Results 121-140 of 245 for speaker:Maura Hopkins

Seanad: Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (2 May 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber to resume the discussion on Project Ireland 2040. When Senator Coffey made his contribution, I was very much reminded of mistakes that I am aware of in County Roscommon with regard to poor planning. I live very near an unfinished housing estate that is a terrible legacy of the Celtic tiger.It involves houses that were poorly built, ten of which...

Seanad: Fodder Shortage: Motion (18 Apr 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for speaking to us this evening on the difficult issue of the fodder crisis. Reflecting on my own contact with farmers over recent months, there appear to be two aspects to the crisis. If we look at this year, farmers, particularly in the west and north west, have had to house their livestock early. We had a bad summer which resulted in late silage and...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Apr 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Certainly the date 21 January 1919 was very much a pivotal day in modern Irish history. I thank Senator Swanick for his work on this Bill. As we approach the centenary of this important event, it is fitting that we recognise the date of 21 January as Declaration of Independence Day.It is also positive because the public holiday would not have an economic impact but would allow us to...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Committee Stage (17 Apr 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ongoing Fodder Crisis: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (11 Apr 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I will be very brief. I want to emphasises what my colleague, Deputy McLoughlin, has said. We are going through a very difficult period in the west and north west, not just for the past week or so. This has been the case for quite a while, because as the Minister is aware, many of our livestock have been housed since last September. It has been a very long winter and many of our farmers...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne, for coming to the Seanad this morning. The important issue I wish to raise is the inpatient mental health unit in Roscommon town. As the Minister of State will be aware, a recent inspection by the Mental Health Commission has found that the unit is non-compliant with 14 regulations, one rule and four codes of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (29 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the Minister of State for her response. She will understand how frustrated I am. I do not rest assured. We had a meeting last night with the Minister of State, Deputy Daly. There was no HSE management at the meeting on the Rosalie unit in Castlerea. I have absolutely no faith in HSE management of mental health services in County Roscommon. The Minister of State mentioned action...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Many of the questions I had have been raised. Ms Graham has outlined the sense that there are still gaps. Obviously the NTA is working to improve them. With that, I want to start off on a positive note and say that the NTA has listened to concerns about the extension of the 440 bus route, the Westport to Athlone route, which is obviously very important for County Roscommon. It serves many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Okay. I would also like to emphasise the important work which Local Link services do. For example, there is a service in Tulsk which supports a day centre and a rural school. It also integrates locals with towns. We obviously need to see more of that, but it is a very good example of trying to be efficient and trying to link as many people as possible to the places to which they need to...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I have read the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eight Amendment of the Constitution and spoken to many people in recent months. Following much consideration, my personal view is that I will not be supporting the proposal to allow for unrestricted abortions up to 12 weeks. I support access to options in certain circumstances but I cannot support abortion without any...

Seanad: Ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Statements (21 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Like other Senators I welcome the Minister to the House today. We are all very clear that the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a truly historic moment for us and it is great to see cross-party support for this ratification. However, it is only the beginning of a new journey. I recently visited The Hub in Strokestown, which the Minister of...

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Ba mhaith liom fáilte mhór a chuir roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Joe McHugh, chuig an Seanad inniu. Ba mhaith liom chomh maith buíochas a ghabháil leis as an tiomantas atá aige chun ár dteanga dúchais a spreagadh agus gúim gach rath air ina ról mar Aire Stáit le freagracht as an nGaeilge agus as an nGaeltacht. ls iontach an rud é...

Seanad: 100 Years of Women's Suffrage in Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Josepha Madigan. It is wonderful to have such a well informed, capable, hard-working and knowledgeable individual as one of the senior Cabinet Ministers. I wish her well in her new role and have no doubt that she will do an exemplary job. Her contribution is important in asking us to reflect on the significant contribution women have made to the country in...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Like other Senators, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to the Chamber. I thank him for his ongoing work in this brief. The difficult issue of flooding affects many communities. As the Minister of State will know, flood defences were deployed in Ballinasloe town centre in recent weeks when there was a fear of flooding. The worthwhile works that have taken place in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I wish to raise issues related to the voluntary homeowners relocation scheme. Nobody takes the decision to seek to leave their own home lightly but where a person is left without options, we must ensure we provide the greatest possible level of support for homeowners. This scheme is apparently targeted at individuals whose homes are no longer suitable due to flood risk but I am working with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Arts and Education: Discussion (14 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I will be brief. I thank the witnesses for their presentations and the discussion. We have learned a lot. I was in Roscommon County Council on Friday for the presentation of a wonderful sculpture from pupils from a national school in Roscommon. It was fantastic to see the parents, brothers and sisters of the children involved. They all appreciate the importance of the arts. It brought...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Irish Film Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Both organisations have raised serious concerns about the working week and the terms and conditions of employment. In the context of the difficulties that have been identified and queries about the integrity of other organisations, what have both organisations done about negotiating with others? Mr. Arkins mentioned that his organisation is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Irish Film Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: How far have those negotiations progressed in terms of trying to deal with the concerns that have been raised?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Irish Film Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: Mr. Arkins stated it is a relationship between the employer and the employee and also that there have been three agreements put in place in terms of specific working conditions. I take it those agreements are being adhered to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Irish Film Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2018)

Maura Hopkins: I thank Mr. Arkins for the concerns that have been raised. It emphasises that it is a whole-team approach to make productions happen. Is that the best way? I am not specifically asking Mr. Arkins. In general, is that the best way in terms of negotiating between an specific employer and employee or is there a better way to do it? Obviously, serious difficulties have been identified here....