Results 1-20 of 7,297 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join in congratulating the Minister of State on her new role and I look forward to engaging with her on the many dimensions of her new role. Usually when I speak about the European Union on Europe Day or at European events, I speak about its extraordinary benefits and how important it was for Ireland to be part of the Union. I speak about the progressive laws and progress that we have...

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I commend Senator Clonan on tabling this legislation. I am proud to be one of the co-sponsors of it, along with my Civil Engagement Group colleagues, namely, Senators Ruane, Black and Flynn. I am glad to be able to support its passage and am hopeful the Government also will allow and support its passage and progression through this House. It is an important opportunity to send a signal in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will continue on amendments Nos. 57 to 60, inclusive. Amendment No. 69 has now been included in that grouping if I am correct because it is technical. I had outlined many of my main concerns, which were with section 11 and the rather excessive powers given to the Minister to "give a direction in writing to the Agency" on "any matter ... referred to in this Act" or any other Act and,...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Much of the language in the Bill does not reflect standard practice. The language in section 11, which affects the approach we have to take in section 15, is not standard. I have examined a lot of legislation coming through these Houses and have very rarely seen such discretionary power given to a Minister to give directions to an agency. There is not that breadth of discretionary power in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perfect. I thought it was but I have the old grouping to hand. I just wanted clarification. With respect, the Minister of State's explanation does not really satisfy me. I am not suggesting the agency should be free-form and not respond to anything, but we need to be really clear about what it is being asked to do.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On Report Stage, I might propose a measure to ensure transparency where the Minister is giving directions and where there are policies that the board has to comply with, such that we would be able to know which policies. Of course, I am in favour of strong governance measures, but policies do not necessarily equate to those measures. In fact, sometimes policies go against good governance,...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 58: In page 14, lines 34 and 35, to delete "(whether contained in guidelines, codes or other documents, or any combination of them)".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 59: In page 14, lines 34 and 35, to delete "(whether contained in guidelines, codes or other documents, or any combination of them)" and substitute "(which are provided for by legislation or statutory instrument)".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 60: In page 15, line 1, to delete "or a Minister of the Government".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 62: In page 15, line 20, to delete "the chairperson and".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 63: In page 15, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: "(3) Not less than six ordinary members of the Board shall be active researchers and innovators, from a broad range of disciplines.".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 64: In page 15, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: "(4) In making appointments to the Board under subsection (2), the Minister shall ensure that there is a diversity of disciplinary experience and expertise on the Board and that there are persons appointed with expertise and experience in both the arts, humanities and social sciences and in science,...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 65: In page 15, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(4) In making appointments to the Board under subsection (2), the Minister shall ensure that persons from groups which are underrepresented in research and innovation are represented on the Board.”.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 66: In page 15, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(4 One member to be appointed to the Board under subsection (2) shall be a worker representative of researchers and shall be nominated for appointment by a researchers’representative group.”.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 67: In page 15, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(4) One member to be appointed to the Board under subsection (2) shall have experience and expertise in workers’ rights in the sector and shall be nominated for appointment by the Irish Federation of University Teachers.”.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 68: In page 15, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “(5) The Minister shall nominate a suitably qualified person for appointment as chairperson and such a nomination shall require approval by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas.”.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 69: In page 16, line 15, after “Board” to insert “, excluding the chairperson,”.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 70: In page 21, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: "(iii) the Irish Congress of Trade Unions,". In the Bill, there is an anomaly in the corporate plan of the agency. The Bill sets out that the corporate plan shall include the objectives, outputs and other strategies, and that, in preparing it, the agency consults with a number of key actors. On the...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will come back on the question of who the agency consults and the corporate plan. I will probably bring further amendments to that section on Report Stage. I urge that the Department consider or review this because the logic does not stand up. In emphasising the word "innovation", it is as if it is against innovation to mention there are other things besides the corporate or private...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have indicated my intention to discuss this further on Report Stage. I note the difference between "shall" and "may". It is "shall" in respect of Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. I have not sought to remove those, though that is an option that could be considered. I am not objecting to consultation with those agencies but if there was consultation with them and not others, then we have...