Results 61-80 of 3,505 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank Senator O'Loughlin very much for raising this matter, which provides me with the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth and to outline to the Seanad and the Senator's constituents the current position on the major building project at the Curragh Community College in Magee Barracks in Kildare. As she outlined, this project is a very important school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I absolutely hear the Senator on this. She wants to know when students will be able to walk into the school. Unfortunately, I cannot answer that today. We must make sure that the tenders that come in are valid and are awarded correctly. Then the construction phase must be entered into. I am sure that is something the Minister will keep the Senator informed of. Certainly, the Department...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on her appointment as committee Chair, all of the new TDs who have been appointed to this committee, and those who bring much experience with them, which I hope we can work and learn together from. I am pleased to bring the Statute Law Revision Bill, SLRB, 2024 to the committee. The Bill was introduced in the Seanad on 23 October 2024. It passed Report...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, lines 25 and 26, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 10 to 15.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 9, lines 16 to 19, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, lines 20 to 23, to delete “Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment” and substitute “Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, line 30, to delete “Department of” and substitute “Minister for”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, line 5, to delete “Department of” and substitute “Minister for”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 11, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: " 6. February 6, 1685 [P.O.I. Vol. 1 p. 453] Proclamation authorising Ulster King of Arms to prevent improper use of arms, style of esquire or gentleman, etc. ".

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of my officials in the Department and the members of the Law Reform Commission who worked on this. I thank members of the committee for their co-operation today. It is great to get this Bill through so speedily.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputies for their comments. The new Government data centre will provide secure but also green operations that will future-proof the reliable delivery of essential digital services. The intention is to operate a hybrid model utilising a Government data centre that combines Government and commercial cloud technology in an optimised way. That is part of the Government's wider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: Yes, and that is something Government is examining in detail. We need to make sure we invest in our digital infrastructure but that we do so in a way that balances our environmental commitments and obligations. We are working very hard to strike the right balance.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: The Government data centre initiative is led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO, a division within my Department. It is an action item in the Government’s public service ICT strategy and aims to deliver and centrally support ICT as a shared service rather than have common technical solutions in each public sector body. The Government data centre project...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (22 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I did not know it was for an entire week. Thank God it is Thursday. I welcome the opportunity to address Seanad Éireann and to share with Senators my vision and my ambition for public procurement. Public procurement is a key priority of our Department and is vital to ensuring we deliver better public services for all of those living here in Ireland. I thank Senator Kyne for the...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (22 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate. It is great to see such interest in this area. It is great to see so many ideas being put to the floor. I will address the comments. I off huge thanks to Senators Byrne, Davitt, Craughwell, Noonan, Murphy, O'Reilly and Higgins for their interest in this and their welcome comments. I have categorised the feedback I received on three...

Gaza: Statements (21 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: Every time we speak in this Chamber about Palestine the situation is worse, but it is still important to speak about it in this Chamber, in our national Parliament, because that is a privilege people whose voices are being silenced do not have. Some 14,000 babies in Gaza are at risk of dying if humanitarian aid continues to be blocked. These are innocent, helpless lives, yet there is still...