Results 1,021-1,040 of 5,755 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: That concludes our discussion. I thank all of the witnesses for coming before the committee and sharing their expert knowledge and insights. It has been a very productive and informative meeting.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (19 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being in the House to take this very important Commencement debate on the fair deal scheme, which is a good scheme when it works but for farm families and the families of small business owners the system is anything but fair. I welcome the support the Minister of State has given on ensuring that elderly people can stay at home and access extra home care...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (19 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is a great start to the week to hear that really welcome news. Senator Chambers and I can attest to the work and focus the Minister of State put into this when she was part of the Opposition. I am really delighted to see she has prioritised it. It is really important that this is imminent. It will make the scheme fair and equitable for everybody, which is all we want. It is much...

Seanad: Water Quality: Motion (19 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It was W.H. Auden who said, "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." I am not suggesting that any of us should live without some love in our lives but we certainly would not live without having access to water. I commend my colleagues from the Green Party, namely, Senators Garvey and Martin, on bringing this motion before the House today. It is very important and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Special Needs Education: Discussion (13 Apr 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Mannion and all her colleagues. I acknowledge all the work that has been done and the significant investment that has been made in special needs, and rightly so. I share Senator O'Reilly's concern about the EPSEN Act. That 17 years have elapsed since its passage and that some issues may have changed certainly do not lessen its whole principle. What was considered very important...

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Senator Garvey for chairing this debate. I regret that she has been subjected to rudeness by some Senators.Easter is a time of renewal, new life and hope, so it is appropriate that we use our final sitting day before Easter to talk about our line of hope, the vaccination programme. The Minister is, as always, very welcome to the House. I take this opportunity to commend him and his...

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is not-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister to the House. I really appreciate that she is here to discuss the important issue of the fast-tracking of citizenship for non-national healthcare workers. It is an issue that I have raised in the House before. As we know, migrants currently make up 26% of essential workers in Ireland. Our hospitals have been very active in seeking work permits for non-EU staff since...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister for her work on the White Paper, which is very welcome. I impress on her and the Department the need to prioritise these essential healthcare workers, both those who are immigrants and those who are asylum seekers. We are not talking about many people. Asylum seekers represent a maximum of 800 people. These workers make a significant difference to the everyday lives...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. The first issue I wish to raise, which I have no doubt it is uppermost in the minds of all Senators, is the awful situation that began to unfold yesterday, culminating in an "RTÉ Investigates" programme broadcast yesterday evening from which we learned that various elements of Departments gathered and shared information relating...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for being present. The Bill is welcome. Unfortunately, due to Covid, it is the fourth time that we have had to introduce legislation to protect tenants. It has been necessary to extend the period of emergency rental protections and to strengthen the supports provided to tenants at risk of eviction. That gives comfort to tenants. I know...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister and it is good to have her in the House. As we know, Ireland is known as the country of 100,000 welcomes and everyone is always happy to get céad míle fáilte when they come to Ireland or, indeed, if they are in Ireland and go to another part of it, so we are giving the Minister céad mile fáilte here today. She has come from her House to our...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Niall Blaney has six minutes.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Crowe will have six minutes.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Senator will have six minutes and then Senator Crowe will have six minutes. Other speakers are listed who are not in the Chamber so most certainly Senator Murphy will have that time.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Blaney should proceed and we will figure this out.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The remaining speakers will have four minutes as I would like to give all Members who wish to speak an opportunity to do so before the Minister responds.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We now move to Senator Burke, who confused me because of the seating arrangements. I thought he was not here.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It strikes me the Minister will have a very busy time when the 5 km restrictions are lifted in visiting all the wonderful places right around Ireland. Within two hours she has had the opportunity to go the length and breadth of our beautiful country. I have no doubt she will get a wonderful welcome wherever she goes.

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I apologise for cutting the Minister off, but to be fair to the cleaners we must take a break to allow the next session to start at 3.45 p.m.