Results 2,781-2,800 of 8,445 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 112: In page 55, line 11, after “coal,” to insert “natural gas,”.

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These amendments relate to the fact the provisions on mineral development and the changes to the Minerals Development Act 1940 in this Bill, while they specify measures in respect of the prospecting for coal, lignite or oil shale, do not include clear provisions in respect of limiting the prospecting for natural gas. This was an issue that was highlighted as a matter of concern during the...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will respond, a Leas-Chathaoirligh on the question of natural gas. Unfortunately, there were limitations in the issuing of new licences.The Minister of State mentioned new licences but in situations where, for example, there have been explorations in situations where it was about a renewal of licences, an excessive number of exemptions were provided in respect of the continuation of...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 113: In page 55, line 11, after "coal," to insert "precious metals,".

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 114: In page 55, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 8 of Minerals Development Act 1940 38.Section 8A(4) of the Minerals Development Act 1940 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (a): "(aa) where there is the free, prior and informed consent of the local community in full compliance with the...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 115: In page 55, line 20, after "coal," to insert "natural gas,".

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (7 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 116: In page 55, line 20, after "coal," to insert "precious metals,".

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to speak to the set of amendments that relate to Seanad reform. Again, because time is unnecessarily constrained, I will be brief. On the very first day of the last Oireachtas, we moved a Bill for Seanad reform. That was back in 2016. We were asked by the then Government, which included one of the parties still currently in government, to suspend our Bill so we would have a...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am less confident following the Minister of State's reply given we have been told there are so many functions for the new electoral commission that it cannot take on the Seanad. There is not even a promise that the commission will engage with this issue. Rather, we are being told the reform of the Seanad franchise is not even being considered as part of the agenda for the electoral...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 28: In page 31, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “(2) Upon its establishment, the Commission shall be charged with responsibility for undertaking an expedient wholesale review of the Electoral Act 1997, including, inter alia, the Act’s provisions relating to political funding.".

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will comment briefly on this section. I note that I think there is considerable detail. I do not know if we will get to the amendments on it. There are many technical issues in the amendments that have been brought forward around online disinformation, transparency in advertising and so forth, which I may seek to amend on Report Stage. I am concerned about whether the information around...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 29: In page 31, line 18, after "publish" to insert "in plain language". Amendments Nos. 29 to 31, inclusive, are all amendments with regard to inclusion. It is important that we ensure we are expanding our democracy and expanding access to, awareness of and participation in our democracy. I should note that we have other amendments which I will bring forward on...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not very clear to me why the Minister of State, if he agrees with the principle that information should be shared in these various formats we have outlined and expects that to happen, will not accept the amendments. The Bill has been amended by the Government and, therefore, it is going back to the Dáil. It is not clear to me why the amendments are not being accepted. I am...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 30: In page 31, line 20, after “of” to insert “print media such as newspapers,”. I withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 31: In page 31, line 22, to delete “as far as practicable”. I withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 34 is in this group. It is a variation of amendment No. 32, with a slight change as it mentions an annual basis and an accessible format. If the Minister of State will not accept my amendment, I urge him to accept the amendments tabled by the Labour Party. They are both very reasonable and based on the same principle. The register of political parties should not have arcane...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect, people saying they are available tomorrow and on Friday is straightforwardly disingenuous. This was the first item placed on the Order Paper this year. The Bill has been on the Order Paper, ready to move, for months but it has been chosen to progress it in the past two to three weeks of this Seanad term. This is about this decision and future ones. My memory in respect of a...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It could have been brought forward at an earlier point. The Minister is bringing it forward before the summer recess and framing it as emergency legislation while at the same time we have been told it is foundational legislation that will change the agenda for the next 50 years. If it is significant legislation that has significant repercussions and we should be allowed to debate it for as...