Results 1,321-1,340 of 1,730 for speaker:Aisling Dolan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister and the Minister of State. It is great to have them with us today with fantastic news about getting our staff and students back to college in September. That €105 million shows true commitment and that the Government sees this as an essential service, as has been noted clearly. I especially welcome the €23 million. We have done a lot with the SUSI...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: Very briefly, I would like to acknowledge the response I received from the Minister, Deputy Harris's office about English language education in Ireland. Within the Minister’s Department, a working group has been set up to specifically work with student representatives and providers across this area. The Minister probably does not have time to come back in on this. However, he noted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: It is great to see the arboriculture apprenticeship in the Petersburg centre in Galway. I know the Minister of State is probably delighted to see the applications coming in along with that of the Connacht-Ulster Alliance, which was submitted this week or last week. I acknowledge the active consent programme that is being rolled out. We are getting staff and students back to college but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: That is okay. I can wait if the Deputy is coming in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome and thank Mr. Conlon, Mr. Maguire and Ms Kenny. Their presentations and submissions were great. It is wonderful to see this legislation is putting the student first and foremost and at the centre in everything we are doing here and to see the increase in student numbers alone and, as was mentioned, the number of institutes of technology, IOTs, our new technological universities and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I apologise. Did I mix up the organisations? As well as being called Mr. Kenny, we are mixing up Ms Kenny's organisation. I apologise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: It is great to see so many courses being regulated, especially around the apprenticeship programme. It makes it much more attractive. I think the national hairdressing apprenticeship is the first regulated NFQ. We were trying to promote locally as well. Well done on working with the groups and SOLAS. I apologise to Ms Kenny. I should reverse the questions I posed to Mr. Conlon. If it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: On leaving certificate reform, the data captured by the HEA would include the drop-out rate at first year. We are aware there is a large number dropping out at third level. Perhaps it is young people who are not exactly sure about the courses they are taking, and it is about them having the basis to go forward. This data would really inform how we look at further education and training,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I am presuming that work done on research will be of equal value and taken into account when it comes to career profile and structure and the lecturer's advancement within universities, along with a number of publications and so on, and that we are looking at this as being of value in order to progress. This would be crucial.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister here today. It is great to have him in the House, especially on our last day of session. I will speak very briefly on this amendment. I welcome this particular LPT Bill coming before us, especially for the county of Galway, as we are going to be able to have a little bit more income coming in, including from the backdating of those residences. It will be fantastic...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: Following on from Senator Higgins's point, many of our towns and villages have vacant properties. However, many good schemes are also coming from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, such as the repair and lease initiative. It is important for us to understand that 100% of the revenue generated by this local property tax will go back to the local authorities. It will...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second and Subsequent Stages (16 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I say "well said" to my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, who has expressed what I wanted to say. Nothing is fair about what we had to do in the past year or so. It has not been equal and we do not all face the same risk when it comes to Covid-19. We do not all face the same potential horror that we could end up hospitalised. It attacks the more vulnerable in our community and society....

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I am sharing time with Senator Maria Byrne. I thank the Minister for attending. This really is tough because the CervicalCheck tribunal is such a mark on our history. There have been terrible outcomes, including loss of life. It is important to recognise the women affected and their families. The cervical screening tribunal is examining the State cervical screening programme, including...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister. I refer to the submission received from the Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, a representative group for councillors. There are some proposals in it that I would be happy about, and I think I have mentioned them to the Minister. Section 183 of the 2001 Act will remain. The Minister has acknowledged that for any areas not zoned for housing, that section...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who has responsibility for older people and mental health. It is great to have the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021 here. I thank my colleagues who have given heartfelt accounts. They have spoken openly about their own stories. Farming is a way of life. It is a fantastic way to grow up. My mum and dad gave me values, a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: Can I come in on the Fine Gael slot?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister of State. There has been action. We can see vans in our areas. That gives such hope. We are getting very used to looking at the map and hitting refresh. We hope to see it change to show where we are able to access broadband. I acknowledge that action is happening. It is great to see that the process has been accelerated and the administrative process has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I was not sure if Senator Ward was going to come in. I welcome the Minister of State. I am happy to support the regulations, particularly if they are a way to accelerate the roll-out of broadband. I live in a rural area. More than half of the premises in County Roscommon are in the intervention area. That is absolutely incredible. It is the same in east Galway. I very much welcome...

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, to the House.

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Aisling Dolan: It is such an important scheme. So many employees are covered by it.