Results 1-20 of 1,678 for speaker:Aisling Dolan

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Aisling Dolan: Comhghairdeas a Chathaoirligh. It is very strange to hear the term "Senator Aisling Dolan". I am still not used to it. I congratulate Senator Regina Doherty on her role as Leader of the House. Everyone has paid tribute to the leadership we have seen in recent months with regard to Covid-19 from the Ministers who were in place. It was inspirational. As a new Senator in the Chamber for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I join with my colleagues in encouraging people to download the Covid tracking app. It is free. We should all be doing it. I also join in the praise for Dr. Tony Holohan. He has been a fantastic leader over recent months. I would like to talk about the shocking situation in Ballinasloe with regard to the potential job losses at the company Aptar. This could affect 100 jobs in the town...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: It is very much a historic honour to be standing here in front of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. As an arts graduate in history and French from UCG, now NUIG, it is very awe-inspiring. Though it is a unique occasion, it is one that has brought a lot of joy. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, especially as his portfolio concerns employment affairs and retail...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: It is great to hear that today is Nelson Mandela Day, which is a source of great pride. I also congratulate Senator Flynn for Traveller Pride Week. It is real honour to have her in the Chamber. Regarding the "Prime Time" programme last night on nursing homes, my query is on the families and the pain and distress showed at not being able to get close to their loved ones in nursing homes....

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for coming to the House. It is an historic day to create a new Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science. As Fine Gael spokesperson for education and higher education, it is an honour to be here today to see that happening. My role in NUI Galway is working with excellent teams of engineers, such as the...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill before us which I welcome and support. It is important that the Government supports measures to improve businesses and the outcome for employees who have been losing jobs in recent times. I come from the Roscommon-Galway area which is lacking in investment. There are many towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 and the...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I congratulate the Minister. She has a very broad and interesting portfolio covering arts, tourism, media and culture. I will speak to what I know, which Ireland's Hidden Heartlands in the middle of Ireland. Is it not great that this opportunity has been brought about for us to rediscover what is on our doorstep? That is what many families are doing now when booking their holidays,...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I again welcome the Minister and commend both her and her team in the Department on developing a detailed roadmap in respect of how to manage the reopening of our schools in September. As for my background, I am an arts graduate in French and history, and I had the opportunity after completing my degree to teach French for a period in secondary schools. I have many friends who work as...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the just transition retrofitting initiative. A number of local authorities in the midlands and Galway are putting forward funds to retrofit houses in areas affected particularly by job losses in respect of Bord na Móna and ESB. I am looking forward to the 60 homes in Ballinasloe that are going to be retrofitted and how this will impact on the cost of heating. There is a lot...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jul 2020)

Aisling Dolan: Like Senator Casey, I would very much like to thank the staff. I am very new, so this is a wonderful experience. It is wonderful to be in the Dáil Chamber and to see the sunshine coming in from outside. We do not see it on television, but it is shines very beautifully on the ceiling. It provides haloes for all the angels here in the Chamber. I would like to discuss the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2020)

Aisling Dolan: August was a busy time for the west. There were more than 600 submissions to the Galway to Athlone cycleway project office in Ballinasloe, which shows the desire and need for the cycleway from Dublin to Galway to happen as soon as possible. I thank the more than 200 people who called to my office in Ballinasloe to make a submission on why Ballinasloe would be the perfect next destination on...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (18 Sep 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I congratulate Senator O'Reilly. It is a wonderful day. There was much support in Roscommon, especially from Pat, Mary's brother. It is a special day and the Senator will celebrate it well with his family. These are difficult and challenging times but the Senator will show us, in the time to come, all the wisdom and experience that he has learned so far. He has been very helpful to us,...

Seanad: Safe Reopening of Tertiary Sector and Key Priorities for Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Harris, to the House and I thank him for the information he provided and acknowledge the proactive engagement with third level institutions by his Department over the last few months. The Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science is a welcome development, bringing together the funding agencies of Science Foundation Ireland and...

Seanad: School Transport, Leaving Certificate 2020 and Reopening of Schools: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister to the House. It is great to be in this wonderful room. To have the opportunity to speak twice today is a real honour. I thank the Minister for the detailed update. She went through a lot of information. To make a general point about the reopening of schools, I know that there was great excitement. I kept hearing about all the kids who were excited for the first...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I am really surprised. The debate is to be on the amendments and the legislation. Instead, the Minister of State is getting attacked about what has come through in submissions. We know there have been over 9,000 submissions. There are over 12,000 people working in the sector who Senator Boyhan knows full well are waiting to ensure that they still have employment, that we get this...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I want to speak today about keeping swimming pools open across the country during Covid. I found out this week that Galway County Council is to make a decision this week in regard to the proposed closure of swimming pools in Ballinasloe and Tuam. Why should this matter to all of us? Most local authority swimming pools are operated by private operators. In the case of Ballinasloe, the...

Seanad: Aviation Industry: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State, who is representing Galway and the west. It is also great to see such able representation of the west by so many Senators. The Minister of State has responsibility for international road transport and logistics. I thank her and her departmental team for the level of detail provided to the House today. Indeed, the detail and statistics that have been given...

Seanad: HSE Winter Plan: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As per the Acting Chairman's instructions, I will keep my contribution brief. I very much welcome the investment in the HSE winter plan and acknowledge the fantastic work being done by our healthcare teams in primary care and in hospitals. The investment in community healthcare networks is particularly welcome, as are the additional 4.76...

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Aisling Dolan: I thank the Minister. I really appreciate her time as I know it is extremely hectic at the moment. It is shocking what happened with the calculated grades. I appreciate that the team within the Department of Education and Skills discovered these errors and brought them to the Minister's attention, and that an immediate plan of action was put in place. My question concerns the company that...