Results 181-200 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water Supply (22 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Is the Minister taking the final matter on the Adjournment?

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend him on introducing this Bill for debate and enactment. He is a reforming Minister and the steps that he has taken since assuming office have been welcome, not only for professionals operating within the legal system, but for consumers of legal services. Without doubt, the Bill is key legislation and fundamental to the modernisation and reform...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Yet.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Such was my enthusiasm to add to the chorus of well wishers, I could hardly keep myself in my seat for such a long time. I would like to add my good wishes. I have always enjoyed listening to him in the Seanad and his articulate speeches. He has been outstanding with his reforms and there is no doubt about that. As somebody who has worked in the Irish courts system for seven years, I...

Seanad: SI 325 of 2012 - European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs Intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012: Motion (20 Aug 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: She does not make up the law.

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for attending this debate on turf cutting issues. Does he have concerns about the legality of the turf cutting compensation scheme set up to address the bogs located in special areas of conservation, SACs? People are prohibited from cutting turf on them by virtue of the EU directive. The scheme devised by the Department offers a lump sum payment of €1,500 per...

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: My point cannot be overlooked.

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Of which there are many.

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Will the Minister confirm that he received legal advice in relation to the compensation scheme?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation (19 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, to the Seanad and thank him for taking this matter. The issue concerns the immediate acquisition of a permanent site for Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, County Galway. Gaelscoil Riabhach is a multi-faith school which is being used as a model for the new Irish medium schools that are interested in developing a multidenominational ethos, an...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation (19 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response, but I am a little disappointed with it because I have not received any further information regarding the progress of the project. The principal, the parents, the students and the board of management are in limbo as a result of the project being stuck where it has been for some time. We need a firm commitment from the Department that it will...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I call on the Minister for Finance to come to the House to debate the urgent need to retain the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality industry before any budget discussions on it. The restaurant and hospitality sector, particularly hotels, were particularly badly hurt during the economic downturn. This VAT rate was a very welcome shot in the arm to the industry. By reverting to the 13% rate we...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act (Commencement) Order 2013: Statements (24 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss the item of legislation that provides for the banking inquiry. We must remember that the banking fiasco wiped out so much individual wealth in the country and left people on the breadline. Members of the Oireachtas see this on a weekly basis at constituency clinics. I am on record as being opposed to the banking inquiry being held in...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 as a very necessary and detailed legislative framework which will protect whistleblowers across all stratifications of the workforce. There is no doubt that the details within the Bill are necessary reforms to the law and that they will encourage employees to come forward with reports of suspected wrongdoing within their place of employment while...

Seanad: Pathways to Work Strategy: Statements (25 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister. Without doubt she has done enormous work since she went into the Department and took up her brief. Some of my colleagues in the Seanad Chamber have failed to realise the mess that she inherited and the number of people who were signing on for welfare payments when she first became the Minister, and subsequently. Over the summer period I had cause to be in my...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fodder Crisis (26 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this matter. I would like to raise the fodder crisis earlier this year and what can be done to help farmers and to prevent future crises. I commend the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on all the measures it put in place last spring to assist farmers in dealing with the crisis. The funds to help to transport fodder from...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fodder Crisis (26 Sep 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. I would like to convey my thanks to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This would be a progressive step and it would complement the committee's strategy to alleviate future fodder crises.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: The Senator should have objected last week.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: With the agreement of the House, I propose to share time with Senator Marie Moloney.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Card Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for agreeing to discuss on the Adjournment the need to provide cancer patients with discretionary medical cards. This matter arises about as a result of a recent visit I had to Gort Cancer Support. This is a voluntary group that operates in Gort and which carries out undoubtedly invaluable work for cancer sufferers in that area. The service...