Results 1,061-1,080 of 5,755 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: Today is the start of local enterprise week. I pay tribute to Jacqui McNabb and her team in Kildare, who have been doing amazing work, pre-Covid and during Covid, in supporting our local businesses and helping them through this difficult time. Not so Bank of Ireland. We had the devastating news this morning that branches in Kilcullen and Monasterevin are to close in these two vibrant small...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as read out by the Leader. There are a number of points that I wish to raise. The Kerry Group, as we know, is a company that prides itself on its Irish heritage, from its modest beginnings as a dairy co-operative in Kerry to how it has always stayed close to our food heritage and to its roots. The Kerry Group has also benefited significantly from project...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to engage on this important topic. While level 5 restrictions have caused all sorts of issues and challenges for our economy, it has been particularly difficult in the aviation sector and for those employed in it. Many years ago, a job with an airline was always thought to be the best one could get. My aunt was one of the first Aer Lingus air...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate the opportunity to make a comment. The meeting has been very interesting and engaging listening. I thank the Chairman for tabling this topic because it is hugely important to people. Some 6,600 jobs rely directly on this sector and 11,000 rely on it indirectly. I have some knowledge of mushrooms because my family were in mushroom farming many years ago. I was in college at...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the almost €20 million that Kildare received this morning in respect of much-needed bridge rehabilitation and road works. I wish to refer to a report that we received recently from Bainne Beatha on a breast is best policy and examining ways in which Irish breastfeeding support services could be improved. Reading the report was interesting. According to it, Irish maternity...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Yes.

Seanad: Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: First Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I commend Senator McDowell on bringing forward this legislation so soon after it was pointed out that it was needed. I acknowledge also the contribution of my colleague, Deputy O'Callaghan, in bringing forward legislation. It is very welcome that this legislation has been produced and that the Government is supporting it because it has been very clear that there is a need to address the...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Remote Working Strategy: Motion (15 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this motion, which I welcome. I congratulate Senator Currie on her very hard work on it. I have heard her speak about the benefits of remote working on numerous occasions. I completely support her in that regard. Last week, I had the opportunity to raise on the Order of Business our need to reimagine our lives, look at things differently and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cultural Objects (12 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am glad I am sitting in this chair and not running over to-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Natural Heritage Areas (12 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Acting Chairperson and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for being here to discuss the Curragh of Kildare, which is a unique and special place, both to those of us from Kildare who live close to the Curragh and people throughout the country. Many people pass it on a daily and a weekly basis and have the opportunity to see our lovely lands. The Curragh needs very...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Natural Heritage Areas (12 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am glad to hear that there is a little bit of lily white in the Minister of State. I look forward to bringing him down and giving him a full tour of the Curragh when the Covid pandemic is over. I had thought that the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW would be here today, but I accept that this matter crosses over between the Minister of State's Department, the OPW and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader. I have to start today's proceedings by talking about education and some of the statistics that have emerged. When we see that calls to Childline went up by 26% during this lockdown, there are 20% fewer referrals to our social workers, and top paediatricians are saying children are at risk of suffering in terms of physical health and lack of...

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I acknowledge her hard work in this area and on older people. I commend her on it. There is no doubt but that we are bombarded with news about Covid from early morning until we go to bed at night. There is a constant stream of information about death tolls, infection rates and the R number. We need to know what is happening so this is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I raise the matter of how we reimagine how we will live post Covid. We have all learned many lessons over the last 12 months about how we live our lives, including within our own 5 km. Our priorities have changed. The closeness of family is acutely important. There is an ongoing process in many of our counties, not least my own county, Kildare, regarding county development plans. We are...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We are discussing 18,552 students with complex needs who attend 124 special schools. I know two of these schools, St. Anne's School in the Curragh and St. Mark's School in Newbridge, very well. We are also discussing 1,836 special classes in 964 schools across the country.When we refer to that number of students, we are talking about individuals, families, parents and siblings. Those tight...

Seanad: Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am very proud and honoured to second the Bill brought forward by my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee. I thank her for all of the work and consultation that she has undertaken to bring the Bill before us tonight. I say that both as a Fianna Fáil colleague and as chair of the women's caucus. It is almost two years since the women's caucus decided to put a cross-party motion on period...

Seanad: Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2021)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I call Senator Boylan to speak.