Results 2,461-2,480 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I also asked about a code of practice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Dr. de Buitléir stated that if persons knew a service charge did not go to a staff member, it might change customers' practices. If the Low Pay Commission had known that the requirement to give service charges to staff would be removed, would that knowledge have changed some of the commission's analysis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not think the Minister has used the advice of the Low Pay Commission. In the Bill that she has put forward, she has disregarded the main concern of the commission by reclassifying the service charge to reduce take-home pay. Senator Gavan's definition seems to put down on paper the common understanding of the witness from the Low Pay Commission. I regard this not as a reclassification...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9:In page 4, line 3, after “maintaining” to insert “raised”. This is the same core issue we have discussed repeatedly, of which I hope there is reconsideration happening, namely, the inclusion of blanket bogs in what was originally envisaged, designed and prepared as legislation in respect of raised bogs.The 12-year period of consultation and...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What the Minister of State has described in terms of public consultation and consideration of our European obligations is a process that may happen regarding the effects on the environment of proposals arising from a review. All of the processes – the consultation, the consideration of our European obligations and so forth – concern proposals that arise from a review. They do...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10:In page 4, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"(b) assessing of the role and potential role of selected bog habitats in carbon sequestration, biodiversity and pollination;". This amendment addresses the issue which the Minister of State acknowledged somewhat in his accepting of amendment No. 4 and partly addresses in the first lines of his amendment No....

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A number of core questions have again arisen. While the Minister of State envisages a fuller process, envisaging is not the same as ensuring. Given the debate we had on Committee Stage, it is curious that section 16(6), which has the benefit of listing specific concerns including "scientific interest for one or more species, communities, habitats, landforms or geological or geomorphological...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I recognise that.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: First, I have a technical question for the Minister of State. Am I also to understand that, with the Government amendment inserting a new section 18A(3)(b) and changing section 18A(3)(c), any review will involve section 18A(3)(a), (b) and (c)? Is that correct?

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Acting Chairman for his forbearance.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14a:In page 4, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“(4) Any review under subsection (1) for the purposes of selecting the most suitable bog habitats to be designated or cease to be designated as natural heritage areas must also include all other purposes listed under subsection (3).”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank everybody who supported amendment No. 10 in my name, although it was unsuccessful, and those who are considering the issues that arise from amendment No. 11. As a result of its insertion, the Bill now states the purposes of a review under the section may contribute to the achievement of nature conservation objectives and maintaining bog habitats, or restoring those favoured for...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If the Minister of State is accepting the point, I do not understand why he is not accepting the amendment.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the verbal and interpretative assurance from the Minister of State. I accept that is the good intent of the Minister of State. I feel it is better to have these things copper-fastened in law. A future Minister might interpret it differently. I accept the bona fides of the Minister of State but I might press the amendment nonetheless.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14b:In page 4, lines 12 and 13, to delete “the proposals arising from” and substitute “any proposals being considered during”. Section 4 lays out the process that will apply to a review. The two amendments relate to the sequence in which the elements of a review and a post-review will be taken. The Bill indicates that the Minister will carry...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does the Minister of State see the issue? They are considering the proposals rather than these factors before making proposals. I suggest a more robust sequencing of the process. I will not press both amendments but I will press one. I hope the Minister of State might have better wording to address the timeline issue but, if not, I will press amendment No. 14b.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Just to be clear, it is a matter of proposals arising from a review. The public consultation comes after the review. It is not a part of the review; it comes after it. That is exactly the issue I am trying to address. I acknowledge public consultation is important, and I thank the Minister of State for recognising it, but right now public consultation comes after the review and is not...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14c:In page 4, line 13, to delete “arising from” and substitute “during”. I do not believe I have the support of the House for this amendment. I appreciate those Members who supported me but I know do not have a majority in the House for it. That said, I will withdraw it, although I would urge others in the Dáil to consider revisiting...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 15:In page 4, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:“(c) have regard to any recommendations as may emerge from any relevant Oireachtas Committee in relation to climate action.”.