Results 221-240 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 8, subsection (2), line 42, after "Commission" to insert "who shall be the Chairman of Seanad Éireann". As we have already argued this, I do not want to regurgitate the argument as the Minister of State does not seem disposed towards it. It seems practical, and would be a recognition of the unique role of the Chamber as a stand alone legislature, that the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I am disappointed with the Minister of State's reply. I genuinely believe that in his heart of hearts he appreciates the validity of the arguments being put forward by me, Senator Mansergh and Senator O'Meara. The Minister of State said this House is proportionately well represented as if it was a concession. It is not a concession; we are well represented on the commission by right. Senator...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 14: In page 9, subsection (3), lines 1 to 4, to delete paragraph (a).

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 22: In page 9, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following new paragraph: "(d) The Clerk of Seanad Éireann.".

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thank all the Senators for their support, passion and conviction in arguing for what is a sensible measure and a recognition of the role of this House. I do not want to delay the House any further on the matter but Senator Mansergh made a passionate plea to the Minister to reflect on the matter overnight. The House will take Report Stage of the Bill tomorrow. I will withdraw the amendment...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 23: In page 9, subsection (1)(d), line 23, to delete "and".

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thank Senators for supporting the amendment. I was amazed the Minister of State did not receive a note from the dug-out until a couple of minutes ago. He then tried to make the argument that it was sufficient that the Clerk of the Dáil sprouted his administrative wings as Clerk of this House. That is not an argument. A strong case has been made in favour of the amendment on all sides of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: There appears to be something wrong with subsection (3), which reads: In each year a statement of estimates of the Commission shall be– (a) presented to Dáil Éireann, on a motion that Dáil Éireann take note of the statement, by a member of the Commission who is a member of Dáil Éireann, or any other member of Dáil Éireann nominated by the Commission for that purpose, and ...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Something – what I am not sure – is missing. The sentence does not make sense and the more one reads it, the less sense it makes. It runs out of road.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I think I know what is meant but the phraseology is unwieldy and cumbersome.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I am making an observation, rather than—

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: The Minister of State may wish to consider the matter before Report Stage.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: As we have already discussed the substance of the amendments, I do not wish to detain the House. I will not move them in order to give the Minister of State an opportunity to reflect on the merits of the case argued by Senators from all sides of the House.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Yes. Amendments Nos. 28 and 29 not moved. Section 15 agreed to. Sections 16 to 21, inclusive, agreed to. First and Second Schedules agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill reported with amendment. Report Stage ordered for Wednesday, 2 July 2003.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Special Educational Needs. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. Ronan Jordan was born on 1 June 1998 and lives at 9 Fenian Road, Ballina, County Mayo. Individual assessment of Ronan was conducted in a Montessori school setting over four separate sessions, the most recent of which took place on 7 April 2003. With the permission of the House, I wish to read from the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Transport appears to be the theme today, having been raised by Senators Ulick Burke and Norris. Senator Norris rightly referred to the slow progress of the Luas project and the wholesale disruption caused by it and raised questions on the metro. The contract for the operation of Luas has been awarded to a firm known as Connex. Commuters will have been dismayed to learn over the weekend that...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 1 to 4. I wish to thank Senators from all sides for the manner in which they supported the thrust of what I sought to achieve with my amendments on Committee Stage yesterday. Although I do not wish to be repetitive, we must briefly restate the arguments, which I genuinely believe are compelling and have already been put forcibly by all sides....

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thought that after mulling over the matter, the Minister of State might have had a change of heart but this gives me a feeling of anticipation about subsequent amendments concerning the Clerk of the Seanad.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 9, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "(d)the Clerk of Seanad Éireann;". Yesterday all sides of the House were unanimous in their belief that the Clerk of the Seanad should be a member of the commission by right. We were appalled when we read the membership list because it is patently obvious that the Clerk of the Seanad should come directly...