Results 241-260 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: That is a cynical view. There is a real threat to the taxpayer.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: NAMA Operations (19 Dec 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his attendance to discuss and debate the very serious revelations which have emerged over the past number of days about the activities at NAMA. The allegations of unsavoury practices engaged in by some servants and-or agents of the agency is most worrying to the taxpayers of Ireland. Last May and June I raised issues pertaining to NAMA and employment contracts and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: NAMA Operations (19 Dec 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: This man nearly earns the same salary as the Taoiseach and yet there is no oversight when it comes to his activities. It is recorded on public record in a national newspaper.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: NAMA Operations (19 Dec 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: What is happening here is very worrying.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: NAMA Operations (19 Dec 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: NAMA has a critical role to play in Ireland's economic recovery and we urgently need to restore confidence in the agency. We need to start by reviewing the draconian powers of the agency and to consider amending the NAMA Act to make it more accountable and transparent, so that what happened this week will not be repeated. We cannot allow unsavoury practices to continue and we must strive...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: NAMA Operations (19 Dec 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. The decision to bring NAMA representatives before the Committee of Public Accounts tomorrow is welcome. It is regrettable, however, that they did not make a full public statement earlier this week regarding the issues that have emerged. I take this opportunity to confirm that I have given evidence of wrongdoing to the Garda Síochána. In...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (16 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to debate the issue of flooding in south Galway and along the Shannon Callows. The recent storms and associated floods have caused huge difficulty and hardship for many people residing in these areas. I spoke to a number of affected people who expressed to me they cannot remember any storm as significant as the one experienced in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (16 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is a pity the Minister of State responsible, Deputy Brian Hayes, is not here to address the issue I have raised. The reply tells me action is being bogged down in bureaucracy when it comes to dealing with the issue and helping the people of east and south Galway. I find that regrettable. His speech mentioned funding for repair of flood...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (16 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I ask that the Leader invite the Minister for Finance to the House to discuss and debate a quarterly report which was furnished to all Members of the Oireachtas by NAMA in recent days. We all know that NAMA is the largest property company in Europe and, perhaps, in the world. It is important, therefore, that we scrutinise any information put before us by that agency. It is important that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I would like to call for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to debate the need for treatment or rehabilitation centres that specialise in addiction to be regulated. I do not know if other Members watched the recent "Prime Time" special report on a charity, Victory Outreach, that uses pretty appalling practices when dealing with addicts who are attempting recovery with...

Seanad: Standards in Public Office Commission Membership: Motions (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I support this motion, which concerns a change in the membership of the Standards in Public Office Commission. I understand these vacancies arose last month. I commend the Minister on moving so swiftly to fill them in such a short period. I understand that important investigations could not go ahead as a consequence of the board not being at its full capacity. It is necessary for the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for attending to discuss my issue. I refer to the need to make the agriculture appeals process more open and transparent in order that those availing of it have certainty about the board's findings, as they apply. The EU Common Agricultural Policy outlines the direct payment programme in which farmers may receive payment provided that certain requirements have...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I am not satisfied with the response provided by the Minister of State this evening. In my opinion, an annual report does not satisfy transparency and consistency requirements. The suggestion that it does means we are focusing on the general rather than specific incidences of appeals by farmers. At the end of the day, farmers in this country are entitled to access to decisions which are...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: Provision could be made for anonymity of individuals. In reports of refugee and family law proceedings the initial letter of the surname rather than surname is used, as would be the situation in most legal cases.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I agree with anonymity. The use of the initial letter of a surname is the way around that.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (22 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Youth Justice Policy: Statements (28 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to the House. I know he is quite familiar with Loughrea, County Galway and how it has experienced a significant increase in its population. This has led to an increased demand on public services in the town and surrounding areas. This is particularly evident at Scoil Naomh Éanna national school, Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. Contrary to what he said, there is significant demographic growth in this area with an increase in the school’s enrolment from 39 pupils in 2000 to 187 pupils in 2013. I am critical of the Department's five-year construction programme and that there should be some degree of discretion to add schools to the list, especially in light of the...