Results 1-20 of 36 for "direct provision" speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...a matter. We know there have been situations where what a public body or a Department has been informed is happening is not what is happening in some areas. For example, some of the contracts in direct provision have been signals and situations whereby serious matters of concern have been highlighted by those persons receiving services from a contracted party. It is also useful, and I...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (2 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...securing more than 2,600 houses through lease. People know what the problems are with leasing. It is disappointing that we see new contracts being signed again this week with hotels in respect of direct provision. I understand that these are the emergency measures being used, the fig leaves, but they have been used for a long time. If we are to address this, what we need to understand...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Commissioner Designate (9 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...there is other information that he should or might need to have access to, including in regard to tendering and commercial sensitives. I am conscious that there are areas, for example, in regard to direct provision, where access to financial information might be important in terms of the Ombudsman properly exercising his role. Is Mr. Deering confident that as Ombudsman he will be...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...had the courage in the past to take brave, radical, transformative decisions for the common good. I urge him to use these eight months in that way to put a stamp for a better future, be it ending direct provision, declaring marine protected areas or providing a maternity hospital or a right to home care and care for personal needs. These are the transformative decisions he can make.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay. I indicate my support for the amendment. We need to accelerate transition from direct provision.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...the percentage unilaterally. That is a concern. The 80% is not a proportion of public housing because much of it will be public only for a few moments before it is sold as affordable housing and direct provision accommodation. Crucially, if it is cost rental, it can be private cost rental. That is the concern. Again, the market would be involved and those concerned would be allowed to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Progressing Disability Services Model and Withdrawal of Occupational Therapies from Schools: Engagement with HSE (13 May 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses. I have a couple of technical questions. Will moving to a direct provision of services entail HSE direct delivery or will it still involve section 38 and 39 organisations? Recruitment for 100 additional posts following a capacity review report was mentioned. Additional resources, including personnel, in this area would be welcome. I was concerned by the initial...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (26 Jan 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...will finish as I know others wish to speak but there are wider lessons I ask the Minister to learn. When the State puts a payment on the heads of vulnerable people, as it still does with regard to direct provision and homelessness, it can be dangerous. When the State surrenders power to religious orders, as is currently planned for the national maternity hospital, it can be dangerous. I...

Seanad: Access to Contraception: Motion (15 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...in the next few months. It might not just be about age cohorts though we begin with 17 to 25-year-olds. There are, as has been discussed, particular vulnerable groups such as people living in direct provision and in other situations. We should not simply think of the roll-out just in terms of time but make sure that it is planned according to need. I strongly welcome this positive...

Seanad: Living with Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (10 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...positive. We do not want a punitive model of isolation but rather a positive support model of isolation both for those who are diagnosed and for those who are at risk, for example, vulnerable people in direct provision or in housing hubs. I am talking about those who are basically in situations where they do not have adequate and secure housing. Senator Clifford-Lee mentioned those...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Act 2020: Motion (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...There have been failures of policy. It has been a failure with regard to a quarantine policy and giving adequate isolation supports, particularly for people in congregated settings, be it residential care, direct provision or family hubs. There has been a lack of clear and proper systematic tracing and tracking, not simply looking forward to new contacts but looking back to where cases...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...believe that it was the appropriate tool. Equally, it is important that we look to what tools are appropriate, moving forward, because there are other issues. We know that there are scandals and direct provision is one that springs to mind. There are other issues where we will see future investigations, unfortunately. That is something we know we are going to face as a State....

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Sep 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...have the ICT capacity that we needed. There were certain other areas, particularly, as we have seen, congregated settings which was well-flagged as a serious concern. Congregated settings, like direct provision centres and residential homes, were areas where we were being told Ireland was behind in terms of addressing them. The area where Ireland scored highest in terms of response to...

Seanad: Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre and the Future of Direct Provision: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ..., basic health and basic education. These are fundamentals for any society and when anyone in society is not getting them, it is a disgrace to all of us. Yet that is what is happening to people in direct provision, in Clare and Galway as well as in the Skellig Star facility. Can the Minister guarantee not just that people will be moved but that there will be no more contracts signed...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support the Senator Fitzpatrick's comments on homelessness and those of Senators Hoey and Ó Donnghailein respect of direct provision. The test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. Social solidarity is a principle of a healthy democracy. It is what we rely on. The original common sense is the recognition that we depend on each other. A very strong example of social...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...also concerning our recovery. Regarding that work, the programme for Government sets out part of it. I know that work begins today, and the programme for Government contains measures, such as those regarding direct provision and the statutory home care provision, of which we will be encouraging speedy implementation. There are other issues, however, on which we will disagree and that is...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: .... I say that in a positive way because they represent an important opportunity. When we look at groups in society who have faced obstacles in employment - Travellers, those who have come out of direct provision under the right to work, migrants and others - many set out on the road of starting their own small businesses not necessarily by choice but by necessity. Perhaps we could have...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...the homeless, migrants and refugees.That is part of our public health response. It is not something we add in later. It is how we do it. In that regard, there have been requests to move the vulnerable out of direct provision centres. We cannot simply allow for persons to be moved out to intensive care units or to hospitals because we did not take the opportunity to put protection in...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...a rent freeze. That is my concern. That is the basis for these amendments. I hope the Minister can address it. Lastly, I refer to the role of adequate housing in promoting public safety. I have mentioned that direct provision is not adequate housing in this time in terms of public safety and well-being, not only of the individuals in direct provision, whether or not those with symptoms...