Results 3,041-3,060 of 3,488 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Alignment of Special Education Policy with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for appearing before the committee to go through this issue with us. She has a very tough job in particularly challenging circumstances. I am pleased that she has been such a strong advocate for families of children with special needs. It has been a really tough time for them and it was not helped by all the false starts. We all agree on that. It is positive...

Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I welcome the Land Development Agency Bill and thank the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien for his work on it and the former Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, for all he did previously. We can all agree that housing is one of the most pressing emergencies facing the country. This Bill offers real opportunity to deliver the affordable homes that we so desperately need. This year we will see...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I wish to take this opportunity to highlight the work of Clondalkin councillor, Kenneth Egan, who has been lobbying for the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, to be invested back into the communities which have been so negatively impacted by drugs, the drugs trade and the anti-social behaviour and crime that comes with that. He recently discussed this with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (18 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the progress of the construction of the national train control centre, the preferred location for which is Heuston Station; if the plans to incorporate the metropolitan traffic unit of An Garda Síochána and the traffic control activities of Dublin City Council are proceeding; and when the centre will be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (18 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to encourage the expansion of and investment in the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles which is essential for facilitating the necessary take up of such vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9257/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (18 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 99. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made by his Department in tackling the high cost of insurance and the competitiveness of the insurance market here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9258/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (18 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 100. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of the operation of the VAT refund scheme for charities which he introduced; his views on the uptake of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9259/21]

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (17 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I support the request for equine welfare officers in local authorities. My Lovely Horse Rescue does extraordinary work in Clondalkin with horses which have been badly mistreated. The volunteer work would be greatly helped if local authorities, like South Dublin County Council, had equine welfare officers. Irish food and drinks companies have always had an exceptional reputation at home...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (17 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 44. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a property (details supplied) is not included in the intervention area for the roll-out of fibre optic cables even though the area is currently being surveyed and cables are being laid to service the neighbouring homes. [8219/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (17 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 899. To ask the Minister for Health if he will discuss with the national immunisation advisory committee when kidney patients should receive the Covid-19 vaccination and to determine if they and other vulnerable groups should be included in category 3. [8715/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (17 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 900. To ask the Minister for Health if he will discuss with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee when childcare staff should receive their Covid-19 vaccination given that they have been attending work during level 5 and cannot social distance from the children they mind. [8716/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (17 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 984. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE bills for cancer patients outsourced to debt collectors in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8978/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (17 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 985. To ask the Minister for Health the support available to cancer patients who cannot pay their HSE bills; and if help through MABS is offered. [8979/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2021 and Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2021: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I was going to ask about the duration but the question has been asked and answered. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, and his officials for the regulations. They are really progressive and it is great to see them moving along as they are a significant part of the climate change action programme. I thank them for all they are doing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I have two comments and three questions for the witnesses from the ESRI. I welcome Mr. O'Connor's welcome for the local authority-led affordable purchase scheme and the shared equity scheme. In respect of Dr. O'Connell's and Mr. Cahill's presentation and reviews of their eight reports, they recommended everything from the established of the LDA, cost rental, the expansion of Part V, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: Am I out of time?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: There are 170 people in Irish intensive care units at this time. Fortunately, that number is reducing by the day but, right now, 170 people are critically ill with Covid-19 in Ireland. That is 170 people whose families are crippled with fear. I ask the House to imagine for just a second if we could change that. I ask colleagues to consider that we could introduce a simple and cheap...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. However, all she has done is reiterate what we already know. I do not mean to be disrespectful to her when I say that I am frustrated that the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is not here to participate in the debate. He seems to be avoiding this issue entirely. He is giving me evasive replies to parliamentary questions and promising updates...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 276. To ask the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that nuns living in congregated settings are catered for appropriately in the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out plan. [7655/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Emer Higgins: 281. To ask the Minister for Health the position of pharmacists and pharmacy staff under the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7691/21]