Results 1-20 of 54 for speaker:Laura Harmon

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (11 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank all the guests for attending. It was illuminating hearing their contributions and having this discussion. I thank Cara for all of her advocacy and campaigning. Her protest highlighted this to many people in the corridors of power in Leinster House. It is important that action be taken and that there are not just empty words. I wholeheartedly agree with her that what is happening...

Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (11 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: As a follow-up from that question, what are Ms Darmody's next steps in her own advocacy? She has made clear her asks today. I suppose one of them is, as she mentioned, a task force. In terms of this committee here and us as public representatives, what does Ms Darmody want us to do after today in relation to this? I think they have already outlined that, but for the record, what is Ms...

Seanad: Breast Cancer Services: Statements (10 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the Minister for being here for this important discussion. I thank my fellow Senators, especially Senator Costello for all of her advocacy and awareness raising. I am learning so much being part of these discussions in the Seanad. Like many others here, I did not receive any education through school on breast cancer, checking our breasts and what we need to do in terms of minding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: I wish the Chair well in his role and I look forward to working with everybody on this committee. I also welcome the witnesses. This is a very exciting committee to be a part of. Every aspect of humanity is going to be affected by artificial intelligence in the future. It is going to affect how our societies operate and function in everything, from our education and health systems to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the witnesses for being here at our inaugural session. This is very much going to be an ongoing conversation that we will have with many experts like the witnesses before us. I thank Dr. Seoighe for the very detailed and informative presentation. I am still very much learning about this area, as a lot of us are. It is evolving at a rapid pace. I have a number of questions....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the witnesses. I only have 20 seconds but as a short follow up, can the witnesses recommend international examples of countries that Ireland should look towards for best practice? If you take mitigating the risks around elections, are there particular countries that have done work on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Laura Harmon: On AI literacy and the general population, I am conscious that in Ireland, over 20% of the population have low literacy rates in terms of reading and writing. Where do we start with AI literacy to ensure there is a level playing field in education?

Seanad: Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2025: Second Stage (28 May 2025)

Laura Harmon: I welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased to support this important Bill from Senator Noonan. I am delighted that the Cross-Party Group is bringing this forward as part of our Private Members’ time this evening. It is important that we pass this Bill without delay. There has already been too much delay in terms of addressing not only the housing crisis but also the high levels...

Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Laura Harmon: I wish the Cathaoirleach well in her role and congratulate her. I look forward to working with everyone on this committee. I have presented to this committee on a number of occasions over the years wearing different hats. I was president of the Union of Students in Ireland ten years ago and, just recently, I was director of the Irish Council for International Students, so this is an area...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank my colleague Senator Patricia Stevenson for co-ordinating some actions by the Opposition today to highlight what is happening in Palestine and Gaza. Palestine is a mirror to humanity's soul at the moment. With every day that we do not act, the soul of our humanity is dying. We know that more than 55,000 people have been killed in Gaza. The song says, "The Revolution Will Not Be...

Seanad: Appointment of Members to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission: Motion (13 May 2025)

Laura Harmon: I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1: To delete “Michael McDowell” and substitute the following: “Nessa Cosgrove”.

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

Laura Harmon: I welcome the Minister and look forward to engaging with him in respect of his brief. I congratulate him. It is great to see the work he has been doing so far. I want to raise a couple of issues briefly, the first being student housing. Funding really needs to be unlocked for the technological university sector. It needs to be allowed to borrow money to purchase and build purpose-built...

Seanad: Europe Day 2025: Statements (1 May 2025)

Laura Harmon: The European project is a wonderful and impactful project that has contributed to so many progressive laws in this country in employment, human rights, women's rights and the environment. We must protect the progress that has been made and the rights that have been won and guard against any rowing back of that. Last week I was fortunate to visit the European Parliament with some of my...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (10 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. My question concerns radiation therapists and machines that are currently not operating in some hospitals throughout the country. Some are not operating at full capacity due to staffing issues. I am aware my question overlaps the Departments of Health and further and higher education. There is an estimated shortfall of between 30% and 35% in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (10 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the Minister of State for the response and for providing clarity on my questions. It is welcome that the deficit in radiation therapy posts has been reduced from 30% down to 14% to 22%. That is still quite a high deficit, but it is welcome that progress has been made on it. Regarding the 0.5 of a machine inactivity rates in the areas the Minister of State mentioned, is that daily,...

Seanad: Prohibition of Advertising or Importuning Sex for Rent Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I will share my time with Senator Nessa Cosgrove, who will be seconding the proposal. I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and welcome him to the House. I thank him for his engagement on this issue to date. I know the Minister and the Government are also keen to find a solution to this and have been looking at solutions to this. I...

Seanad: Prohibition of Advertising or Importuning Sex for Rent Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, for engaging with this today and for his clearly considered response to this Bill and his frank comments relating to it. It is welcome that the Cabinet has approved this in the sense of not opposing it at this stage. I welcome his positive remarks regarding some aspects of the Bill and the substance of the Bill itself. I take on board the three points...

Seanad: Prohibition of Advertising or Importuning Sex for Rent Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Disability Services: Statements (8 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am delighted to be the Labour Party's spokesperson on disability and further and higher education. I look forward to engaging with her constructively over the coming months and years. This year will mark seven years since Ireland ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having now signed up to the optional...

Seanad: International Trade and International Relations: Statements (3 Apr 2025)

Laura Harmon: I thank the Minister of State for being here and thank the Tánaiste for his remarks. It is fair to say we are in a period of a lot of change in the world. The world order has changed. I do not believe Trump is the leader of the free world, and democracy is being eroded across the US and across the world. It is worrying that he has abolished the national Department of Education in the...