Results 8,381-8,400 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Cycling Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister mentioned many of the local projects, but it is unfortunate to see that the smarter travel scheme and sustainable transport grants have been cut. We have seen less resources for that in 2015 to 2016 and now into 2017. How do we marry this regional focus with the fact that we are cutting funding in that area? Since 2009, climate change has continued apace. All the evidence...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On a number of occasion in recent weeks, there have been consistent call in the House for a debate on migration, specifically focusing on Europe's migration policies, including Ireland's. As the issues accumulate, I would like to highlight another that may need to be addressed in the debate. We need to have the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald,...

Seanad: Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am very pleased that we are now discussing a public inquiry. I agree that it is the appropriate step to take. It took a while to get to this point of realisation but it is very good that it is now considered to be the most appropriate way to investigate the allegations, given what we have seen happening in terms of other processes which were not put in place. I am happy to support the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I look forward to our debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and I shall not talk about the subject now. I echo the comments of concern expressed by Senator Boyhan about the return of funding that was provided to assist with migration projects. I call for a debate on how Ireland intersects with European migration policy, particularly the EU migration compacts that are being...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We must know where action needs to be taken in respect of things like fracking legislation and other legislation. Please ensure that legislation is fasttracked-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----that could be affected by the full ratification. We must get the regulations in place before further constraints are imposed in terms of a compensatory price tag.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is due to be voted on. The European Parliament may have passed it by now.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to clarify that I made a request for the House to debate the matter.

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister. I wish to raise three issues, the first of which is cycling.While I would like to talk at length, given the time constraints I will move quickly to questions on the area. We know that cycling is an efficient, cheap, healthy and environmentally-friendly mode of transport. It moves across all areas of the Minister's brief covering sport, transport and tourism....

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be able to make this in just under one minute. In his principles of public transport, the Minister talks about encouraging the use of buses. How do we also protect public delivery of and public accountability regarding public services, particularly given that, for example, in recent trade agreements we have protected intercity routes but we have not explicitly protected other areas...

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister said that there are areas of our bus service that lose money. I am saying that we should frame it as costing money because it is not a question of subsidy, but investment. We talk about sustainability and the Minister talks about a sustainable future. I am concerned that he may be speaking about being sustainable as a viable business. When we talk about public transport,...

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Those he can.

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have until 2.45 p.m., so I appreciate the extra five minutes. If we only have 0.5% of our funding for cycling I would appreciate if the Minister could give us 0.5% of his time to give us some indication of his policy direction, even if detailed replies have to follow.

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As a point of information-----

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----the Minister indicated he was answering a question of mine about public transport.

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to clarify that my question was not about the industrial dispute. My question was not answered. In fact, none of my questions on cycling, Shannon and pre-clearance or public sustainable transport has been answered.

Seanad: Annual National Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, to the House. We already have heard that Ireland is off track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% across non-industrial sectors by 2020. At present, we are heading for cuts of only between 6% and 11%. I am more concerned about a report from Brussels-based non-governmental organisation, Carbon Market...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming in to the House and for the clarity, sincerity and consistency of her remarks. I also thank her for her willingness to take the McCabe family seriously and to engage appropriately with them at a very early point, which is commendable. I will not, in the limited time available, dwell on the indefensible and appalling treatment of the McCabe family but I...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is an important point. We have had a number of Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs in the relevant period. It is important that we in this House ask those Ministers what they know, what briefings they received from An Garda Síochána or from departmental officials. The current Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, who is engaging with us on...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----was the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in May 2014. As well as asking the former Minister if she was briefed on this, I ask the Minister to ask her officials and Tusla if they attempted to engage with or brief various Ministers and, if not, why not. We need to know why a succession of Ministers were not told of an issue which was very much in the public frame at that time. We...