Results 2,641-2,660 of 8,445 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for taking our recommendations on board. This will improve the transparency of the operation of the commission.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome this amendment, although I still have some concerns about the powers and operation of authorised officers. I have not submitted any Report Stage amendments in that regard but this is an area that could merit further revision in the Dáil. Transparency around the rules for the conduct of authorised officers is a very important step forward and I thank the Minister for that.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 128: In page 117, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(aa) where the content appears to the Commission to fall within the category of age-inappropriate online content defined in section 139D, requiring the provider to restrict access to the content to persons who have attained the age of 18 years, or”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think this is the last grouping we will discuss so I want to say I am deeply appreciative of the genuine and sincere engagement of the Minister and her officials. It was thoughtful and constructive. We have met for many, many hours in addition to the many, many hours of debate in the Chamber. I believe the Bill has been strengthened by that. I want to acknowledge the Minister's...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Again, I thank the Minister. I will move and withdraw the different amendments in due course.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 135: In page 132, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(aa) support cultural and social participation and access to programming for users of the Irish Language and Irish Sign Language,”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am a little disappointed. We had a good discussion with the officials and I hoped that the Government would table amendments on Report Stage. There had been some recognition that valid issues and concerns were raised. I always prefer if the Government takes matters on board and brings forward its own proposals on issues. Since I do not see Government amendments, I hope it will take on...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(5B) A matter concerning interpersonal grievances exclusively affecting the reporting person, as described in subsection (5A), shall constitute a relevant wrongdoing where such interpersonal grievances arise out of the penalisation of a reporting person by virtue of them having made a...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(5B) The Minister shall, within 9 months of the passing of this Act, lay draft guidelines clarifying that engagement in a process relating to an interpersonal grievance does not preclude a person from making a protected disclosure.”,”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(5B) For the avoidance of doubt an interpersonal grievance shall not preclude a person from making a protected disclosure under any relevant section of this Act.”,”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 12, to delete lines 28 to 33 and substitute the following: “ “5A.(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of any other enactment, a person who receives an anonymous report made in the manner specified in section 6 shall accept such an anonymous report and if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, follow-up on a matter which is the...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: In their report for the committee, the National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG, experts expressed the view that granting a right not to accept anonymous disclosures would create a danger whereby an employer could justify not acting in cases where serious and dangerous wrongdoing has been reported because the report was anonymous. If, for example, there were to be an anonymous report of...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: As the Minister has described the situation, Ireland has the option of making sure that anonymous disclosures are accepted. It is regrettable that we are choosing to say that they do not have to be accepted. On the question of vexatious complaints, there are already filters to say that it is accepted. There is a question as to whether it needs to be followed up. The person does so if...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Vótáil.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 12, after line 40, to insert the following: “(3) For the avoidance of doubt, where a person receives an anonymous report they shall, where it is possible to do so, respond to the reporting person and inform them of their right to make a protected disclosure to the Commissioner.”.”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 13, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: “(aa) is performing a public contract with a value of more than €3,000,000, or”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 7 is an attempt to make sure the 50-employee threshold for the requirement to create internal reporting channels would not apply where the company has a public contract with a value of more than €3 million. As the Minister of State will know, I have a keen interest in public procurement. Part of the quality criteria we have discussed in this House is how a company...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: There are some positive elements in what the Minister of State said, and there are also matters that remain a concern. I note positively the two final points that were made and I request that they be made clear in the public information campaigns that will come with this legislation. The widening of the right to make reports beyond workers is very important, for example, in situations which...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 14, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “(6A) In making an order under subsection (4), the Minister shall have regard to the need to ensure that companies performing high value public contracts establish internal reporting channels regardless of the number of employees they have.”.