Results 361-380 of 5,554 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I appreciate that the Minister is certainly trying to put inclusivity and inclusion at the heart of all that he does. He particularly mentioned in his speech affording everybody the opportunity to develop to their full potential. That is hugely important. As we all know, education can be transformative in terms of people’s lives, particularly for people with disability. I would...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: As this is the last Order of Business before the recess, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group I extend our deep gratitude and thanks to all of the officials, to everybody in the Clerk's office and everybody who makes our workings go very smoothly, in particular when we have late nights and early mornings. I thank them for that, and I hope they all have a nice recess. I appreciate that...

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: As I had an opportunity to speak on this Bill on Second Stage, I will be very brief. As the Minister of State knows and has been fighting for, the amount of resources and funding going into special education is absolutely unprecedented. While the funding is there, it is the outcomes that are important in terms of the young people and, of course, their families. Life is very difficult for a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter. It is a most important issue in south Kildare and, indeed, right around the country. I thank the Minister of State for attending today's debate. I have been contacted frequently by people in south Kildare who are entitled to dental services under the terms of the medical card scheme, but who cannot avail of the services due to a lack of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for her response and for her assurance that the HSE has stated that local services on the ground will assist in this regard. I will be contacting my local HSE office this afternoon and I will return with to the House with its response on this. I acknowledge that the Department has pledged a root and branch review of the dental treatment services and to align...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Senator. The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. He has four minutes to respond.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State. For what it is worth, I completely agree with Senator Carrigy. Every single school should have a home school liaison teacher assigned. It is one of the best schemes that has ever been brought into Irish education at both primary and post-primary level. It really benefits the whole school community.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I formally welcome the boys and girls of Cortown National School to the Seanad. We always love to have the opportunity to welcome boys and girls from schools. It is so important that they have the opportunity to come to Leinster House and to see democracy in action. There you saw a perfect example of something that is happening in Meath. We all hope you have a nice day and that you return...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I ask the members of the Minister of State's family to wave.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I know there are two rugby players.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: They play with my niece, Freya O'Loughlin. We are getting very colloquial today.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (12 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I fully support the Senator. I have exactly the same issue with a school in Newbridge, Scoil Na Naomh Uilig. As I mentioned earlier in the context of another Commencement matter, every school should have a home-school liaison officer, along with all the other services that exist.

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. Fianna Fáil is totally supportive of the work she is doing in this area and I certainly welcome the publication of the Bill. The relevant section was put into the original Bill at the suggestion of me and Deputy Thomas Byrne, who is now a Minister of State, when we served on the education committee in the previous Dáil. We felt it...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined. I start by sympathising with the families of former councillors Jerry O'Dea and James Tobin, who very sadly passed away over the last two weeks. We, in Fianna Fáil, are bereft at the loss of two very fine public representatives. They were the epitome of good public service in society and in their communities in Limerick and in Waterford. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Inclusive Transport Schemes: Discussion (7 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Cox, Mr. Douglas and Mr. Fox very much. I apologise; I missed some of the discussion because Senators were called to a vote in the Seanad. Forgive me if I repeat or ask questions about which the witnesses have already spoken. I completely agree with all the points I have heard from the witnesses with regard to the absolute need for people with disabilities to be able to access...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (6 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for attending take this Commencement matter. I have always been a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. I firmly believe that society has a responsibility to ensure every person is supported to reach his or her full potential. As legislators, we have even more of responsibility in that regard. The Fianna Fáil Party stood before the people at...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (6 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State and welcome the fact that three development posts have been allocated. I have spoken about a postcode lottery and there is even a stark difference within the county of Kildare. I spoke recently to a mum whose family relocated from north Kildare to south Kildare. In north Kildare, her daughter was receiving all the different therapies she needed but following...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I extend my welcome to those visitors joining us in the Visitors Gallery. It is always good to see people who want to see democracy in action. I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Deputy Leader but there are a few things I want to bring up. First, it was a very good announcement last night regarding the extra €100 towards back-to-school costs. We all know the...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We will continue our Committee Stage examination of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2022. I understand Senator Mullen is in control of the Chair. I mean he is in possession.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Senator does not feel like he is in control but feels like he is in possession. Is that it?