Committee (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Today's public meeting is being held virtually through Microsoft Teams. Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy Paul Kehoe, who cannot be here because of a family bereavement. Senator Rónán Mullen will view the meeting from outside the precincts of Leinster House. I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The next part of our meeting is with AsIAm, Down Syndrome Ireland, Inclusion Ireland and the Ombudsman for Children, Mr. Niall Muldoon. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, and Ms Nicola Hart, head of member services of Down Syndrome Ireland. From Inclusion Ireland, I welcome Ms Lorraine Dempsey, interim CEO, and Ms Margaret Turley, both of whom have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate that, as you said, Mr. Harris, three minutes is a short time in which to cover such a wide topic, but you have done extremely well. I now turn to Ms Nicola Hart, who is head of member services with Down Syndrome Ireland. Ms Hart, the floor is yours.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Thank you, Ms Hart. I now move to Inclusion Ireland, on behalf of which Ms Turley will speak. She is joined by Ms Lorraine Dempsey. I congratulate Ms Dempsey on being appointed interim CEO of Inclusion Ireland. She gave many presentations to the previous committee on the perspective of a parent of a child with special needs. She was an inspired choice. I wish her well, and we look...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Dr. Muldoon correctly mentioned a number of matters we will get to but in today's meeting we will just deal with the EPSEN Act. Members have six minutes within which to pose their questions and receive an answer. If members wish to put a question to a particular witness, please do so, but they can also put general questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That point is well made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I take it the Deputy intends to pose his questions one at a time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am sorry to interrupt, but we are over time. I want to invite Mr. Harris to respond briefly before we move on. I am conscious that we are all operating under time constraints but there should be an opportunity, when we finish this round, for contributors to speak again. If there is not, any written correspondence in response to questions or observations will be circulated to everyone. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Does Deputy Ó Ríordáin want to direct this to a particular witness?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Mr. Harris will come in next and then Dr. Muldoon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: There is only one minute and 15 seconds left for a response.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is such a difficult situation for so many. I thank Ms Dempsey. I ask Mr. Harris to make a brief comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Will Dr. Muldoon come in on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am aware the Deputy had other questions but we are out of time now. If we have a second round I will allow her in then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will move on to Deputy Farrell.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Does Dr. Muldoon want to respond to that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Special Needs Education: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We have moved swiftly through all the members. I have the opportunity to say a few words as Vice Chair. I will then allow members to come back in. Deputy Conway-Walsh indicated that she had more questions. We will, therefore, have a few minutes to come back. I thank all the witnesses. I found it illuminating and frustrating at the same time, in coming back to this issue that is so...