Results 1-20 of 5,748 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: International Trade and International Relations: Statements (3 Apr 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Tánaiste is very welcome to the Seanad. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I wish him well in his brief, which has suddenly become more challenging. Commuting to the House this morning, I looked at people on their daily commute to their places of study and work, or wherever they were going. I genuinely wondered whether this is a moment in time where there is a before and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (2 Apr 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to answer this question. My query relates to Ballymore Eustace, a beautiful small town in County Kildare between Naas and Blessington. It has a population of 1,700 people and is growing all the time. In fact, it has the highest number of older people in Kildare, according to the most recent census. The issue I raise relates to the lack of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (2 Apr 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for his response. He stated that additional emergency appointments are provided in Ballymore Eustace as required, with appointments also available at the Blessington practice. My understanding is that additional emergency appointments are not being given.There are no same-day appointments in the Blessington practice. Some people have had to wait weeks for...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (2 Apr 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. We are pleased to have the opportunity to talk to him about some of the most pressing issues in our communities and throughout the country. I join my colleagues in wishing the Minister well with the arduous task ahead of him. He has hit the ground running and I have no doubt he will continue to work 24-7 on this difficult area with ingenuity and with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Apr 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business. I, too, wish Jeremy well. I had the opportunity to do so outside the Chamber. Of course, I wish George well too. He has big shoes to follow in terms of the excellent work that Jeremy has done. Today is a good news day for commuters from Kildare and Newbridge because the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, announced that the fair fares scheme will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding establishment of the Seanad Select Committee on Subsidiarity (European Union Legislative Scrutiny), to be taken without debate on conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, motion regarding the restoration of Bills to the Order Paper, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I totally endorse all the comments that have been made about Aisling and I absolutely approve of the suggestion by Senator Wilson that we invite Aisling back for a day to give us the opportunity to acknowledge her and show that we value and appreciate all the work she has done. Senator Kennelly spoke about the lack of respite care in Kerry and about St. Francis school in Beaufort and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: If that has not come up yet, I would suggest that she puts it down again. It is clear that engagement with the stakeholders is needed. We will write to the Minister for Education to say that. Senator Gallagher raised his grave concern about the ambulance service in Monaghan. He explained how, this week, 16 12-hour shifts were not covered and it will possibly be 19 next week. There is...

Seanad: Seanad Select Committee on Subsidiarity (European Union Legislative Scrutiny): Motion (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders- (1) the Committee standing established under Standing Order 125 shall be called the Seanad Select Committee on Subsidiarity (European Union Legislative Scrutiny), and shall consist of twelve members, of whom five shall constitute a quorum; (2) the Select Committee shall meet where necessary to perform the following functions: ...

Seanad: Restoration of Bills to the Seanad Order Paper: Motion (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: That, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 180 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the Bills which lapsed by reason of the Seanad General Election, January, 2025, and are set out in the Schedule to this motion, shall be restored to the Order Paper at the stage specified in the Schedule below: SCHEDULE Bill Title: To be restored...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2025: Motion (27 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister for being here and I wish her well in her new position. I have no doubt that she will serve with the same energy, enthusiasm and integrity as she did in her previous portfolio. I welcome this important debate. The Fianna Fáil group supports the motion. I pay tribute to the Helping Irish Hosts organisation, including Angie Gough, Aideen Gough and Jill Robinson,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (26 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Commencement matter. Last August, the then Minister of State with special responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, launched the national swimming strategy. This was the first such swimming strategy. Its purpose was to show the determination to make swimming a key focus in respect of giving everybody the opportunity to learn to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (26 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which I am disappointed with because I hoped for some new information. I raised this issue previously as a Commencement matter and, as outlined in the response, I have been in contact with Department officials on a regular basis. When we have such a good community asset in an area where there is no public swimming pool, it is regrettable and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. As our population grows and ages, we increasingly have people living longer, which is very much to be welcomed. People in Ireland live longer than in any other European country. However, more challenges and health issues come with that. One area where we see a lot of growth is the number of people presenting with dementia. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: About three weeks ago, I went to see a play called The Ferryman in the Gaiety. It is an excellent play. It is about three hours long but it lays out in a bare way the trauma for families who have a disappeared among them. This trauma is generational. It is important we talk about the news last night that the disappeared commission has confirmed the body exhumed from a grave in County...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the restoration of Bills to the Order Paper, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate, and No. 2, statements on Ireland's national plan under the Common Agricultural Policy, to be taken at 1.15 p.m., with the time allocated for the opening remarks of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, those of group...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On International Day of Happiness, I wish everybody a very happy weekend.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We started off the Order of Business this morning with Senator Linda Nelson Murray, who spoke about the report that showed that a lot of people who are making claims are going towards litigation, rather than going for mediation. There has been a 17% increase in the number of cases going through litigation. Basically, the insurance claims that are being paid out are higher than those in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am responding that, to the best of my knowledge, that is the way that works. It is very regrettable when we have a situation like that. If there is something that can be done at a national level, certainly that should be done. The Senator might bring that to our attention. Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the issues of vexatious claims impacting on retail workers. It is shocking. We...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: He wants a year of celebrations. We could have that as well. In fact, his birthday is on Thursday so we are having lunch in Leinster House because this is the place he felt he would want to be to celebrate. All here are welcome to come in and sing “Happy Birthday”. Senator Davitt also spoke about national roads and that we need a debate on TII. When it comes to roads and...