Results 61-80 of 245 for speaker:Maura Hopkins

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I propose that the time for the Minister of State to reply be extended.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Maura Hopkins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (12 Mar 2019)

Maura Hopkins: Like other Senators, I strongly commend the work of the Minister of State, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the remaining members of the Government. I particularly mention Ms Mairead McGuinness, the Fine Gael MEP, who has done significant work as Vice President of the European Parliament. All of these individuals and the officials involved in dealing with the matter have been extremely...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (27 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, for coming to the House this morning to address this matter. I seek an update on the development of a primary care centre in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. As a person from Ballaghaderreen and as a healthcare professional, I cannot emphasise enough the need to develop this primary care centre in our town to deliver enhanced health services...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (27 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for the update. While it is positive that work is progressing, I emphasise that every effort must be made to ensure there are no delays in the delivery of the centre. In fact, I cannot overemphasise the importance of the centre to the region nor can I overemphasise the need for capacity provision, which means increased staffing allocations. By way of an update...

Seanad: Update on Implementation of National Forestry Programme: Statements (27 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, for the update on the implementation of the forestry programme. We are all very aware of the benefits of forestry, but the issue is very much about achieving a balance between environmental needs and meeting the needs of communities. As the Minister of State correctly pointed out, it is an important mechanism through which we must tackle the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: Not yet.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: It is true. Anyway, Senator Leyden would say what he is saying.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: In respect of the issue Senator Leyden raised this morning, I would like to emphasise strongly that funding is being put in place this year to commence the design process of the Sacred Heart Hospital project.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: It is really important that we see progress on it, and I am very happy to stand over my work on this issue.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I want to raise a very serious issue. This morning we heard that a further 57 families have received an apology from the HSE in respect of audiology failures. I have been working very closely with a number of the families affected. Some 49 families got an apology last June. Some 106 families have been affected by audiology misdiagnosis. I know many of these families because they have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (13 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for coming to the House this morning. As he will be aware, I have raised on several occasions the N5 project between Ballaghaderreen and Scramoge. We have had a positive announcement in terms of the project being approved by An Bord Pleanála. That is a very good step in the right direction in terms of delivering this project....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (13 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: The Minister mentioned this project is part of the national development plan within the framework of Project Ireland 2040. We are mindful of the fact that the project needs to go through necessary approvals and that there are definite stages that need to be progress for us to physically see work progress on the project. The Minister has clearly outlined that work is under way to secure...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospitals Building Programme (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I seek an update from the Minister of State on the planned new 50-bed unit for Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe. I have been raising this issue for some time. I first met the then Minister for Health and now Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, in 2015. It is important this project is funded under the 2019 capital investment plan. These are much-needed facilities for the hospital to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospitals Building Programme (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: As the Minister said, work on the projects to be included in the plan is currently being finalised. I emphasise the need for urgency on this issue. I am happy that the HSE has informed the Department that tender documents are being prepared with a view to progressing the procurement process and commencing an enabling works contract in 2019. It is important we would see enabling works...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: Like other Senators, I have received much correspondence and calls from many concerned parents about this Bill. As my colleagues, Senators Noone and Conway, said, I appreciate that the Minister of State is working exceptionally hard to find consensus on this important Bill, to try to support working parents. The contribution, which I have carefully listened to, is working towards reaching...

Seanad: Community and Rural Support Schemes: Statements (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister of State. I shared a platform with him on the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development. I am aware that he is a champion for rural Ireland. I commend him on the work he is doing to ensure that the maximum investment possible is delivered to rural areas. Last year alone, the Department of Rural and Community Development delivered almost €22 million...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: Apologies, I was a bit late. I had another meeting. I got a lot from the questions and answers section. I will speak about my own experience in Roscommon-Galway. I attended the launch of a digital hub attached to the library in Ballinasloe at the end of January. Obviously, it is a positive development. Ballinasloe Area Community Development, BACD, is proactive in encouraging the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: Approximately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Maura Hopkins: I thank our guests for their comments. In the context of what the Minister of State indicated earlier, it is very positive that companies providing foreign direct investment are asking questions about, and seeing the potential of, working from home. We want to benefit from that potential in rural areas. The Minister of State mentioned a sort of directory and the broadband officers. That...