Results 1-20 of 307 for long speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at Local Level: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...years to get planning permission, so this issue is nearly like the children's hospital. While I was delighted to hear that planning permission has been granted, I could not help but think about how long this situation has gone on. I was shocked when I was there. It was horrific to see how women were treated when their former or present partners came in and there was no privacy or...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...as well as applications from students from outside local areas, are contributing to enrolment pressures; - enrolment pressures in built-up urban areas and commuter towns are forcing many parents to travel long distances to find available schools; - some students have had to avail of home tutoring as a measure of last resort while they await a school placement; - through no fault of...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...building schools needs to be streamlined because we have heard references to this right around the country. Senator Wall and I have spoken about the situation in County Kildare where it takes a long time to procure a site and planning permission and years later we can still be at an early stage in terms of the delivery of the school. There is no doubt the delivery of the capital...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...appreciate it if we could have an engagement with the Minister for Justice in this regard. I will also raise the issue of the Tánaiste's announcement regarding Palestine the evening before last. It has long been Fianna Fáil policy that Palestine should be recognised as a state in its own right and that there should be a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Role of Disabled Persons Organisations and Self Advocacy in Providing Equal Opportunities under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Implementation: Discussion (8 Apr 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the matter at that level. We need to have those supports available. The need for a simplification of the red tape around prosthetics is very clear from what all of our guests have said. It takes so long to get through the system and that is wrong. It needs to be addressed and we will do our best to do something about it. Jamie spoke about the primary medical certificate and the...

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

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...situation. It has not been thought through properly if we are looking at full inclusion in primary school setting but that is not being fully followed through at secondary level. We have come a long way in the past five or six years. In my area in Kildare, the number of places available for students who need extra supports at secondary level has probably quadrupled. To move from one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for attending. We are nearing the end of a long process and there have been difficult contributions and difficult learning. A common thread is that the point at which someone dies is important but the way in which they die is equally important. We have all had experience of bereavements within our families and circles, and the difference between those who have a good...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (31 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...news. It is certainly good news for many who will be using this. The Minister of State has clarified that it will probably be the end of September before this comes in. I know it will not be long coming. It is always a little painful when something is announced and you have to wait quite some time before it comes in. I do appreciate that the implementation comes down to the NTA, but...

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...to raise these issues. It sent shockwaves throughout the military and defence community throughout the country, particularly in County Kildare where so many of the defence community resides. Not long after this I listened to Dr. Tom Clonan, now our colleague in the Seanad, speaking on Kfm about his research and the way he was treated when he became a whistleblower with regard to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...deficits are becoming more burdensome for residents who have issues with traffic congestion, school places, accessing GPs and road infrastructure. We really need to see these issues addressed along with a focus on building sustainable communities which have access to adequate resources in south Kildare. I am standing here absolutely frustrated having to raise the perennial issue of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (22 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...reliant on school places in Newbridge and Kildare town. I appreciate that there are ongoing discussions with school boards of management.However, I honestly do not understand why that is taking so long because ultimately we know the number of children who are in sixth class in each school within the vicinity of the secondary schools. Therefore, we should have access to that data, and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...of hostages, including little Emily Hand - I understand that the Tánaiste met with her family today - and for aid to be delivered to Palestine. That is with all collectively working towards a long-term solution. Senator Dooley also asked for a debate on the national public service broadcaster. I understand from news reports that 400 redundancies are being sought and that Kevin...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...what we can do. I know Senator Gavan to be a true humanitarian from his work in this House as well as at the Council of Europe. He is right. Sometimes we highlight a situation. Russia and Ukraine took the headlines for so long, and still deserve to do so, but now it is Palestine and Israel that deserve to be in the headlines. Unfortunately, however, we have situations that slip under...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Ensuring Inclusive Local and EU Elections: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...on the plane. To have educated, professional people using that type of degrading language is awful. Hearing that kind of disparaging language, that is not meant in a bad way, reminds me that we have a long way to go in society and in communities. People need to have a little bit of respect and cop on. I thank all the witnesses for what they have given us to date. As the witnesses may...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: .... He was unhappy with the Tánaiste’s response to him at the last committee. As I am not a member of that committee, I was not there but he is wrong to say that nothing positive happens in the Defence Forces. We have a long way to go in supporting them but money has been made available for the housing he spoke of in the Curragh and for more than that in terms of three...

Seanad: Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (19 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...and offer condolences to all who have lost family members and friends. The date 10/7 is our new 9/11. The horrific events in New York at that time were the result of a very deliberate and long-planned campaign and so were the events of 7 October. That day should be forever etched in our souls as the collapse of humanity. Every one of us must absolutely and unequivocally condemn the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...disability services and working with older people. For many years they have had massive inequality in terms of pay, while providing vital services to our society and community. They had been long looking for pay parity with their colleagues in the HSE and the restoration of pay. This is something I and my party have always supported. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Healthcare Provision and Healthcare Professionals: Discussion (17 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...dying were to come in. I am interested in a response to that. While we have a lot to go through in this committee, if recommendations were made and assisted dying introduced in Ireland, how long would it take to establish service provision? We also mentioned the slippery slope. How would such a service be effectively audited in a way that would allay concerns? I appreciate the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Education (Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse) Bill 2023: Discussion (17 Oct 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...a huge cloud and some of them had not been back. To see them owning their place, their city, was one of the most moving testaments I have ever seen to survivors. As the Cathaoirleach said, and so long after it should have happened, we have entered that new era of dignity, recognition and recompense.

Seanad: Rights-Based Care Economy: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...; highlights how the care economy in Ireland relies heavily on the private marketplace and informal family and community networks to access care, and while the State funds a significant amount of formal child and long-term care, it is delivered mainly by private-for-profit services; in contrast to paid work, participation and the time people spend in informal care activities is rarely...