Results 4,341-4,360 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 18 In page 9, line 16, after “Act” to insert “only in so far as is necessary for the provision of social, affordable and cost rental housing and”.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a number of amendments in the grouping. I would prefer if my amendment No. 80 were accepted, although I am happy to yield to amendment No. 79, from Senator Boyhan. A number of the amendments in the grouping are related to the question of cost rental. They concern the factoring-in of equity return, which is ultimately an additional cost and one that is unnecessary in the context of...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am happy to co-sign this amendment. I saw it put forward in the Dáil and had expected that it would be accepted because it is eminently sensible. We talk about public land. It is about making clear that certain kinds of land serve other purposes that are core to the public good and are part of our responsibility in terms of biodiversity, the environment and public amenity. This...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 22: In page 12, line 2, after “may,” to insert “following consultation with the relevant Oireachtas Committee and”. We all represent the State and we have heard a lot of reference to State land. The concern is not any one place or area but that land going to the Land Development Agency is no longer State land. We will come to that later....

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to add to what Senator Boyhan said about transparency. Publication in Iris Oifigiúil is one element of this but how the members of the board of the agency are appointed, what interests they must declare, the manner of their appointment, the constitutional balance of the board and how often the board must report to the Minister are all elements of transparency. We heard about the...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 24: In page 12, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "(5) The content of any direction under this section shall be published in Iris Oifiguil; in at least one national newspaper; and on the websites of the Minister and of the Land Development Agency.".

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 25: In page 12, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "(5) Any direction under this section shall have regard to any City or County Development Plan, Local Area Plan, or any other statutory plan made by a local authority.". Amendments Nos. 25 and-----

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not Second Stage.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 25 relates to the development plans. My key concern is that many development plans have been delayed, as the Minister will be aware. Where a new development plan is being produced, it and the new vision of the relevant local authority should be central to the considerations in the engagement with the Land Development Agency. That would be appropriate. It would allow-----

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These amendments will be key to the success of this legislation. There was a narrative early in year that it was investor court systems versus the climate Bill, and that there is a trade-off. We must be clear that investor court systems are what will undermine the climate Bill in the context of it actually succeeding. Those of us who are passionate about climate action want to make sure...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These are very important amendments because energy policy will be at the heart of this issue. We have talked a lot about agriculture, but perhaps this is now the moment to talk about energy. Energy and a change in how we approach it will be central to the making of this transition. There has been a reluctance to face the hard issues relating to energy. For example, there has been a...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am glad that more nuance is at least being added. I was concerned about the lack of clarity as to how the process of removals would be approached and what models and measures will be adopted. I made that clear at the time. It is important for me to speak now because amendment No. 9 in my name, to which we will come later, relates to removals and to the importance of international best...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: “ ‘climate justice’ reflects the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change commitments on equity and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ and requires that the decisions and actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the question of climate justice. We discussed the issue on Committee Stage. With respect to my colleagues, who spoke of a situation that is not of our creation, it is of our creation. Anthropogenic climate change is driven by human activity, predominately in developed and wealthier countries, including Ireland. We have a huge responsibility in that regard. When we talk...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I regret that the Minister is not accepting amendment No. 4. I know there are other things that will be done and I will come back to them later, but I want to first return to the question of injustice in the context of this amending legislation on climate action. Recognition of the injustice is core in terms of the action that we need to take. We need to understand, recognise and make as...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is the level of injustice. I mentioned The Lancet. We know that in rich countries, unless they refocus and frame themselves within justice, the forces of injustice are strong. We wanted this amendment accepted to strengthen the Minister's hand. The Minister mentioned the UNFCCC. I am glad it exists and that the Minister acknowledges its connection. Let us be clear, the Minister...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I must unfortunately disagree with the idea that no party in this Oireachtas does not want workers' rights centre stage. The fact is Ireland is one of very few countries that are seeking to dilute or oppose new directives on workers' rights at European level. Specifically, Ireland is one of the countries that are effectively blocking the introduction of collective bargaining rights and...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 7, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “ ‘just transition’ means bringing together workers and their trade unions, communities, employers and public representatives in social dialogue to develop, agree and drive the plans, policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transition to a low carbon economy and includes;...