Results 1,561-1,580 of 5,823 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile telephones or switch them to flight mode because, as we know, mobile phones interfere with the sound system and makes it very difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting. Television coverage and web streaming can also be adversely affected. We have reached item No. 8 on our agenda, which is engagement with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is fine. I welcome Mr. Andrew Brownlee, chief executive office of SOLAS, who was with us on the day representatives from WorldSkills were before the committee. He is welcome before us again. We also welcome Ms Mary-Liz Trant, who looks after apprenticeships for SOLAS and Ms Beatrice Dooley, who is the President of the Institute Guidance Counsellors, a group of people who play a large...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have given Mr. Brownlee three-times the amount of time allotted.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I gave Mr. Brownlee the extra leeway because we have only two submissions. If he appears before the committee again we really would appreciate if he could try to respect the timeline. I ask Ms Dooley to make her opening statement now, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Dooley.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Deputy. I have a few questions and observations also. On SOLAS, has the increase in the national training fund resulted in more vocal feedback and involvement from employers in respect of training needs? As was stated, the 2020 target for apprenticeship registrations is 31,000 and currently only half of that number are registered. What is SOLAS planning to do to meet the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: When Ms Dooley referred to reaching out to parents, it struck me that it is about breaking the cycle. It is also important to work with Intreo so that parents can see the opportunities which they did not have themselves but which are available to their children.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is very interesting. I thank our guests for coming before us, for giving us their valuable time and for their contributions and observations. The committee will issue a report and will make recommendations to the Minister and the Department. If our guests wish to add anything else that they did not have an opportunity to air today, they can send it to us and we will make sure that all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Very briefly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Apprenticeships: Discussion (22 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Absolutely. Something I have done in Kildare is to link chambers of commerce with career guidance teachers in schools. We are hoping to run a pilot programme in the county. Chambers of commerce can play a significant role. I am sure our guests are contacting them. I again thank our guests. We very much appreciate their contribution.

Financial Resolutions - Financial Resolution No. 9: General (Resumed) (17 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I was to have seven minutes but I will take two.

Financial Resolutions - Financial Resolution No. 9: General (Resumed) (17 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I accept that. My request was sent to the office.

Financial Resolutions - Financial Resolution No. 9: General (Resumed) (17 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will take two minutes now. Since I have so little time, I will just refer to a few issues concerning education and equality. With regard to the budget's approach to the education sector, 150 mainstream teachers were announced but this will only cover demographic changes rather than provide a reduction in the pupil–teacher ratio. My colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the new building for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the timeline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42513/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: 69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42512/19]

Family Law Bill 2019: Second Stage (16 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Is this a call to election?

Family Law Bill 2019: Second Stage (16 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan. I am pleased to welcome and support this Bill. On 24 May this year, the referendum, for which I was director of elections for the Fianna Fáil Party, proposed to amend the constitutional provisions on divorce and this was approved by a huge majority, with 82.1% of people in favour and 17.9% against. A very strong message was given to the Government and the...

Road Traffic (Amendment) (Use of Electric Scooters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (16 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: After we put this Bill forward.

Road Traffic (Amendment) (Use of Electric Scooters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (16 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Bill my colleague, Deputy Marc MacSharry, has brought before the House. Some Members can use public transport to travel to Leinster House but those of us who live outside the Dublin area have to use our cars to do so, mainly because of the time at which we leave the building in the evenings. We can bear witness to the worsening congestion and overcrowding in Dublin and other...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Oct 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Maxine Maguire is a name I have mentioned in this Chamber previously. Maxine was a young girl whom I had the privilege of teaching in primary school. She was a beautiful young person who died by her own hand two and a half years ago. Today, her parents, Kathy and Robbie, and a number of friends, family and supporters, will come to the gates of Leinster House to protest about inadequacies in...