Results 3,461-3,480 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (11 Jan 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is about the question I finished on. I would note that we have a recommendation from our committee on the carbon dioxide piece. I think it was recommendation 48 in the Bill originally that the calculation, production and revision of carbon budgets should not rely on anything beyond what is measurable in the timeframe of the budget. I want to ask about sectoral targets or sectoral...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Carbon Budgets: Discussion (11 Jan 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Professor Ó Gallachóir just mentioned-----

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 97, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “Locus Standiin environmental MAC cases and in proceedings to which Part 2applies 110.For the avoidance of doubt where the applicant for judicial review under this Chapter, or under Part 2, is— (a) a body or organisation (other than a State authority, a public authority or governmental...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment covers similar ground to amendment No. 3, which was ruled out of order. In that amendment, we attempted to suggest some solutions but they would affect the cost, which is why they were ruled out of order.The problem being identified is linked. There are serious concerns in respect of the Bill. Although we heard from the Minister on Committee Stage about all the engagement...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is not accurate.

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The concerns are greatly exacerbated now. I have huge respect for the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and we have engaged constructively on other issues but in this regard, this feels like we have had a good-cop, bad-cop piece because we had a Committee Stage debate during which we were reassured that environment, marine planning and protection and such factors were so deeply...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 97, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “PART 5 COSTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MAC CASES UNDER PART 4AND IN RESPECT OF JUDICIAL REVIEW UNDER PART 2AND PART 5 CHAPTER 1 Consultation and report on Judicial Review under Part 2, 4...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not speak at length to this amendment. It outlines the need for the Department to conduct a report on all those issues I have already spoken about. We do not need to go over the ground again, but I suggest that the Department may wish to conduct a report in the next two to three months to re-examine the legislation and effect of the Act on all those issues we highlighted concerning...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I just cannot accept the analysis that claims that people's rights on environmental decision-making under the Aarhus Convention are constrained to areas where the State would like to use those rights. It is very clear that environmental decision-making, not just planning, comes under Aarhus. It does not just kick in at a certain point. Things that affect the environment, and maritime areas...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to make a point on class K contributions, but I will first make a general point. It is unfortunate that we are taking Committee Stage and Report Stage together and on the very last sitting day of the year. There is a lot of emergency legislation and legislation that comes through with short deadlines attached, but the Social Welfare Bill is predictable and something we can plan for....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does the Minister have any comment on that engagement on the question of PRSI and PAYE for the undocumented? Is that something she can engage with the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I might engage with the Minister further on it.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “Report on Parent’s Benefit for one-parent families 8. The Minister shall, within nine months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the potential extension of entitlement for the full duration of Parent’s Benefit for...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for the response. I concur and think that is important research. I have a follow-up question to clarify the matter of the jobseeker's transitional payment. While it is not the one-parent family payment, it is the payment that many of those parenting alone are on. Does the income disregard policy that the Minister mentioned apply to the jobseeker's transitional payment...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On that basis, I can withdraw my amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 16, after line 31, to insert the following: “PART 3 REPORTSReport on pension inequality 24.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas to include: (a) an analysis of the impacts of previous changes to contributory requirements for the State Contributory Pension in terms of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate that and I have read the report. That is why I am concerned as there are lacunae in it. As I said, the elephant in the room relates to other areas of expenditure. Much of what the commission did was calculating how we would pay for this. The very large figure of €2.9 billion is not financially justifiable in the other part of our Exchequer's expenditure and was not...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 16, after line 31, to insert the following: “PART 3 REPORTS Report on one-parent family payment 24. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas providing an assessment of how the income disregard in respect of the one-parent family payment intersects with the rising cost of living,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 13: In page 16, after line 31, to insert the following: "Report on cost of disability 24.Within six months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall publish a report outlining proposed actions in response to the findings of the Indecon report on the cost of disability and proposed timelines in respect of such actions.". What are the grounds for ruling out...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to amendment No. 13 before speaking to the wider section. This amendment seeks a report on a report but it is the mechanism we have when we have concerns relating to reports and we want to know what will happen with them. The Indecon report is very long-awaited and I sit on the committee dealing with disability matters. The Minister is aware that we have been pressing strongly...