Results 1,961-1,980 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Illicit Trade (31 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 177. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of nitrous oxide that was seized by the Revenue Commissioners in 2021 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27855/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (31 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 682. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE speech therapy building on Castleknock Road is currently in use by the HSE; if not, if it is vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27486/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (31 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 696. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the crisis situation regarding the provision of respite disability services in CHO7; the measures that are being taken to resolve this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27553/22]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: This is a really interesting discussion. I would have loved if we had a session on the issue during our committee deliberations given the many varying views and differing scientific perspectives. I draw members' attention to a book published by Brendan Heneghan in 2018, Secrets of the Ballot Box: How the Irish Voting System Really Works. It is based on research of electoral patterns in...

Irish Apprenticeship System: Statements (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins; the Minister, Deputy Harris; and the Department are doing excellent work to construct a better future for our young people and notably providing a pathway to education or further learning for everyone. That is welcome. I welcome the apprenticeship action plan, which will ensure we...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 241. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn by An Garda Síochána to the significant irregularities in the postal voting system in County Sligo in 2019; if so, the nature of those irregularities; and his plans to ensure that such irregularities cannot occur again in any local authority. [27103/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for attending today. As the last speaker said, the Department has quite a tough task over the next few months. I wish the witnesses well with that and thank them for engaging with the committee on it. I note that one of the key principles is increasing clarity and the streamlining of legislation. An issue that I come across time and again is the lack of clarity and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: In terms of the planning system from a transparency perspective, there is a need to prioritise and maintain that transparency but also to look at reducing unnecessary legal challenges. Is there any indication of where things stand with regard to the substantial grounds from which legal challenges can arise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: We certainly found that in our area during Covid in particular, when there were restrictions and people were still driving to An Bord Pleanála to hand things in and pay by cheque. Being able to do all of this online and pay online would be a very progressive step. That level of innovation and investment in technology would make the planning system more easily accessible to everybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Potential Double Standards in Protections for Surrogate Mothers in Domestic Arrangements: Discussion (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I hope to come in on the next round because I was impressed by our other two key expert witnesses as well, and the information they had to offer. My background is that I worked on the launch of the longitudinal Growing up in Ireland study. I am fascinated by the in-depth work Professor Golombok has carried out, the breadth of her research and its findings. I am impressed by her...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Potential Double Standards in Protections for Surrogate Mothers in Domestic Arrangements: Discussion (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I will be brief as time is of the essence in this session. I thank Professor Madden and Dr. Tobin for coming to the meeting to share their expertise with us. Dr. Tobin said we have the tough task of making our deliberations within a tight period of time. We can only do that because of experts like him, so I thank him. I was interested to hear both witnesses talk about the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the application process for the electric small public service vehicle (eSPSV2) grant scheme will be un-paused to allow for new applicants to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26923/22]

Journalists in Conflicts across the World: Statements (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Journalists working in conflict situations risk their lives every day. They do so in the name of truth, accuracy, transparency and fair reporting. Sadly, they sometimes pay with the ultimate sacrifice, that is, with their lives. Today, I particularly remember Irish journalist, Pierre Zakrzewski, who was killed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on her Department’s progress in increasing the number of women’s refuges available across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26069/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps her Department is taking to support victims of crime through the judicial process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26070/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 439. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if adjustments will be made to the leaving certificate examination 2023 to compensate for the disruptions experienced by current fifth year students as a result of Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26326/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 479. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the Government response to the Pensions Commission Report is expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26317/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 553. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current position regarding the review of the compulsory retirement age for members of An Garda Síochána; when an announcement on the matter will be forthcoming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26316/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: 662. To ask the Minister for Health when the expansion of general practitioner care without charges to children aged six and seven years of age is expected to be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26329/22]