Results 7,061-7,080 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support my colleague's amendment, which is tabled in good faith. It takes on board the debate in the Dáil and on Second Stage here, where the Minister expressed the concern that hours should not be offered to persons which are not appropriate for their qualifications or to their work. There is a really good State engagement on those issues. If further concerns emerge, I reserve the...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not mean what I or the Minister might define as "underemployed" when I use that term. It is very positive that we have part-time work. We should probably embrace the concept more. We need to look to quality part-time work. In terms of underemployment, I am speaking to the figures. These figures are from last year so it would be interesting to see how they stack up. The previous...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister is expressing concern about the issue at hand. Nonetheless, we face a dilemma here and I see her argument in relation to time. We know how long it takes to get legislation through all Stages but is there scope, since she will be going back to the Dáil in any event, for a Government amendment to be brought in on Report Stage in which she can reserve the right to introduce...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To be very clear, I am seeking, in the context of the bands, to ensure that we can be ahead of what might come next.

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to back up what Senator Ruane said. Reports and reviews are often specified depending on which one is more appropriate to prove the effective operation of a measure. We are dealing with the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and a review is appropriate and would fit with the purpose of the Bill. We know the social welfare Bill, for example, regularly has reports attached to...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If we have an election the Minister might get a promotion, yet we would be reassured that the review has been legally put on the agenda and that it will continue regardless of the formation of the Government. That is what is being sought and it is a reasonable request. I accept the Minister has to make a change in terms of how it is done and I urge her to consider it strongly.

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is counter-intuitive for me to vote against this section. I like that it is there, and that steps have been taken. If it is pushed, I will support it but I understand that the prevailing wind in the House is for its removal. I would not want the fact that we in the joint committee are undertaking hearings to be a reason for not including it. I regret that we were not able to debate the...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We do not know what nine out of ten of those cases are about because we were not provided with information on the appeals. Information on the number of cases appealed and their outcomes has not been provided to us yet and that is a concern. The Minister talked about the individual taking the case. There is a huge onus then on the individual to go through the High Court in some cases or the...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I recognise the concern about this amendment. The inclusion on the board of a veterinary practitioner was our key focus. Does amendment No. 4, proposed by Senators Ó Domhnaill and Norris, which deals with having members of the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation on the board address one part of Senator Paul Daly's concern? If the Minister was able to accept amendment No. 4,...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I give my support to the Senator's concern for the welfare and treatment of greyhounds after their time racing. I recognise that the Government refers to their racing and breeding careers. As my colleague mentioned, we are willing to withdraw our amendment No. 29 in recognition that the Government has come a distance to meet us by proposing amendment No. 28. I have a small remaining...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Animal welfare is a pressing issue right now. I believe it needs to be treated exceptionally.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 18:In page 22, line 24, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Report Stage (29 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 82:In page 26, to delete line 38 and substitute the following: “(b) is suitable on grounds of character, temperament and capacity, and”. I wish to withdraw the amendment but reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 83:In page 26, to delete line 39. I wish to withdraw the amendment but reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will address some of the concerns raised by Senator Richmond. The definition of "international tribunal" is that used under the Fourth Geneva Convention. I know there was concern as to what the definition might be. We are very safe in that all this language is taken from the Fourth Geneva Convention and its precedent. Section 3(1)(d) relates to the capacity of the Minister. It is...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I take issue with the point on unlawfulness. We have been very clear. There are differing legal opinions. We have not seen the legal opinion of the Attorney General but Mr. Michael Lynn, Professor James Crawford-----

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is important to state this Bill is very careful in law. As others have indicated, we are open to Report Stage amendments to take even further cognisance of EU court rulings in respect of the laws in this area. The opinion we have had from Professor Takis Tridimas is the one given to the International Court of Justice. We are internationalists and our peace-building role gives us...