Results 3,661-3,680 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme: Discussion (16 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It strikes me that like the UK, we should look at the Vimes Boots Index. I do not know if the witnesses have been following it. As Mr. O'Brien said, the idea is that there is an extra cost. For example, the good boots might cost €50 and last a lifetime, but everybody is buying €10 boots because they cannot afford that €50. It is the idea of not having capital carrying...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I commend the Cathaoirleach and all of the staff and others who were involved in today's launch of Seanad 100. It is an exciting year ahead and it is interesting to be looking back at the past 100 years. There have been some very strong contributions and inspiration from speeches from former Senator Mary Robinson and the current longest serving Senator, Senator David Norris. I rise to ask...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That it not be taken today or that it not be taken without debate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies. I ask that it would be postponed to another day, and not taken today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am open to other suggestions from the Leader.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Formally second my amendment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the fact that we are taking action by way of an intervention in terms of electricity. I understand the case the Minister made in that this is a measure he wants to move on speedily and the logic that was presented. I have no doubt it will make a big difference to many households. I would not diminish the impact it may have but I would point out, whatever about the speed that is...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: For clarity-----

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I said the overall retrofitting scheme did not do enough to target those on lower incomes.

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Carbon Budget: Motion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I see that the Minister is staying. I thank him for doing so. We have all been waiting a long time for the national carbon budgets. Like everybody else, I am very keen to see them implemented and to see a new, harder, firmer structure to our climate ambition. We have a duty, however, to make sure we get the budgets right, and we need to be very clear that getting them right does not delay...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Commission for Regulation of Utilities Strategic Plan: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will come to my questions. I reacted quite strongly because I was concerned. The position on data centres has changed but we still do not have that assurance that it will only be on renewable energy as we look at a moratorium. Given that we know that different kinds of data are being processed that may need to be prioritised if we have an energy crunch, what do the witnesses think about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Commission for Regulation of Utilities Strategic Plan: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We heard very serious concerns before last summer about the level of potential consumption of energy by data centres. We had a somewhat disappointing discussion about this matter in the autumn. Since then, new guidance has been given, new progress has been made and new measures have been taken, however, I am concerned when we see what is happening in Ennis and in other places. There may be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Commission for Regulation of Utilities Strategic Plan: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is the exact example I would give. It is a case of cryptocurrency versus the hospital data we need to keep going. I thank the Chair for adding that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Commission for Regulation of Utilities Strategic Plan: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If security of supply was addressed in this note, why was the decarbonisation issue not addressed at the same time? If they are two of the four strands in the strategy, to address the security of supply rules but not to have added in clear and hard rules on the requirement of, for example, renewable or zero-carbon energy seems to be an opportunity missed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Commission for Regulation of Utilities Strategic Plan: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think it is an area that needs regulation, not market vulnerability.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Commission for Regulation of Utilities Strategic Plan: Discussion (15 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was late in joining the session so I apologise if I go over ground that may have been covered. I am extremely concerned about what I heard during the last few questions and answers. There seems to be almost an abdication of responsibility regarding the fundamental public policy goals we must achieve and even on the CRU's own strategic plan in terms of enabling security of supply and...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Feb 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief because I am conscious that we want to finish Committee Stage today. I am glad to see this being progressed and to see the support across the House. It is important to remember that in the debate prior to the referendum, it was extremely difficult for people to come forward and to talk about their experiences. We had decades of silence when people were intimidated with...