Results 1-20 of 3,059 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for Health, the Minister. Deputy McEntee, and the officials in both their Departments who worked on this, the Office of the Attorney General, the Oireachtas health committee, my fellow members of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, which was a special committee put in place to look at this, especially its Chair, Deputy Whitmore, and my colleague, Senator Mary...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: It would make logistical sense if this could be dealt with in the District Court. This was something we discussed at length in the committee, and it came up again and again from an access and accessibility perspective. I welcome what the Deputy said about cost because while my preference is that this be heard in the District Court, my higher and ultimate preference is that this is done in a...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I know we are getting towards the end of the Bill, so, speaking on the amendment, I take this opportunity to thank the Minister, the Minister, Helen McEntee, and their officials for all the work they have put into legally recognising surrogacy in Ireland. I served as the Vice Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy and, under the stewardship of Deputy Whitmore and...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: Yes, I will get to the amendment in a moment. Utilising, as I said, the lived experience and the legal knowledge of colleagues across that committee, including Senator Mary Seery Kearney, with the help of campaigners and expert witnesses, who gave powerful testimony, we put together a very comprehensive report, which has informed the Bill, and from which many amendments that were tabled...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Acting Chairman. I will do so. While I absolutely welcome these much-needed and long-awaited changes, the legal underpinning of familial rights and their recognition, validation and realisation, I accept the legislation is not perfect, which is why I wanted to speak to the amendment. The Bill is not perfect - I do not think any legislation is - but in this instance, as the...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: Is that okay, Deputy?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horse Racing Industry (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I did not realise that homework was part of your powers, a Chathaoirligh. How interesting.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horse Racing Industry (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank Senator Boyhan for his kind words and wishing me well. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, I thank the Senator for his submission and for giving us the chance to discuss this topic. As Senator Boyhan was elected on the agricultural panel, which obviously also includes fisheries, I know this is an area of huge interest and advocacy for him. I am delighted to be able to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horse Racing Industry (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Senator is absolutely right that our horse racing industry is the envy of the world and we cannot take that for granted. The rapidly changing international environment continues to pose challenges to the Irish economy. Coupled with Ireland being a small and open economy naturally prone to volatility, it can be somewhat difficult to fully predict what the future holds. That is why it is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Naturalisation Applications (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Senator for raising this matter in the Seanad today. He has described this as a social inclusion measure. We absolutely need to aspire to be more socially inclusive. As he said, citizenship ceremonies are wonderful events. I know that our new citizens cherish being part of them. They are a day to acknowledge the journey that has...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Naturalisation Applications (29 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I again thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I have taken on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I will provide his feedback to her. The Senator is right. Some other EU countries have seen merit in introducing a civic test. I am informed that officials in the Department of Justice continually review all immigration applications and legislation to ensure they remain fit for...

Ireland's Recognition of the State of Palestine: Statements (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: Since 2020, when I was first elected, time and time again I have risen to my feet in support of fundamental rights for Palestinians. Today we raise the Palestinian flag above Dáil Éireann. Today we signal our support for a two-state solution. Today we are proud to be Irish. It is a momentous, significant and historic day. Spain and Norway join us in our recognition of the State...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I am delighted to have the opportunity to once again present the Employment Permits Bill for the consideration of Seanad Éireann. Since the Committee Stage debate on the Bill, a minor technical amendment relating to the alphabetical order of section 2 was identified and I present the amendment to Members. I note the resubmission of a small number of Opposition amendments to the Bill,...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Senator. This amendment would require a report to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas within 12 months of the passing of the Bill, reviewing the conditions and wages of workers holding a seasonal employment permit. As I noted on Committee Stage, while I appreciate and understand the concerns of Senators, I will not be accepting this amendment. I will outline the...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Acting Chair. I want to address a couple of concerns that were listed here today. First, with regard to what Senator Higgins said about the zero-hour contracts, I see what she is saying on that but it is a really good testimony to a Member of this Chamber who, as the then Minister for Social Protection, former Deputy Regina Doherty, banned zero-hour contracts, which was a really...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: As the Senator said, the amendment calls for a report to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas outlining the labour market access available to spouses of employment permit holders, particularly looking to the gender impact, which is a very important issue to raise. This is especially the case for economic migrants working in vital roles in our health and social care sectors in...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: It is, legislatively.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I appreciate the Senator's outlining her concerns regarding workers' rights. I am not in a position to accept this amendment because it seeks a report reviewing the terms, conditions and remunerations afforded to employment holders to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. As I outlined on Committee Stage, conducting a review of this type of activity will be administratively highly...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: The number of permits annually is 66,000. The reality is, therefore, that it would absolutely be onerous for us to be have to carry out inspections and checks in each individual case.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (28 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I appreciate that, but the only way to identify patterns is to analyse it. Sixty-six thousand is a huge volume. Monitoring those cases would be a significant body of work for my Department to undertake. In the context of the joint labour committees and the idea of raising the bar on a sector-by-sector basis, I fully appreciate this. Earlier today, I signed an order for new pay rates for...