Results 2,761-2,780 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect to the Chair, can we just focus on-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 2: In page 16, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "Report on key employee engagement programme 12.Within 3 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall produce a report on the implementation of the key employee engagement programme, to include a breakdown of the cost of the scheme and revenue forgone in 2018 and 2019.". Recommendation No....

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think it is section 17 but I am not sure. Is it the living city initiative? It is section 17.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My apologies, I might have the Bill, as amended on Committee Stage, rather than the Bill, as amended on Report Stage.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is not my recommendation. We are only on section 15.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 4: In page 20, after line 33, to insert the following: “Report on re-introduction of trade union tax relief 18. The Minister shall, within 7 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the re-introduction of the trade union tax relief.”. This recommendation refers to the restoration of tax relief...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am fantastically delighted because I automatically put it forward three years in a row. I congratulate those who put it forward.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The conversation has strayed quite widely. The Minister of State referred to the family income supplement, which is now called the working family payment. People are very aware of that payment because they are all struggling to make ends meet and people rely on it. It is an indictment if people are not earning enough for their families to live on. That is an issue. I support the payment...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support the property tax and I also support Sinn Féin's proposal to introduce a progressive wealth tax.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 7: In page 33, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: "Report on revised threshold for High Wealth Individuals 27. The Minister shall, within 3 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the introduction of a new threshold for High Wealth Individuals defined as persons in possession of net assets...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Just to clarify, was €10 million considered or lower? Was €15 million considered?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, I know, and it was reduced. In terms of the risk issues that were identified, was there a specific consideration of risks in reducing the threshold to €10 million?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think €10 million might be worth considering and reviewing because if there is a substantial-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With due respect, the decisions in respect of policy around revenue and the direction of it, they actually are political decisions. Lots of decisions have been made around tax reliefs and measures and how we set the bands. I do not think we can abdicate that issue entirely to Revenue in that regard. These are not highly important people, they are high net value people who happen to have a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I endorse the call for a debate on cycling. If the Minister comes in, he might also ensure that he is briefed on cycling to school and the equality issues in cycling because very few girls are cycling. There has been a 90% drop in girls cycling to school in Ireland, which is very unfortunate. I also join Senator Feighan in welcoming the vote by the US House of Representatives. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have had an extraordinary number of achievements and legislative work. It is detailed and important work. The work of tracking legislation and bringing it through takes a year or two. People may have to see their secretarial assistant move on twice or three times in a term, not out of lack of loyalty or because they do not love the work but because they need to progress, they want to be...

Seanad: Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (4 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister of State. I join with others in strongly welcoming this legislation and the leadership Ireland has shown on this issue. I will first speak about the importance of this treaty. It is another key moment with regard to the multilateral vision of what international society or international co-operation should look like. It is a key exercise in what we saw in the founding...

Seanad: Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (4 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They have played a key role and we must challenge the movement of arms through Shannon Airport. The State needs to recognise that issue, particularly in a situation where we are not getting the assurances we need. In regard to what happens in Shannon Airport, does the Bill extend to those who may not be Irish citizens but who are passing through our airports? Will they be subject to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Renewable Energy - Wind, Solar and Biogas: Discussion (4 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have read all of the presentations with interest and apologise for not being here to hear them. Some of my points may have been discussed already. I will begin by discussing the renewable gas forum. I wish to make the general point that when we declared a climate emergency we also declared a biodiversity emergency and there is an intersection around our climate and ecological targets....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Renewable Energy - Wind, Solar and Biogas: Discussion (4 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will ask another question on biogas now.