Results 4,161-4,180 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My final question for now relates to how we spend, which is an ideological point. I refer to the European Commission's policy discussion document on the fiscal rules, which was published in October. Dr. Ehnts questioned what the fiscal rules are based on. There are certain assumptions regarding the role of public investment or lack thereof. The Commission indicates public investment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I guess that the precautionary conditional credit line is a revised version that has been proposed in the European Stability Mechanism legislation in Ireland. Lots of countries just would not qualify for a precautionary conditional credit line. It is almost a safety net that would not work in that regard. I ask Dr. Ehnts to comment on the ECB's asset purchase programme. Also, I ask him...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was moved to comment by the point about democracy. That was a crucial issue in terms of austerity and the democratic crisis that we have seen across Europe in terms of disengagement and disenfranchisement. How important is it that citizens see that they can influence economic policy and that if they vote for something that is of importance to them, as described by Dr. Ehnts, that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Review of EU Economic Governance Framework: Dr. Dirk Ehnts (1 Dec 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am happy to yield to Senator Sherlock because I know that she has looked into the area of public investment as well. On a practical level, I would like to hear Dr. Ehnts outline the timeline for a review of economic governance. There are very practical questions. I think that Dr. Ehnts and over 99 institutions, academics, NGOs and others have signed a letter that says, for example,...

Seanad: Horticultural Peat (Temporary Measures) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not compatible with EU law or with the achievement or maintenance of 1.5°C of global warming. Peatlands are the largest natural terrestrial carbon store. They store more carbon than all other vegetation types in the world combined. Damaged and drained peatlands are no longer a benefit or a carbon store, however; in fact, they become major emitters. It is estimated that between...

Seanad: Horticultural Peat (Temporary Measures) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This debate is to be adjourned and will be resumed.

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will take up where Senator Sherlock left off on the question of retrofitting because it is important. I will touch on some of the other environmental and climate aspects but retrofitting is one of the key issues here. It is something we could get right but I am concerned that the mechanisms with which we are approaching it at the moment are not the right ones. That comes down to...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join other Members in thanking the survivors, the Irish First Mothers group, the adoptees and the human rights activists who have driven and demanded action on this issue. We owe them thanks because they have driven us to try to become a better State. I thank them for that. We owe them the absolute best response but, unfortunately, the scheme as it is set out now is not the absolute best...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not about individuals. It is about the State, the church, religious orders and the pharmaceutical companies and economic actors who took advantage of it. It was systemic and it has to be taken seriously. With all due respect to the experience of individuals in Bessborough, let us bear in mind that in the 1940s Bessborough had a mortality rate of 68% for children. That is what...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These bodies have responsibility. They profited from this period, committed abuse and must be accountable if there is to be any sense that we are moving forward as a State. With respect to the Minister, meeting the religious orders is one thing but other legal measures should be looked at if necessary. Again, those who created shell companies to hide assets, not back in the 1930s, 1940s...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to mention the deplorable actions that have been taken against the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in Canada. It is disgraceful to see rightful protests against an oil line on First Nations land being brutally suppressed. I urge us to have a debate in the new year on front-line environmental defenders, who are now front-line human rights defenders, given that the UN has recognised the...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(f) in subsection (5A)(a), by the deletion of subparagraph (ii).”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: These amendments are very practical. What they do is not just attempt to protect tenancies, which I know is the general goal of the legislation, but also to try to ensure the protection of tenancies is not placed at odds with other stated Government priorities, for example, in terms of retrofitting and, of course, in regard to the area which is not touched on as much, that of adaptation...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the clarity concerning the Disability Act. The proposals I have been discussing with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for a combination retrofitting and adaptation grant is something I think would be very useful. We may still need more clarity on that but perhaps it would be covered by this. However, while I appreciate the placing may not work in that this applies to RPZs,...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw it.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(f) in subsection (5A)(a), by the deletion of subparagraph (ii), (g) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (5A): “(5AA) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (5), a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation provided under the tenancy shall...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I withdraw the amendment.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(f) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (5B): “(5C) Notwithstanding subsection (5), in setting, at any particular time, the rent under a tenancy of a new dwelling in a rent pressure zone, where no tenancy in respect of that dwelling has previously...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Are amendments Nos. 3 and 4 grouped?

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perfect. On amendment No. 3, again, with respect, while the protections are there, they are not working. I will not go back into the previous area but I really urge that it be examined. While a tenant may make long-term energy savings, most tenants do not have the upfront money to risk a rent increase. They may have the future energy savings over a ten-year period but if it means they...