Results 1-20 of 245 for speaker:Maura Hopkins

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (16 Jun 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I wish the Leas-Chathaoirleach well in his new position. I also congratulate our Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, on her new appointment and wish her every success in her new role. This is my first contribution in the Seanad and I believe it appropriate that I would do so on the important issue of sustainable full employment. As a young Senator from Roscommon, I believe the single...

Seanad: Health: Statements (21 Jun 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister, Deputy Harris, for addressing us. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, to the House for the debate. Like my colleagues, I support the setting up of a cross-party health committee which will have a longer-term focus with regard to health policy over the next ten years. That is welcome. During the recession health budgets were hit but now that we...

Seanad: Mental Health: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and wish her every success in her new role. Minding our mental health is a constant requirement every day of our lives. How we feel filters into everything we do and experience, from being involved in our community to having a job to meeting friends to financial stress, online criticism, feelings of inadequacy, bullying and feelings of...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I raise the important issue of rehabilitation services. This morning, I attended a launch of a campaign by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland under the title "We need our heads examined" - and we do. I joined my colleagues, Senator Maria Byrne and Deputy Maria Bailey, to support health care professionals, patients and families who are fighting for better quality rehabilitation services....

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I want to raise the continuing difficulties facing frontline health professionals within the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, in respect of notice of termination of their pension. I have met several of the affected employees. They are extremely disappointed and frustrated at the lack of any consultation or negotiation prior to the termination of their pension scheme. Nobody has been admitted...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I wish to continue our discussion on Brexit and to raise the serious implications for the Irish agrifood industry following the decision by the people of the UK to leave the EU. The UK is our single biggest trading partner and Irish agribusiness will, undoubtedly, be the most exposed. Ireland exported €5.1 billion in farm produce to Britain in 2015. A recent Teagasc survey has...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I refer to concerns about the need for urgent action on the N5, particularly between Frenchpark and Strokestown. Locals have informed me that there are black spots along this section of road. We understand there have been over 20 accidents at a particular one. I have raised this issue on several occasions in the past year with Roscommon County Council and ask that Transport Infrastructure...

Seanad: Farm Safety: Statements (6 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming my former colleague, Councillor Kathleen Shanagher, to the Chamber today. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Creed, to the Seanad and I wish him every success in his new role. The farming sector is crucial to Ireland's economy and agrifood is our most important indigenous sector. Farm safety is a critical issue today and is of serious concern. Some 30...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: Like my Fine Gael colleagues, I support the Bill, certainly in principle. As a newly-elected Senator, I am trying to learn the ropes with regard to the functioning of the Seanad. Having been elected on the administrative panel, an area I was very interested in, and which was one of my drivers to get involved in politics, was health care reform, particularly in the area of rehabilitation. I...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: It is important that we respect each other within this Chamber and work together on issues. There is a focus at times on local issues. In the context of this debate, we have frequently mentioned the importance of our local representatives who are working on local issues and meeting local people every day. It is critical that we connect with those local representatives because it is only by...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I thank Senators John Dolan, Grace O'Sullivan and the other Independent Senators who brought this Private Members' motion forward today.I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. As a health care professional, having worked as an occupational therapist for the past eight years, I have worked with many people who have suffered from disability and have been involved with many who...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Motor Insurance (14 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber this morning. I want to raise the issue of insurance costs. The spiralling cost of motor insurance has placed a massive burden on motorists. Over the past year, increases in excess of 30% have become standard within the sector and that is unacceptable. I am fully aware that the Minister for Finance has set up a task force to examine the issue...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Motor Insurance (14 Jul 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. It appears the working group will take the issue of motor insurance costs seriously, as it must if we are to remove all possible barriers for people who are trying to work, which is a major issue in rural areas. The issues around fraud, claims and more extensive use of the book of quantum are core elements in addressing this matter. I look...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Culture 2025 - Éire Ildánach: a Framework Policy to 2025 and Related Matters: Discussion (7 Sep 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I would like to make a number of brief points about the connection between artists and the business world. I say that because a really interesting report was commissioned by the Western Development Commission in 2009. It emphasised that the creative sector was very much underdeveloped and that there was huge potential. On foot of that, I was recently involved with Roscommon Leader...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. This is a constructive discussion because we are passionate about rural areas. Coming from a rural area, I want to see more young people return to live in rural areas. I seek commentary on a number of issues. First, on the question of tourism, I live in the midlands and I am frustrated with regard to the interaction with the major tourism...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Maura Hopkins: No, that is fine.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I want to raise the issue of farmers, particularly in the west, who are concerned about the difficult weather conditions we have had throughout the summer. I understand Teagasc is undertaking a survey on the extent of the tillage crisis, looking at how many hectares of barley, wheat and oats are yet to be harvested. There are farmers who have managed to harvest crops but the yields and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (5 Oct 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to discuss this important matter. Last week I met people living with the impact of a stroke in the community. A new stroke support group has been established in County Roscommon, led by the Irish Heart Foundation. One of the issues raised at the meeting was the concern for people who attended the group and every person living in a rural...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (5 Oct 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response. I am encouraged by the fact that the programme for Government sets out that there will be a multi-annual programme which will focus on providing an enhanced ambulance service, involving increased personnel, improved technology and improved ambulances. However, we are dealing with a very urgent issue, particularly in known...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister of State. Like my colleagues, I very much welcome the pupils and members of the Irish deaf community here today. Similarly, I thank Senator Mark Daly for having brought this Bill to the Chamber. It is an extremely important Bill for the current and future community of deaf people in Ireland. One person who wrote to me put it quite succinctly and clearly. She said...