Results 5,341-5,360 of 8,220 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I propose that amendments Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, be recommitted.

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have only 30 minutes remaining in this debate, which is subject to a guillotine. My proposal would afford us an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers in regard to the constructive proposals set out in amendments Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive. I previously indicated my intention to recommit these amendments and received an indication from the Minister that she would be open to that...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will press the proposal. I am seeking an opportunity to address the issues set out in these amendments. As I said, the Minister indicated previously that she would be open to recommitting some of the amendments, which deal with issues including just transition, the situation of couples who are de facto partners but are not eligible for the widow's pension or widower's pension, literacy...

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These issues are deserving of 28 minutes of debate in the House. It would be regrettable if colleagues reject my proposal.

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Vótáil.

Seanad: Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, but I am also proposing-----

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Second Stage (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House and broadly welcome the legislation. It is important that we move forward on it. As was mentioned, it is important that when issues are identified by any party in the Oireachtas we need to be able to listen to each other, engage with each other and hear the ideas of others. In 2016 the former Senator, Grace O'Sullivan, put forward legislation. I was a...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 8 to 11 and substitute the following: “ “plastic” means a synthetic polymer that can be moulded, extruded or physically manipulated into different shapes;”. The amendment proposes to delete lines 8 to 11 and insertion a definition of plastic as being "a synthetic polymer that can be moulded, extruded or...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As the Minister acknowledges, there is a question if we are considering a microplastic fibre, for example. Will the Minister indicate if this is an issue we will monitor? I hope we do not have to wait years but I know we may not be able to deal with this within the legislation. We will need to monitor this. Part A acknowledges the capacity of a polymer to be manipulated into different...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are concerned that there could be an inadvertent loophole. We are simply looking to have a narrower framing of the concentration and the water-soluble element. There may be products containing a high concentration and where the plastic would not be water-soluble. There are cosmetic products that are water-resistant and which could inadvertently fall out of consideration. There is the...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am glad the Minister is indicating the Government plans to be an advocate on these matters. Not everything is removed by wiping and there are also products that are, in effect, removed by another product. For example, there is the example of micellar water, "washing" waters and cleansing "milks", etc., that are used. In many cases these products do not necessarily involve wiping but they...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister is referring to those cleansing products or "washes".

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We will withdraw the amendment but we look forward to updates on how the discussion is going.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 23, after "soluble" to insert "and/or fat soluble". These are quite similar and the amendments address the same matter. The first set of amendments looked to remove conditionality and the other amendments make an addition. The addition is "fat soluble". If a product is soluble and by its nature is being dissolved, it usually implies the...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. That would be an example.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There are other versions. Soap is an example.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, to delete lines 25 to 27 and substitute the following: "(2) A person shall not manufacture or place on the market a cleaning product that contains microbeads in excess of the permitted concentration.".

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 26, after “soluble” to insert “and/or fat soluble”.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What happened to amendment No. 6?