Results 221-240 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a question of the marginal rate point rather than standard taxation.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the question of pre-1995 public servants, quite a lot of women re-enter the system. That is a common situation which has arisen whereby people have come back into the system, perhaps after a period of ten or 20 years raising children. It is also the case that many women, having left, return to work in their late 40s or 50s. During the recession, a number of women who were not working...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My colleague is being reasonable, more reasonable than I would be regarding this amendment. She has brought forward an amendment that looks to the various circumstances as outlined by the Minister regarding accessing the information. From my perspective, I have to oppose this section of the Bill because opening that dialogue regarding child benefit is an issue of serious concern. A couple...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to register my opposition to this section.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to speak in favour of this amendment, particularly in so far as it relates to the homemaker scheme. The discussion on amendment No. 4, in my name, reflected the need for the first, second and third tiers of our pension system to be repaired in the long term. This amendment relates to a more urgent issue. The Minister has acknowledged that the current position is unequal....

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to highlight two issues quickly but before doing so I note that I was disappointed our amendment to the Social Welfare Bill, which we will be discussing later, was ruled out of order. It is a missed opportunity. I urge the Leader to engage with the Minister to ensure that he proposes some solid and meaningful alternative way to take action in relation to Independent News and Media on...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is simply one sentence.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief. It is a matter of some urgency. I am simply asking that in reflection of the motion on Aleppo that was passed unanimously in this House, the Leader remind the Government of that motion and urge it to take immediate action to press for a ceasefire. I know we have talked about a debate. We have seen those on the ground who called for a three-day ceasefire now calling...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am present in the House now, so I would like that to be noted.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I left the House for two minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would point out that I was here for all the Order of Business and I left for two minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want that to be clarified, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My remarks were not in any way defamatory of the Leader or suggesting otherwise. I was only acknowledging regret as to the decision, while not attributing any decision to the Leader.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is this my only opportunity to speak during the debate?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am supportive of amendment No. 1, but I will also speak to those that have been ruled out of order because I believe-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Then I will speak to the wider question of the Bill. At what point will I get to do that on Report Stage?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will comment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will reserve my right to comment at that stage. I just want to ensure that I get the opportunity.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to make a quick couple of points. For clarification, the particular measure on voluntary contributions which I acknowledge was accepted by the Minister, related to all people and they will have a period of five years in which they can make voluntary contributions following their last previous contribution. I was thinking especially of women returning to the workplace in that context,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak-----