Results 1,181-1,200 of 5,828 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (9 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I cannot allow anyone in. We were supposed to finish at 6 p.m. but it has gone past 6 p.m.

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (9 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Of course. I thank the Minister for his interest, his openness and his commitment to consulting. It is very important. When we talk about social justice and people who do not have cars, we have to talk about the social choice as well. Many people make a choice not to have a car and, therefore, need public transport and so on.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I raise the issue of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, which will be coming before us soon. I spoke about this issue some weeks ago, and I also acknowledge the role of the Labour Party, and Deputy Howlin in particular, in tabling this legislation, which is also known as Coco's law.This Bill is hugely important for banning cyberbullying, stalking and the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horticulture Sector (8 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The matter I raise today relates to the importance of the horticultural peat industry to the Irish economy and the threat arising from unprecedented legal and planning problems facing the industry. As we know, peat is used in horticulture, particularly as a growing medium by both amateur and professional gardeners, professional growers and the mushroom, forestry and soft fruit industry. At...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horticulture Sector (8 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is good to know the horticulture sector is researching alternatives for peat. While we are waiting for the alternatives to be developed, I ask that people would be able to continue to harvest the peat necessary. It is a concern that the working group has not yet met and a chair of it has not been appointed, but I assume it will start work...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I fully endorse and support amendment No. 3 in the name of Senator Casey. I ask the Minister to take on board the issues the Senators have raised. I had the opportunity to raise this matter with the Minister of State myself. This is the wrong way to go. At this late stage, I call on the Government to reconsider this measure. Covid-19 has had a hugely negative impact on our retail...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I fully endorse the call from my colleague, Senator Dooley, for a debate on community employment schemes. Many of them are the heartbeat of our communities, particularly rural communities. They do a great deal such as organising Tidy Towns, Meals on Wheels, etc. We also need to look at the conditions for scheme supervisors. There has been a long-standing call for a pension scheme for...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister for being present during this important week. We have discussed and debated Brexit for four years and finally we are almost at that point. Four weeks from Friday, the UK will be outside the EU Single Market and customs union. From 1 January next, how we, as a country, trade with the UK will be dramatically different.Considering all the valuable work the Minister,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I completely endorse the idea of green Friday. The amount of money that is leaving this country day after day is frightening, particularly as we are heading into black Friday and cyber Monday, when we will see courier vans going around every town, village and estate. We have to send a strong message to everybody to support our local businesses and shops that support our local communities....

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Health): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: There is no doubt that the past few months have been the most difficult that we have ever seen, with difficult political decisions that had to be made regarding Covid. They had to be made quickly while not knowing what was coming down the line but we had a sense of what had happened before and what we had seen in China and Italy. There was an effort to save our citizens and give everybody...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I would like to address a number of issues to the Leader and to the House, the first of which relates to Tusla. There is a very disturbing report in this morning's newspapers in regard to Tusla and the problems within that agency. The specific issues mentioned are a lack of consistency in how Tusla operates and the retention of staff, which is a particular concern. There are many fine...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I congratulate the GAA and Croke Park on the wonderfully emotive and moving ceremony held over the weekend to commemorate those who died on Bloody Sunday. It was also very moving to see Tipperary winning its provincial title match, for the first time since 1935, and Cavan winning its match as well.All in all it was a great weekend for sport. It raises the hairs on the back of one's neck to...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Fianna Fáil Senators will be supporting the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, which is akin to the Finance Bill or the Social Welfare Bill in that it arrives every November. As the Minister of State has outlined, the measures in it are designed to support risk equalisation and to sustain community rating in our health insurance market so that older citizens and people with illnesses...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Engagement with Trade Unions on Keeping Schools Open: Discussion (19 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have many little notes scribbled down, so I hope I can make sense of them during my six minutes. First, I wish to echo and re-emphasise our huge gratitude and appreciation of the whole school community and every single school in respect of the reopening the schools and keeping them opened. We can never say it enough. We appreciate also the leadership that was shown, because it was not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support Senator Craughwell's call for a debate in the House on the terms of the commission on the future of the Defence Forces. I was very pleased, along with Deputy Chambers, to ensure that in the programme for Government there really were strong commitments on the Defence Forces.I was pleased to hear yesterday's announcement by the Department of Education that all new primary and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (18 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It was very refreshing to listen to Professor Quinn and I wish him the best of luck in his very important role. I have no doubt, in light of what he shared with us, that he is the right person for the job. He outlined the whole notion of bridging abstract ideas and making them pragmatic and practical on the ground. That is his role, working with us, and I have no doubt we can work together...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Debenhams workers on day 222 of their campaign and I will be proud to stand with them outside the Dáil later. I raise the issue of the report that the HSE national safeguarding office published last week, which makes for grim reading. As we all know, adults are at risk of different types of abuse or neglect in their family homes and residential settings around the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (17 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I am delighted that my Commencement matter is being taken but it is interesting that I have come here from a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, where both the Minister for Education and the Minister of State at the Department of Education are appearing. I asked whether...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (17 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. At least I have the sense that this proposed new school has moved to stage 2 in respect of site assessment and that following that, it will be moving to architectural planning stage. I certainly welcome that. I again emphasise the significant issues relating to timelines to which we need to try to adhere. We could very well reach a situation where within two...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to bring this important Bill before the Seanad this evening. It represents an important step forward in the pursuit of equality and justice for all our citizens. As a constitutional republican party, Fianna Fáil has always been committed to fighting discrimination in all its forms. The Bill seeks to tackle hate crimes...