Results 4,341-4,360 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Based on conversations I had with the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, on Second and Committee Stages and his indication that he was interested in examining areas of the Bill, I had been hopeful that the Government would have proposed amendments in respect of this part of it. That would have been appropriate. The Bill has already been passed by the Dáil, so I do not know what...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I regret that the Government has not clarified this matter. As Members will be aware, my amendments explicitly excluded the humanitarian piece on Committee Stage but there are lots of other things such as monitoring, observation and recognisance. There are a number of different activities listed in section 3. Most of them are not direct military activities but it does matter and makes a...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I believe that amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, are related and that amendment No. 2 is a separate matter.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Acting Chairperson has asked if we agree to them being grouped. I am saying that I would like amendment No. 2 to be discussed separately and to discuss amendments Nos. 3 to 5 together.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to discuss amendment No. 2 separately and I am happy to group the other amendments, if that is agreeable to the House.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 1 of Act of 2006 17. Section 1 of the Act of 2006 is amended in paragraph (d) of the definition of “international organisation” by the insertion of “and is currently working” after “or has participated”.”.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The reason I move it is that it is particularly important and it is one where we would have a heightened concern following the debate on Second Stage. Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, relate to changes to section 3 of the Act whereas amendment No. 2 is really about section 1 of the 2006 Act. It specifically relates to that definition of "international organisation". This is one of the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With due respect to the Minister of State, what he has said is not accurate. The amendment would not prevent postings in the EU because the EU is covered under paragraph (c) of the existing definition, which refers to "the European Union or any institution or body of the European Union". It would not prevent postings to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe either because...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, after line 36, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 3 of Act of 2006 18.Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2): “(3) Where a seconding under subsection (1)(a) is— (a) for a contingent, rather than an individual member, of the Permanent Defence Force,...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, all relate to section 3 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 and propose a new section 3(3) to introduce a little clarity. Again, I have adapted all of my amendments to reflect the discussion I had with the Minister. I greatly respect the Minister and the very strong points he made on Committee Stage. That is why I have adapted these amendments to reflect...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief because I am aware there are more amendments to get to. My amendments did not relate to individual members. My proposed subsection (3)(a) explicitly states, "for a contingent, rather than an individual member, of the Permanent Defence Force". It was explicitly about contingents, not individual members. It is unfortunate that the response still reflects the same argument...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, after line 36, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 3 of Act of 2006 18. Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2): "(3) A contingent or member of the Permanent Defence Force shall only be seconded to any regional arrangement or agency that participates, or has participated,...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 12, after line 36, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 3 of Act of 2006 18. Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2): "(3) A contingent of the Permanent Defence Force shall only be seconded to any regional arrangement or agency that participates, or has participated, in...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 12, after line 36, to insert the following: "Report on operation of Act 18. The Minister, shall every 2 years after the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining— (a) a summary of international missions in which Ireland is participating, (b) secondments of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force under...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 6 relates to reporting in respect of operations. The Minister of State has indicated that a motion on secondments will be brought before the Dáil, which is appropriate, but the purpose of my amendment, which proposes that report be laid before the Houses, is to strengthen slightly the information we have and our examination of our participation.Every two years there would...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know where we are. I have one minute or two minutes to go. I would hope to involve the Seanad directly because the Seanad has something to contribute. It would be useful if the Seanad were to have an annual discussion on these matters.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perhaps that is something we could seek. The Seanad has an international interest and an international perspective. The Minister of State will be aware that many key debates on defence, ranging from Jadotville to other matters, have taken place in the Seanad.He will also be aware that the Seanad has a long record of human rights and humanitarian activity and motions. In fact, not just this...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the amendment. I thank Senator Moynihan, as well as Senator Wall who will second the amendment on her behalf.I am going to speak for a couple of minutes to my amendment and I am very keen to speak to the motion as well, which I welcome as it is a very constructive and positive one from the Fine Gael Senators. I know many of them have individually championed public transport...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In the fourth paragraph under “acknowledges:”, to delete “to effect change in habits” and substitute “for carbon pricing to better reflect the social and environmental cost of carbon emissions and to reduce public subsidisation of the fossil fuel industry”.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2021: Central Bank (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses. Some of the issues I wished to raise have already been raised so I might just drill into some of the specific aspects of the proposed legislation that I am a little concerned about. Specifically, I am concerned that the available sanctions are very moderate. There is a focus on monetary sanctions and administrative sanctions under Part IIIC of the consolidated...