Results 1,981-2,000 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: That was when it was a HSE Covid-19 centre. Infection prevention control measures meant it was unsafe to operate in that situation during Covid. Is that correct?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: The Chair made a suggestion earlier about whether we could still have it operating under the guidelines relating to the distance between beds. If we were to do that, it might result in there being four people per ward. Ms Killeen White would know the numbers better than I would. How many people would that accommodate upstairs and downstairs? Would that make it a feasible operation to run?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I ask Ms Killeen White to elaborate on that and on why that is not viable. Is it not viable from an expenditure perspective, a care perspective or a combination of everything?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I refer to the hospital being repurposed. It has been stated that there are no patients. Ms Killeen White told us that 24 full-time equivalents would be on site. What services are being provided and what is happening in that building on a day-to-day basis?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: That is more than 200 years ago, so maybe we will get the record of the Dáil corrected in that regard as well.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Does Ms Killeen White have anything to add in respect of the flood plain issue?

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I attending a meeting of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters this morning that was focused on what Ms Killeen White described, including privacy, the elements of congregated settings and why we need to move to decongregation. Much of what Ms Killeen White said rings true for those of us who are on that committee as well.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: As am I, and I had my hand up for an hour and a half.

Committee on Public Petitions: Public Petition on St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir (Resumed): Health Service Executive (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: We have heard from emotional families of people who were residents and who have worked there, and it is understandable that they are emotional. We have also heard from people who have felt the loss of this facility to their community, and it is regrettable that any service is ever lost from any community. I thank the witnesses for coming in to put forward the case for what the rationale...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Raising Awareness of the Lived Experience of Congregated Settings: Discussion (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I apologise for being late, but I was at the housing committee next door. There is a great deal of synergy between it and this discussion. I thank the witnesses for attending. It is people's lived experience and the experience of organisations working on the ground that inform this committee. I wish to put on the record my thanks for, and recognition of, the work of Peamount Healthcare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank our speakers and our witnesses for being here with us today, sharing their expertise and inputting that level of expertise into the Bill. We want this Bill to be very well-rounded. It needs to make sure that, if we are implementing statutory timelines, the resources are in place to equip these decisions to be made within those timelines. For me, it boils down to trust in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Ms Buckley referred to the fixed-term contracts in that proposal. What impact would that have on the board's ability to attract talent in this space?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Buckley.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of the witnesses for attending. I am very supportive of the idea of moving to ten-year development plans. It is one I floated in this committee three years ago. It will increase efficiencies and free up planners and planning resources within local authorities, while also creating long-term sustainable visions for counties right across the country. I ask for a little more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: What about the initial phase of plan-making, planning permissions and getting stakeholder engagement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I am sure it is not solely my experience that the board, for whatever reason, whether resourcing or otherwise, often cannot make a decision on submissions within the given timeframe. A notification is then sent to say the time has been extended. Will this legislation cover that issue? Will it specify that decisions must be made within particular timeframes and, if so, how will that be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (7 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Jones. That is really helpful.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I would also like to rate the issue of changes to benefit-in-kind. In my constituency, there is a ridiculous situation whereby somebody who can work from home on a Friday is instead choosing to drive to Kilkenny simply to reduce their tax liability because they need the extra mileage. On a day when a car should be sitting in a driveway and generating no emissions, it is instead doing a 200...

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I welcome that we are progressing this Bill in line with the recommendations of the 2015 White Paper on Defence. It will bring legislation from the 1930s and 1940s into the modern practice. The Civil Defence provides an invaluable service in supporting front-line emergency services and also local communities. I echo the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, last year when he...

Co-ordination of International Protection Services: Statements (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Migration has always been part of our national story, both inward and outward. Sometimes, that is people moving in search of adventure or employment and, at other times, it is people moving here to learn, to work and to live. Often, it is people coming to our shores in search of international protection. Whatever the reason may be, what we need is an immigration system that is fair and...