Results 201-220 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

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

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response and welcome everything he is doing in respect of the provision of discretionary medical cards to those who are in need. I also acknowledge the high percentage of people in receipt of medical cards. However, as I stated with regard to cancer patients predominantly, as well as those who are suffering from Huntington's disease, to avoid...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (2 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: We move to the second matter on the Adjournment. I understand that Senator Ó Clochartaigh is to share time with Senator Ó Domnhail.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Treatment Abroad Scheme (2 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Is the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley also responding on this matter?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I refer to an article I read recently in the Irish Independent. It speculates that the Government will reduce VAT for the construction sector in the upcoming budget. Like all Members of the Oireachtas, I certainly welcome measures designed to generate employment, but I would be horrified by the vista of NAMA and cowboy developers getting a tax break from the Government. If the measure was...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I hope there is similar good news for County Galway and, in particular, the eastern part of the county.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: The matter I wish to raise relates to the difficult situation in Loughrea, County Galway as a consequence of a number of lay-offs in recent times. The Minister of State is from the west and will know that County Galway, in particular, has been very badly hit by the recession, through the closure of various businesses and other facilities which were treasured and cherished by the local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response on the efforts being made by the Government and the Department in trying to improve job creation in County Galway, and I welcome the fact that ALS remains committed to the area. I hope that as a consequence of an expected upturn in the world economy, more job opportunities will be created in the town. There is one caveat and we cannot...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this interesting Bill, which has been introduced by our colleague, Senator Ó Murchú. He must be commended for showing such an interest in this topic. I understand the Senator is seeking to propose amendments to the Statistics Act 1993, which would mean that the provisions of the Act would no longer apply to the 1926...

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: The Senator must conclude to allow the Minister to respond.

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: When it is proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Electricity Transmission Network (22 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: The Minister without interruption.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Electricity Transmission Network (22 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Unfortunately, a Minister is not available to take the matters to be raised on the Adjournment by Senators Burke and Moloney. I am informed they will be deferred until tomorrow when the Cathaoirleach will select both matters again.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Banking Sector Regulation (23 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter on the Adjournment. It is important that we establish whether any staff in senior management in all the State-owned banks, including AIB, Permanent TSB, Bank of Ireland, EBS and Irish Nationwide, converted any of their variable mortgages to tracker mortgages in the six-month period before the date of the Government-funded bank guarantee or...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Banking Sector Regulation (23 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response but I am disappointed with it. I find it does not deal specifically with the question I asked. I feel the response was drafted in such a way that we are talking around it rather than getting to the crux of the issue. Terms such as “not aware” and “in general” have been used throughout the response which is most...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Banking Sector Regulation (23 Oct 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: It is not the bank customers' details but those of banks' management. I am concerned there were activities carried on that may be akin to insider dealings. I just want to get to the bottom of that to ensure no one in bank management benefited from the bank bailout for which the taxpayer paid.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I will pass on the Senator's concerns to the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Commercial Rates Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today. I am worried about a matter arising from the Local Government Bill 2013, the potential for rates to apply to unused or closed commercial premises and units. Will the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government devolve responsibility to local authorities to make the decision on the potential for application of...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Commercial Rates Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I would make the observation that Dublin, Cork and Limerick are very different places to towns like Athenry, Loughrea and Gort. Dublin, Cork and Limerick have demand for commercial units, so it is arguably fair to apply a 50% rates bill on unoccupied commercial premises. It is very different in rural areas where supply exceeds demand. That...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: In light of the terrible burglary in County Tipperary last weekend and the brutality of the gang's actions towards the Corcoran family, I request that the Minister for Justice and Equality come into the House to debate the possibility of amending the criminal law to prevent similar attacks happening in the future. We must send a message to those living in rural Ireland that they are safe in...