Results 3,901-3,920 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I might just flip that around and say that 18% of landlords own a vast amount of rental property. The Minister of State referred to the majority of landlords only owning one or two properties, but a small number of landlords own huge amounts of property. This proposal is appropriate. Such landlords will not be stuck in these circumstances. Sometimes the small landlord gets pushed out, yet...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A number of my questions and issues that I am concerned about have been raised but I will drill a little bit further into a few of them. I wish to follow up on the question of the optional protocol and the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act. We need to be really clear that it is not an either-or situation. I mean that we should hear that there is a value in the operational protocol...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With absolute respect for the Minister of State's commitment, I waited through the four-year term of the last Oireachtas for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, which we were promised at the very beginning of that term. It only just happened at the end and that was also with a Minister who was committed to the area. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not talk more on that issue except to add that, when cases are taken under the protocol, that does not represent a failure of the State. It shows progress in moving forward.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: However, there are certainly areas in which action can be anticipated. One of the key ones has been touched on. I refer to the scale of the move from congregated settings and the fact that there has had to be prioritisation in respect of the new residential places rather than all who need them being accommodated. The transition of those who are in situations we know to be inappropriate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will make two brief follow-up points, the first of which has to do with something I did not get a chance to mention. I am concerned at the idea of it taking a year to arrive at a definition of "personal assistance". According to everyone we have heard from, it is one of the most crucial elements. We should aim for a definition by June. Will the witnesses clarify whether disabled persons...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. O'Regan.

Seanad: Companies (Emission Reporting) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know the Minister of State has been engaging very constructively with my colleague, Senator Ruane, and I commend her and both Tadhg Browne, her current assistant, and, of course, Sebastian McAteer, who has done really important work in developing this legislation. I am very proud to have this Bill brought forward in the name of the Civil Engagement Group. In the short time I have, I will...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had hoped that the sensible amendment tabled by the Labour Party Senators might have been accepted as it is better than the current section 7 in that it addressed the issues of the duration of tenancy and sequential tenancies. It is important that we recognise Part 4 and recognise that there is a duration issue beyond the question of simply qualifying as a Part 4 tenancy. For example, we...

Seanad: Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2019: Céim an Choiste - Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Tairgim leasú Uimh. 20: I leathanach 17, idir línte 15 agus 16, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: “Caighdeáin teanga sa tsainfháil phoiblí 9F.I gcás go ngabhfaidh comhlacht poiblí do phróiseas sainfhála poiblí lena bhféachfaidh an comhlacht poiblí le conradh a dhámhachtain as seirbhís phoiblí a...

Seanad: Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2019: Céim an Choiste - Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not dwell on this amendment. I mentioned the local employment service as an example. To be absolutely factual, it is 100% the case that it does not have to go out to tender. There is very clear guidance within EU law, procurement law and the 2014 directive on that, but I will leave it aside. I want to make it clear that there is nothing in my amendment that is tied to that example....

Seanad: Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2019: Céim an Choiste - Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that the Minister is saying that it is already implied. Nonetheless, I will reserve the right to bring back an amendment on Report Stage. It is not just about the obligation being there but also the weighting. It is one thing to have the obligation there and it is another to have the mechanisms to ensure that it is given proper consideration, that it does not just pass on an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Acting Chair-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I again apologise for the conflict I had. I have two or three questions for the witnesses. They can feel free to indicate if they have been answered at length in one of the sections I missed when I was disconnected. I am interested in what Dr. Saheb says about the compensation piece because this was a very strong narrative coming from COP 26, whereby there is a very hard line being held in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is important to refer to the CETA deal, which relates to that. As I understand it, the protections in terms of CETA are quite strong on certain forms of subsidies, but in terms of regulation, companies still do have the right to seek compensation. I do not know if the witnesses have already spoken on this. I refer to the role of EU courts in potentially enforcing rulings from an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is the analogy in terms of courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They are to both witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the margins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am conscious of the interpretation of the arbitration panels with regard to the previous Achmea ruling and potentially this ECJ ruling. I am familiar with the ECJ ruling but I wanted to get the intersection with the arbitration panels.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Charter Treaty and Energy Security: Discussion (23 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What I really wanted to go to is the question of enforcement.