Results 141-160 of 5,641 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We started this morning with Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee who, along with many of my colleagues, welcomed the news overnight that Stormont will be re-established. It is very important not only for the people of Northern Ireland but particularly for them. It is sad to think there were elections in May 2022 but Stormont has not sat since. Many communities and public services have been let...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That Seanad Éireann: - expresses its deep sadness on the death of John Connor; - conveys its sincere condolences to his family; and - expresses its gratitude for his notable contribution, as a member of Seanad Éireann, to Irish public life and for his dedicated service to the people of Ireland.

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Listening to the debate today has brought me back to that Saturday when I was in my kitchen in Newbridge, County Kildare listening to Katie Hannon's documentary. I heard the revelations with shock and horror. I listened to the testimonials of the women involved, the Women of Honour, speaking about the sexual assaults, discrimination and many other injustices they suffered. Equally as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the four witnesses. They have given us valuable insights and thoughts into what is an increasingly complex situation that we are tasked with looking at and making recommendations on in the report. Something that struck me this morning was the thought that we should have ethics versus facts or research. I do not think it is a binary choice between the two. In contemplating all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I hope I can read my own writing when asking these questions. This is an interesting topic and one with which we need to get to grips. I thank Mr. O’Regan, Ms Farrelly and their teams for attending and trying to tease out the various issues. Mr. O’Regan spoke about housing needs in local communities and how we needed to provide supports to meet the health and social care...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I add my voice of gratitude to Tom Hickey as he enters the next phase in his life. He has the energy and enthusiasm to embrace many new hobbies and possibly many new roles. Tom has always been exceptionally courteous and professional and he has a special gift with the young people who have come in to see the workings of Leinster House. I have watched him deal with children and the way he...

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Currie has five minutes.

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, for his unstinting and relentless work on women's health throughout the year. What he has managed with the legislation, even just this week, is quite incredible. I thank him and all of the team behind him, who I know are very supportive. It would be difficult to manage the Minister's legislative programme without their work. I add my voice to those...

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have the happy pleasure of wishing the House, Martin Groves, all of his staff and all of those who work here in Leinster House a very happy Christmas.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I appreciate that. On the capital plan, which is under section 68, investment in capital is hugely important to the people who are served by our police force. I have just a few questions and comments. In terms of the capital plan, I take the point that the best resources are the people who are employed as members of An Garda Síochána. Yet, here I am...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I completely understand that under section 70(6) the Minister may exclude any information that may not be in the interests of the security of the State or that may prejudice a criminal investigation, etc. That is certainly important but I will go back to section 70(3)(b) and (c). That report would have to be on the implementation of the strategic plan, including the achievement of the...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is good to see my old sparring partner, Councillor Dermot Lacey, who is always an advocate for the importance of local government. I thank the Minister for being here. I know from being part of a delegation with him about two weeks ago that he is supportive of local government and councillors. Councillors are the backbone of our democracy. They do untold work on many levels in all of...

Seanad: Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being with us to discuss this important Bill. I must say that I am disappointed the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is not here because I had spoken to her about this legislation in the past and I also had a Commencement matter in relation to it. Jason Poole, who is joining us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery today, has had several meetings with...

Seanad: Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Acting Chairperson and I also thank her for seconding the Bill. I thank all of the speakers tonight, including the Acting Chairperson and Senators Ward, Warfield and Wall, for their support for this Bill. It means a great deal to me, to Jason, to Jason's family and to all of the women out there who could be protected and saved if this legislation becomes law. I thank the...

Seanad: Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I add my voice of welcome to the students from Our Lady's School in Ballinteer. It is always wonderful to see young people coming in and having the opportunity to see how we operate in these Houses. I have raised this matter in the House a number of times. It seems to be quite close to the previous topic. We need to have a much more co-ordinated approach to allocating secondary school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for the response I appreciate the consideration she has given to it. It is important to note we are not just talking about the main towns of Newbridge and Kildare but also smaller areas in the vicinity such as Athgarvan, Lackagh, Milltown, Suncroft and Nurney, which have no secondary schools and are completely reliant on school places in Newbridge and Kildare...

Seanad: Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister has proven himself yet again to be a progressive and reforming Minister for Health. I thank him for that. He is absolutely committed to the prioritisation of drafting this Bill in order to provide a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplant services in Ireland for the very first time. In addition to addressing organ donation and transplants, the Bill...