Results 1-20 of 5,547 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I extend a welcome to the ambassador and the guests in the Gallery. I have tried to raise a Commencement matter relating to Garda matters for the second time. I accept that the Cathaoirleach has guidelines that he has to abide by but it is regrettable that we have a situation where we cannot have the Minister for Justice to come to the House to discuss, in any way, policy on policing in...

Seanad: Smartphone and Social Media Use: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister for being here and for all the work she has done in this area, both in terms of the recent legislation which was one of the first in Europe, certainly, and in relation to her previous work in the education committee where we dealt a lot both with bullying and the need to revamp the RSE education, part of which issue was, of course, around being able to view pornography,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: At the outset, Members are aware that the apology to the Stardust victims is ongoing in the Dáil and in many ways, the Stardust tragedy has been the backdrop and soundtrack of our lives. We feel great solidarity with all of those impacted. To the families and on the stories which we heard yet again over the weekend, we admire their tenacity and that of all of those who fought for the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We need our gardaí to keep us safe and secure. We need to have them patrolling our streets and roads and we must support them. The Minister for Justice should be in Westport listening to the concerns-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: -----of the gardaí who protect her and us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am conscious that we will be going into another session shortly. I thank the witnesses. We are talking about significant funding and we want to ensure that Ireland gets a fair share of that. Since the last Horizon funding framework, Brexit has occurred. I am interested in hearing from the witnesses the impact of that and how Ireland may be impacted. I am conscious that a lot of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank everyone for being here. I will ask my questions in one block to be efficient. As my colleague said, we could spend the whole day here discussing all of the really interesting aspects that have been brought to us. Can I thank Ms Healy for bringing so much colour into Leinster House today? It is great to see it. I really like her colour scheme. On 9 April I had the opportunity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: European Year of Skills 2023: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. McLoughlin. Will Mr. English comment on the national skills week?

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: recognises that: - the system put in place by the Department of Education has been a largely successful model for planning school places up until recently; - the Department of Education is aware of enrolment pressures and is engaging with second-level schools in the affected areas to share application data to determine the full extent of...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Leader for facilitating this Private Members' motion and thank the Minister for making herself available to come to the House to discuss this important topic. I can appreciate how busy she is as she engages with all the different matters that come before her desk. The motion recognises that the system that has been put in place by the Department has been pretty successful until...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: No pressure.

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate we had both Ministers in the House to debate the motion. We all agree that while a lot of work is being done in the area in terms of providing capital funds for building new schools etc., the process of actually building schools needs to be streamlined because we have heard references to this right around the country. Senator Wall and I have spoken about the situation in County...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Next Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: First, I want to add my voice of welcome to Senator Malachai O'Hara. I look forward to working with him in a collaborative and positive way. It is lovely for him to have members of his family here. When all of us here were elected, it was during Covid so we had our first sitting in the Convention Centre and could not invite any family members or supporters. His family being here today is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister and her officials for coming before us today. She touched on a lot of key issues across many important areas, including special education, transport, STEM subjects and the school building unit. I will ask about a few issues. The Minister mentioned the RSE programme. The women's caucus here in the Oireachtas has decided that this year it will like to focus on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Key Issues for the Department of Education: Minister for Education (10 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Role of Disabled Persons Organisations and Self Advocacy in Providing Equal Opportunities under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Implementation: Discussion (8 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I find myself in the humbling position of having to try to respond to the issues the witnesses have all raised. I say this in a very genuine way with a view to responding to their bravery and courage in sharing how their lives have been impacted. They have dealt with very adversarial situations in their lives and how their lives have been altered in terms of everything from employment to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will take this opportunity to wish the President a very speedy recovery. As we know, he will be in hospital until Thursday. It is fair to say that he has solidified his role at the heart of Irish public life. Many of us are looking forward to seeing him back in Áras an Uachtaráin, continuing to deliver for us as Head of State. Having a parent unwell in hospital is not an easy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Allocations of Special Education Teachers: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Chair. I apologise for not being in the room. I was at another committee. In addition, we are in a voting situation today. The witnesses will have to excuse me if I may not be able to stay to listen and respond. I have my colleagues on alert to come in and get me. I thank the witnesses for being here and for the work they do in supporting families and those who need extra...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Allocations of Special Education Teachers: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: But the school to which I refer is losing a teacher.