Results 1-20 of 239 for likes to work speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I welcome Senator Bradley. She is incredibly welcome. It is a great honour to be nominated to the Seanad Chamber. It is lovely to see her family and fiancé with her. When we became Members of this Seanad it was during Covid and we were in the Convention Centre Dublin. We could not have family or friends with us. I urge Senator Bradley to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Enabling Community Inclusion for People with Disabilities (Resumed): Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: In terms of the work DESSA does, we heard previously from social farming and different types of social employment schemes. I refer to the experience of one social farm led by Mr. Val Cross in Rathangan, where I am from. It is tremendous to hear how those involved would speak about the involvement, from a farmer point of view, let alone those who get involved in it. Has DESSA had any...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I support the Order of Business as outlined. I spoke yesterday about the bravery of Bláthnaid Raleigh. I have to mention her again because when I was driving in this morning, I heard her interview on RTÉ Radio One. It was a very compelling interview. I drove in and stayed in the car to listen to the end of it. I do not mind admitting that I shed tears listening to her. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...nephew did an internship in Luxembourg last year for six months and loved it, particularly the fact that there is free travel. He could not get over that. It is something we would certainly love to have here. A gentleman called Myles Wickham from Newbridge was in the Public Gallery yesterday. Myles was here because I had arranged a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jun 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We started this morning with Senator Catherine Ardagh, seeking permission to take No. 10 on the Order Paper before No. 1. I grant leave to introduce the Bill. The Senator mentioned that about 60 women a year do not have the opportunity to postpone maternity leave because they are suffering from cancer. As the Senator said, the issue has been raised many times but nothing has been done....

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Jun 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The Minister has been a beacon of light and hope for women's health, particularly in the area of fertility. I thank him for that, because this is not simple. It is complex. A lot of work has gone on for many years and behind the scenes but he is the person who has brought this through. I have listened to my colleagues telling their stories and their lived experience. I do not have that...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...those who have been elected over the weekend on all our county councils throughout the country - those of all parties and none.One thing that really stuck out was the low turnout, which we must try to address. I came across an interesting quote, which stated: “Democracy isn’t like a Sunday suit to be brought out and worn only at parades, it’s the kind of a life a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Regulation of the English Language Sector: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Ms Harmon welcomed the IEM scheme but had some reservations about the monitoring and enforcement framework. I would be inclined to agree with her in that regard. Unfortunately, we have seen exploitation. Undoubtedly, the vast majority of the companies are excellent, but there will always be those that are not. It has been mentioned that the two organisations before us meet often. Have...

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,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I am glad the Senator has raised such an important issue. Yesterday I spoke in the Seanad about the GRA conference and how extremely difficult issues cross the desk of a garda. I know we all appreciate that when a garda starts his or her shift, be it day or night, he or she never knows what will unfold. To paraphrase another phrase I used, who is going to protect the protectors? It is...

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...

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: 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 Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Cathaoirleach and witnesses. In particular, I thank Ms Byrne for telling us about her experience and advocating for her peers. We really appreciate her making the effort to be here. It is important for us to hear from her and her peers regarding their experience and wishes in terms of the type of education they want. We can then make recommendations on that basis. ...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I commend my county colleague, Senator Martin, on drafting this Bill and bringing it together. With his legal expertise and political experience, we have no doubt about the robustness of the Bill. It is important to have this debate and speak about domestic violence, which is a scourge not just in this country but across Europe and the world. As we know from statistics, during and after...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: North-South Student Mobility: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...witnesses for their opening statements. I also thank the students who were before the committee in the earlier session. Obviously, this is an important issue. Before I mention specifics, I wish to make a general point around the impact of Brexit on the figures mentioned. Before Brexit, I imagine that the number of students from the Republic going to Northern Ireland was significantly...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...delegation for the Special Olympics held in Ireland in 2003. We built up a very strong relationship, so the delegation is incredibly welcome. I welcome the survey published yesterday on the best towns in the country to live in. Two towns in County Mayo, Ballina and Castlebar, featured, as well as Longford. Newbridge, where I live, was identified as the safest town in Ireland. It is a...

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: 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...