Results 4,621-4,640 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 4, line 37, after “regulations” to insert “and will outline such supports as may be offered for the same”. On amendment No. 10, putting a side clause into brackets is something I always resist. Now that it has been opened as a possibility, I will be able to get more elaborate in my future amendments. It opens up all kinds of...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his answer. I accept his argument in respect of the language I have proposed. As it could create an ambiguity, I will withdraw the amendment, although I am still not reassured as to the absence of a chilling effect. As I said, I sat for five years on the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. I am well aware that every time an additional...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As I understand this grouping of amendments, there are several issues pushed together. I will address just two of them in the context of smaller companies. It is an issue if almost half of the employees in the State are not going to be captured in this legislation when we consider smaller companies. This is a concern. Again, it is a matter of trying to look at what the patterns are for...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 16: In page 5, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute “the 1st anniversary of the commencement of this section.”.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 18: In page 5, to delete lines 3 to 6.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 21: In page 5, line 8, to delete “or (c)”.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is about specificity. It is worth remembering that when we pass legislation to allow for regulations to be made, that represents the Oireachtas giving power to the Minister and that is one of those key provisions.This is us giving power to the Minister in respect of regulations. It is power that is held within the Oireachtas that is transferred to the Minister almost on trust of...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is some correspondence between this amendment and mine on contracted services and who is considered an employee. It is an attempt to provide clarity in that issue.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 29: In page 5, line 29, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. I reserve the right to reintroduce this on Report Stage.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 30: In page 7, line 15, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. I reserve the right to reintroduce this on Report Stage.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 31: In page 7, line 21, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. I reserve the right to reintroduce this on Report Stage.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 32: In page 8, line 12, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. I reserve the right to reintroduce this on Report Stage.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 33: In page 8, after line 38, to insert the following: “(11) The Minister may set out in regulation such financial penalties as are deemed appropriate where a concerned person does not comply with the provisions of section 20A.”. We mentioned the carrot earlier, but some of these amendments relate to the stick, so there is a combination. They refer...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I commend the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, and note its capacity and responsibilities are growing, but I strongly recommend that its resources and funding grow commensurate with that. Its brief is very wide now and it has an extraordinary level of responsibility, including in terms of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and so many...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 34: In page 8, after line 38, to insert the following: “(11)The Minister may set out in regulation such financial or other penalties as are deemed appropriate where a concerned person does not comply with the provisions of section 20A.” I will withdraw this amendment.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 35: In page 8, after line 38, to insert the following: “(11) The Minister may by regulation specify circumstances in which a company shall be required to provide evidence of compliance with section 20A.”. It is important these amendments are not grouped with the previous ones because they are not directly designed as a penalty but rather as a...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had pretty much concluded and I am looking forward to the Minister's response.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will briefly respond, particularly in respect of amendment No. 36. The issue is that much legislation has come through this House regarding financial supports for business and the business sector. It is reasonable we seek to ensure best practice from those who are receiving financial supports, loans and grants and who may, for example, be eligible for projects under the recovery and...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 36: In page 8, after line 38, to insert the following: “(11) The Minister may by regulation specify circumstances in which a company shall be required to provide evidence of compliance with section 20A, which may include: (a) application for public grants, funds or loans, and (b) submission of tender for public contracts.”. I ask for an...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Committee Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.