Results 2,741-2,760 of 8,211 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not believe our amendment is prescriptive in terms of what persons would need. In fact, it is the opposite. We have indicated, and Senator Boyhan has indicated very eloquently, that people may need longer periods of time. The key point is that if a person is requesting counselling, he or she should be provided with that counselling within 90 days of such a request. To be clear, and...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I recognise and appreciate the Minister's use of "shall" in that regard. I hope the legislation will be reconfigured in other situations where we debate the use of "may" and "shall". Nonetheless, I believe having a designated timeline is more constructive. In that regard, I will press the amendment.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 130: In page 65, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “(2) A review under this section shall include meaningful engagement with relevant persons, groups representing survivors and families, persons with expertise in human rights and data protection, and other relevant persons or groups as the Minister deems appropriate. (3) At the conclusion of...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for indicating openness with regard to the question of ensuring that any report be laid before the Oireachtas to allow for engagement in that way. It is a useful acknowledgment of the fact that there has been very constructive engagement from concerned individuals from parties across the Oireachtas. The evolution of our national discussion on this issue reflects the...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 131: In page 65, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: "Report on operation of functions of Child and Family Agency 71. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas evaluating the manner in which the Child and Family Agency has performed its functions in respect of this Act and in the...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I give notice that I reserve the right to put forward further amendments to the Schedule. I have already indicated my concern that certain bodies, including the psychiatric institutions and others, may not be reflected here. Depending on how things evolve, I may seek amendments to the Schedule on Report Stage.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is an opportunity for the Title to better reflect the debate we have had and the nuances that have emerged over the course of that debate. I will not rehash all the points already made in respect of amendments Nos. 132 to 137, inclusive, which were grouped with other amendments, including the question of whether "incorrect" or "illegal" should be used. That was an important debating...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is all relevant to the Title, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, so-----

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is why I am using this opportunity to highlight to the Minister that I believe there may be scope in both the Title and in the provisions dealing with next of kin and the question of a tiered series of deaths to strengthen and improve the Bill in that regard. That is not an indictment of the Minister but, rather, a reflection, as I have highlighted-----

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----in certain other areas of the Bill, of previous embedded approaches to the notion of family and the notion of relationship that are very persistent and come through again and again. They need to be tackled everywhere they are manifest. I urge the Minister to reflect on that matter as we approach Report Stage, on which I look forward to his engagement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am having a little bit of a technical issue with my computer. Perhaps Deputy Mairéad Farrell would like to go first. I will be ready in two minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Dr. Stewart for joining us. A number of the issues I was going to raise have been raised by Deputy Farrell but I will follow up on a few points. I am interested in the issue of double non-taxation. Perhaps Dr. Stewart could comment further on that point in the context of the conversation around the effective tax rate. There is a push on the idea of an international effective tax...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the tracking of parent companies, Dr. Stewart mentioned group structures and the control mechanism. Are there examples of how we can strengthen them? The liabilities seem to have disappeared into one company but the control is exercised elsewhere, so the liabilities and the control are quite separated. Is it a matter of dismantling this form of section 110 company and having greater...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise to Dr. Stewart for asking him for a way to solve everything. I have asked about the onshore and offshore aspect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These companies are marketed as onshore but seem to fit the IMF's definition of offshoring - they are non-resident and separated, to a large degree, from the domestic economy and its activities. I ask Dr. Stewart to comment on this matter. To follow up on the charitable trust piece, in another area of work we look a lot at the regulation of charities. Actual charities are subject to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There was a military manufacturer in the UK a few years ago that had a section 110 company in Ireland, if I recall correctly, that was registered as a charitable trust but it was very much a subsidiary of the military manufacturer. I recall that case. I thank Dr. Stewart. Those are very interesting areas to follow up.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Some of the amendments I am going to discuss later would have potential consequential implications in regard to section 2, so I may bring amendments on Report Stage that will address and reflect the issues that I will be debating in regard to my other amendments on other sections.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 3 to 9. This amendment would delete section 3(b) of this Bill, which would amend section 34(12A) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Government proposes in subsection (12A) the substitution of “an application in respect of the following development shall be deemed not to have required, and not to require, a determination...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for the clarification because it read as a conflict. That is why I had not sought to remove section 3(a) and section 3(b). Perhaps the Minister will confirm if it is the case that the mechanisms in respect of substitute consent will not be applied in regard to the unauthorised development of land where an EIA or appropriate assessment is required, or is determined to be...