Results 3,301-3,320 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (30 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am conscious Deputy Farrell asked very specific questions and it is important they get answered. I am happy to withdraw my questions if Deputy Farrell can get immediate answers to hers and I will put my questions in the next round.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (30 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses. I have two sets of questions. The first is on risk. In the opening statement, there was talk-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (30 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----in relation to particular loans. The two areas of risk that are interlinked, which I am hoping the witnesses can shed more light on, are cryptocurrencies and crypto assets, and climate. I want to get a sense of what the strategies are, what assessments are being made and what actions are being taken in these areas. The Central Bank has produced a useful briefing on crypto assets and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (30 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay. I am a little bit concerned to be honest because, as Mr. Cross said, this is fundamentally speculative. This is not necessarily real economy work. I am extremely concerned that some such businesses, services and financial services may be considering relocating in Ireland. I do not want us to become a poor regulator and a poor actor in this area. Ireland has a disproportionate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (30 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A soft touch regulator of any kind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (30 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If Mr. Cross wanted to give any written comment around the taxonomy, that would be great as well.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 15, line 11, after “width” to insert “, subject to such additional criteria that the Minister might set out in regulations”

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to amendment No. 6. I am compelled to comment, and I believe it is a wider discussion. As the Acting Cathaoirleach may not be in a position to answer but it is something that is going to have to be examined. I am concerned on the grounds on which some of the amendments have been ruled out of order. It creates a very significant concern in regard to democracy. For example,...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have contacted the Seanad Office and I will be raising it at the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight because it is a very serious concern. The amendment relates to the very serious concern that the Bill as it is currently worded could effectively allow for strip planting in the widest sense. The definition of "native tree area" relates to spaces of less than 1 ha is one...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I regret that the Minister is not minded to accept this amendment because it is constructive. With respect, the fact that regulations may be made regarding an exemption is referenced in section 9, which the Minister spoke about, and we looked at the issue in the context of section 9(d), but I was talking about the definition. The problem is very different things are being bundled under a...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10: In page 16, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(vi) appropriate procedures to allow for the screening of projects in relation to Environmental Impact Assessment or other appropriate assessment, (vii) criteria and limitations that shall apply to where a woodland area is greater than one hectare, (viii) measures to protect existing...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is good that we read the reasons. Some of the reasons are particularly concerning in terms of the amendments that have been ruled out of order. Like others, I would have liked the opportunity to speak to some of those other aspects but I will focus on the amendments that are still in play. On amendment No. 10, I have combined the reasons for expediency but each of them could be their...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will utter a single sentence that will make things very clear. Much as it is proper for us to add conditions in respect of regulations that we give the Minister, it should also be proper for us to say that we do not wish to transfer power to a Minister to make regulations in terms of excluding a particular section of the Bill. The amendment refers to the powers or elements that I ask for...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am certainly looking forward to the public engagement. That is good and I hope there will also be - as has also been committed to previously - engagement directly with Members of the Oireachtas who have shown an interest in this area by the Department. However, I do still have outstanding concerns which are not really addressed. To build on what Senator Boylan has said, the context is...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No.12: In page 17, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: " Native Irish pine (Burren pine) " I was told amendment No. 11 was ruled out of order because it conflicted with the purpose of the Bill. However, the amendment did not conflict with the purpose of the Bill. It simply set out that there would be a review after 36 months....

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is not written in the Long Title of the Bill. This is simply an assertion of the Seanad Office. I appreciate the Minister has not made this decision.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a decision that the Government is assuming it wants permanence of all powers to make regulation when it is made, that it is assumed and should not be challenged by way of legislative amendment. It is a very concerning precedent. It is fine, as it will be addressed further. We will take it up next week.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: By way of an interpretation of that standing order, which we need to clarify. Amendment No. 12 relates to a number of amendments. I thought the other amendments in this area were going to go forward but they have not. This amendment is about the Schedule of native tree species. Perhaps this needs further consideration but I am sure the Acting Cathaoirleach will be very aware of this...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report Stage (29 Mar 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am discussing the native Irish pine and its insertion into the Schedule.