Results 1-20 of 412 for does speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...intimidated in their own homes. It is very dangerous. We need a task force set up between the Garda, Waterways Ireland, Kildare County Council and all stakeholders to ensure this type of behaviour does not continue. The last thing I wish to mention is the positive news for those with epilepsy who cannot drive or may not be able to drive for 12 months or a longer period. Free travel...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...is suitable to be built on. There should be geographical equity.We will look for a debate on that issue. Senator Gavan spoke about taxi drivers and the fact that there is a group called Taxis for Ireland that does not include taxi drivers. He made the point that there was a meeting recently with a number of different organisations and groups but no taxi drivers were included. There are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (14 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...many of the teachers and the staff members there who do a really good job.We all know how adequate and timely intervention supports can be and are for children with additional needs, and St. Anne's does a really good job in terms of supporting its students and families. However, the school has totally and long outgrown its current building and is desperately in need of a new school...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Regulation of the English Language Sector: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...and monitoring framework they would like to see? Having some agreed ground in that regard would be important. Unfair or harsh expulsions were mentioned and I have referred to non-refunds. Does Ms Harmon believe that there should be agreed criteria as regards the types of behaviour that would warrant expulsions, suspensions and lesser punishments? What impacts are there on those who...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: As we begin the Order of Business, a coffee morning is starting in the Coffee Dock to support and spread awareness of the work of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, ASI. It does incredible work throughout the country. What it is aiming to do is create a dementia-inclusive generation. It is doing this by working with transition year students. Apparently one in three young people knows...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...keep us safe and secure. We need them patrolling our streets and roads and we have to support them. We live in very challenging times. Every time that a garda starts a day or night shift, he or she does not know what he or she will be faced with or what will come across his or her desk. County Kildare is completely under-resourced when it comes to gardaí. The county has the...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...have not been offered a place. This parent said they had no idea what to do or who to turn to. It is particularly difficult where people move into a town, particularly in the commuter belt, where the child does not have siblings or a parent who went to the school. They feel they are being disadvantaged. I know the Department is engaged in this. I know things have improved in south...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...any definitive data. I feel that this year it seems to be working a little better. Surely there should be the option of being able to use this system in all areas where there is pressure. That does not take away from the need to have our new schools and capital programme and to acknowledge the huge expenditure there is. It is really important. The new schools are amazing. St. Paul's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste, who opened the conference, and Councillors Shane Moynihan and Vicki Casserly. It was incredible to see the level of support there. What Finding Charlie's Voice does, as an Irish registered charity without any State funding, is incredible and it has organised communication boards which now reach 170,000 children through different schools. It has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Discussion (28 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...advice to parents, but that advice is to ring around the schools. It is not practical advice. Some SENOs have encouraged parents to take action under section 29 against any school that says it does not have a place. That has happened with a special school in the area I represent. It has been very difficult for everybody involved and gives rise to a confrontational situation. It is not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (27 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...working in the area, and that eligibility is expanded, procedures are simplified and service users provided with great choice. That is excellent. I have no issue with that and we all would welcome it, but it does not clarify for me or for any of us the situation in terms of those with alopecia which is why I am raising this in the Chamber today. Losing one's hair, whether as a result of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...Kildare who are aspiring to the OWL programme. It is a goal for them to be involved. Well done to everybody. We all recognise that businesses are struggling. It is important that the Government does what it can. In budget 2024, the increased cost of business grant was introduced to help small and medium local businesses to deal with rising costs. Mainly, it supports them with the cost...

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...and it is happening on our watch. We cannot say that we did not know about it. Children, by accident of their birth, have no future. They are lucky if they have a few weeks or months. If Israel does what it is threatening to do in terms of bombing another small part of Gaza to where all of the Palestinians have fled there is no hope. I thank the Tánaiste for his principled...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...him the very best in a challenging role at a challenging time in our changing world. Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann, ONE, will celebrate 75 years in existence in 2026. Ahead of that, the charity, which does tremendous work, will open five new veteran homes nationally, employing three new support workers. One of these will be in Newbridge, with the others in Cork,...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...co-ordination. We must support all of our domestic violence refuges. They are havens for those who need them, many of whom bring children. I mention again Teach Tearmainn in Kildare, which does an absolutely wonderful job. Violence against women, unfortunately, happens in many forms. The scale, as we know, is extensive. Organisations like Women's Aid and Safe Ireland do an excellent...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...Canal and the Grand Canal. Barges were very much a feature of the day when all goods were carried in that fashion. An extremely innovative approach has been taken in Robertstown. The village does not have a community centre, so the community there has restored the barge and it is now serving as the Robertstown community centre. In fact, ukulele classes are held there on a Monday night....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...not going to get sight of it until the Cabinet has had the opportunity to look at it and costings for it. It is an onerous task, without doubt, and the majority of children are well served by it, but where it does not work, it simply does not work and that is wrong. Given Bus Éireann is handsomely paid for its operation, there should be penalties where the terms of the contract have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...it is a binary choice between the two. In contemplating all the different testimonies we have heard, we are tasked with trying to understand both. Ethics and values certainly have a place, as does evidence, research and lived experience. That is the crux of what we have tried to do over the past number of months. I have a few questions for the witnesses. I am particularly interested in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the HSE, meet their family members’ needs, but that is not happening. This is a concern. I am interested in the witnesses’ views on this matter. Ms Farrelly spoke about the four areas that were covered. Does addiction fall under mental health? It is a matter we need to deal with in this regard. We cannot ignore it. From particular areas that I represent, I know of...

Seanad: Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023: Second Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...triggered by the police and is known as the right to know. In this case, the police proactively inform a potential victim about a partner's history of abuse. It should be noted that the UK scheme is an administrative scheme and does not operate on a statutory footing. However, figures show that, in 2022, 7,238 disclosures were made in England and Wales under the right to know procedure...