Results 1-20 of 279 for likes to work speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

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Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I extend my welcome to the distinguished guests. Times are difficult across the world and there is a lot of doom and gloom, some of it merited and some of it not. We all need moments in our lives where we get to witness joy and to see creativity and music. It was incredible to hear so many people speaking about tuning into Glastonbury over the weekend. My youngest brother was there. I...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: This morning's business started with Senator Mary Fitzpatrick, who has been consistent in supporting the people of Gaza and calling out the genocide and war crimes of Israel. The lack of progress and unanimity as to how Europe can support those living in Gaza and the West Bank and call out Israel on its war crimes is, as the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said, a stain on Europe's...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I also extend a welcome to the chargé d'affaires from Slovenia, a beautiful country that I had the opportunity to visit, and to Councillor Niall Kelleher, his aunt, mum and son Noah, who, I understand, is very interested in politics and very involved in Comhairle na nÓg. I hope they have an interesting and good day in Leinster House. When driving here this morning, I listened to...

Committee on European Union Affairs: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank all who have presented on this important topic. We must not forget David Donoghue, of course, because Ireland and Kenya really steered the formulation of the 15 SDGs and did sterling work in this regard. The points Mr. McGeady has just made on how we make the SDGs relatable to everybody, so schoolchildren and councillors in their meeting rooms know what we are talking about, are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I add my voice of welcome to the ambassador. It was lovely to meet her earlier. We had an opportunity to discuss the collaboration between the University of Limerick and Luxembourg. My nephew, Joe O'Loughlin, participated in that last year and spent six wonderful months in Luxembourg. What really got his attention was the free public transport. When he returned he asked why we could not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (18 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... At the same time, many families were reared in the Curragh Camp. There is still a military community and two schools are still operating from there. My Commencement matter relates to two iconic buildings. The camp dates back to around 1855 and was used during the Crimean War by the Royal Engineers. It was later expanded with a permanent barracks, a post office, a fire station,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I extend our sympathies to the family of Carmencita Hederman. I remember being fascinated by her as a young child. She was one of the first women in politics that young girls could identify with. She was very much herself. She had a very strong voice and she used it in all of the areas she was concerned and passionate about. I also add my voice of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We in the Fianna Fáil Party would like to express our sympathies to the family of former Oireachtas Member, Liam Fitzgerald. He was a very kind, affable and effective public representative. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I also think it would be appropriate that the Seanad would extend its sympathies with regard to the Air India crash. Thankfully, it is not too often that we see...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Senators for their contributions. Senator Rabbitte raised the very important issue of the need for swimming pools in the country generally, and in Loughrea specifically, to support people living in the hinterland. She made an excellent point. To be fair to the then Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, he published a national swimming strategy last...

Seanad: Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is very welcome. It is great to have the opportunity to say a few words about this really important subject. I am very proud of the record of my party, Fianna Fáil, on education. It is fair to say we are the party of education and, throughout our history, we have established an unmatched record of commitment to education because it is a great...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. On Sunday, I had the immense privilege of meeting Bernie and Jane Sanders in Athy, County Kildare. This came about through the wonderful work of Colm Walsh, who has developed the Made of Athy series and discovered that the ancestors of Jane Sanders came from Athy. As a couple, Jane and Bernie are absolutely inspirational. They...

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (27 May 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister of State for the opportunity to have a discussion on a really important topic that has an impact on all of our lives. 1898 was the year that local government came into being and local councils were set up. My grandfather, Joseph O'Loughlin, was on the very first Kildare County Council. He died when my father was only seven, so we did not know him but 20 years after...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...here. I am sorry I missed the start. Commencement matters overran because of the Dáil vote. I congratulate him and wish him well. It is an interesting brief and it provides an opportunity to do a lot of good and bring about support and help for those who are vulnerable, both the Irish who are vulnerable abroad and those from other countries. I agree with a comment made on the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (22 May 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Minister for coming back in to take this matter. I really appreciate it. We are all conscious of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, which was launched in October 2021. It is a very important plan. Its key objectives concern increased access, enhanced connectivity, improved frequency and innovative solutions. It is managed by the NTA working with other partners such...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 May 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We started with Senator Fitzpatrick, leading for Fianna Fáil, talking once again about the very distressing scenes and news coming from Gaza, including wilful starvation and the murder of more than 50,000 people, 70% of whom are women and children. Every day in Gaza, at least ten children lose at least one limb. Just think of the lifelong consequences for them. Yesterday, we saw the...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the Order of Business as outlined by the Leader. PDFORRA is a great organisation. It was founded in 1990 and represents in excess of 6,500 members of the Defence Forces. I was fortunate enough to have known the founding member, Mr. John Lucey, who worked closely with Mr. Jim Brady from my area of Kildare. In recent days Mr. Mark Keane has stepped down after eight years as president....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the fact there are half a million people facing starvation. There is no doubt we all feel devastated by what is going on since the horrific attacks on 7 October. Nothing can ever take away from how horrific those attacks were, but what has happened since has been completely disproportionate.The Senator is right in saying we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 May 2025)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Today is a special day. It marks the 80th birthday of a Kildare icon who is known nationally and internationally, namely Christy Moore. He is somebody we are very proud to call a son of Kildare. There is no doubt that his songs have been the soundtrack to so many of our lives and tell us stories with honesty, humour and great heart. I thank Christy on his special day for the music and the...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. Our opener this morning was Senator Shane Curley, who spoke about the issue of waste and surplus energy due to the lack of storage, while at the same time we have fuel poverty. It is really good to hear about the pilot scheme in Galway relating to the energy cloud initiative and that 150 families benefit from this. The Senator is correct to say that Deputy...