Results 61-80 of 312 for long speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (28 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the Minister of State may not have the level of detail I need and require, apart from the briefing he has been given. As we all know, education is the passport to the future because tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it. I am not suggesting that education only happens in schools. We obviously have informal education, which is very important, at home and within society, but...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...xe1;il will, of course, be supporting this Bill. It is an important one because it gives all workers in Ireland the right to paid sick leave for the first time. This is something I firmly support. It is long overdue. Workers and their families deserve and need access to a level of paid sick leave. It is a fundamental right of workers and I am pleased my party can play its part in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...me. We need to ensure school transport is in place, particularly in September when the new school year starts. On plans to support intensive English language learning, we do not know how long the students will be here, although we all hope the war will end soon. There will be a need to rebuild Ukraine. What plans are in place to provide for examinations in Ukrainian and offer...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...followed. Senator Wall also raised the welcome news yesterday for PDFORRA as did Senators Byrne, Craughwell and Buttimer. I agree that RACO should be included but to be fair, PDFORRA started this campaign a long time before RACO joined the debate. I want to compliment Ger Guinan and Mark Keane. They have done excellent work in a very respectful way. Many of us would have had meetings...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (19 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...in the past 12 months. There is a clear and distinct issue here. The majority of early childhood professionals I speak to in south Kildare see no future for themselves in the industry. They fear for their long-term financial security. Most of them who love their job and want to remain in the industry simply cannot afford to do so.Something must be done to retain the talent and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Areas of Conservation (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...like to add my voice of welcome to the boys, girls and teachers of Glandore National School from west Cork, who are being hosted today by Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan. They have had a very long journey to come up here. I was in Glandore last summer and it is just such a beautiful part of the world. We appreciate that they have taken the time to come and join with their Deputy....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: The first issue I wish to raise relates to unauthorised developments. At the moment in County Kildare, as with many other counties, we are going through the long and arduous process of the county development plan. All Members know how difficult it is to get planning for a one-off house or many other types of development. Unauthorised developments, however, are popping up to a significant...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (11 May 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...caucus and a steadfast advocate of increased female participation in politics, I congratulate Northern Ireland's next First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, on her historic election. I also congratulate Naomi Long and the Alliance Party. What it achieved was incredible. It shows that there is a need and desire for another way and that people want to get on with their lives. For themselves...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (7 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...management plan and a branding, wayfinding and interpretation plan for the Curragh Plains. Such was the interest that 4,000 people responded. There is significant scope in that work to secure the long-term viability of the Curragh. The aim of the project is to help protect and conserve the special status of this landscape, manage more effectively the diverse yet critical uses of the...

Seanad: Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...history and stoicism of the Defence Forces are protected now and for future generations. It only takes a simple glance at the Defence Forces website, news outlets or the history books to see the long and proud history of our forces. As many Members will know, I am a passionate advocate for the Defence Forces and I have always used my influence and voice to champion the cause of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regeneration Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...were doing. In 2011, it was decided that there would be a regeneration project for the area. It was a very big project. The area was one of the only ones chosen for such a project in the country, alongside an area in County Limerick. Plans were put in place. The reason the regeneration was sanctioned was because it was based on a design analysis of the estate that demonstrated issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...of our witnesses will have to leave before 1.30 p.m. As everyone will be aware, the committee will publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting. I remind Members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (30 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...the Minister of State for coming to take this Commencement matter. I would like to emphasise that my question was particularly related to the academic year 2022-23. While I appreciate that the long-term solution is in relation to this new school, as well as in the additional projects at Cross and Passion College and the Patrician Secondary School and Ard Scoil Rath Iomgháin, I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Standard of Living and Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...an invisible disability, it is very difficult for them to access the supports they need because their disability is not perceived as being serious enough. Sometimes a small intervention to help them goes a long way . Those are the questions and comments I wish to put to the Minister.

Seanad: Gambling (Prohibition of Advertising) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ..., which is shocking. We all know the stories about people waiting for that big win and trying to get something that would change their lives. As the Minister of State knows, Fianna Fáil has a long-standing commitment to implement regulations for socially responsible gambling, which is very important. While I support the principle of this Bill and congratulate my Labour Party...

Seanad: Brain Health and Dementia: Statements (9 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...to her for the clear focus in last September's budget for this year on enhancing community-based services to enable older people to continue living in their homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. The €150 million funding secured in 2021 for 5 million additional hours of home support has been maintained for this year. In addition, the proportion of these new...

Seanad: Situation in Ukraine: Statements (1 Mar 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...beliefs in democracy, the rule of law and human rights. We must be definite and definitive in our actions. Last Friday, on behalf of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe, we had a very long meeting with our ambassadors on the question of suspending Russia's membership of the Council of Europe. It was unanimously voted through. I am really proud to see my colleague, Mr. Billy...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank the Minister for prioritising this important Bill and for all the work that she has put into it along with her officials. I thank also the Oireachtas committee for the work it has put in, in terms of examining it. I certainly appreciate the Minister's clarification on a number of issues at the start - it was very welcome - and her thorough...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (15 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...sceptical about the implementation process. We need to see action now. We have broken the trust of the defence community before by failing to act and this cannot be allowed happen again. For far too long the Defence Forces have been under-resourced, ignored and not shown the respect they deserve. This has to be a turning-point for the defence community in my area of south Kildare and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (15 Feb 2022)

Fiona O'Loughlin: ...While much of the public commentary has unsurprisingly been focused on the big ticket items, the real meat of the commission's recommendations relate to structural and system reforms that will go a long way to tackle the twin problems of poor morale and personnel retention. These are the two biggest issues that we have. I participated in a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign...