Results 261-280 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Humanitarian Situation in Syria, South Sudan and Central African Republic: Statements (30 Jan 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He has been very active in his role since being appointed and I commend him on all that he has done. As the ethnic conflicts continue in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, the rest of the world has been faced with the question - should we involve ourselves in these crises? I believe we should get involved in any way we can in...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to bring up the same issue that has been raised by several Members, namely, the recent neknominations craze which has swept Ireland and which regrettably has resulted in the loss of lives. It is imperative that the Government responds to this issue, given that it straddles a number of Departments. It seems that increasing YouTube and Facebook hits is the aim of the whole phenomenon...

Seanad: Charities Sector: Statements (4 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming before the House to discuss the charities sector and the recent difficulties in which charities have found themselves. The sector includes an estimated 12,000 non-profit organisations, of which 7,000 have charitable status. The combined figure of employees in the sector stands at more than 100,000 and charities also have more than 560,000 volunteers on their...

Seanad: Charities Sector: Statements (4 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: The Senator is being unfair.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I call on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House to discuss the price Irish farmers are getting for meat in this country. The success of our agriculture sector is being hindered by recent cattle prices which suggest that the market is uncompetitive. This is of great concern to most people out there, particularly those who are working as farmers. Recently I...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Health Services Staff Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking this matter on the Adjournment on overcrowding in the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Galway and the potential for nurse prescribing to be used as a means of alleviating the ongoing crisis. The Minister of State may be aware it was reported on 20 January that 44 people were waiting on trolleys at...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Health Services Staff Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State and appreciate the very detailed response he has given. I wish to clarify one issue. Is it the case the HSE will not issue a GMS prescription pad to nurses employed at non-HSE facilities? This is where my issue arises.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Health Services Staff Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Statements (5 Mar 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House to hear our views on the Action Plan for Jobs recently announced. I commend the Minister and the Government for all the hard work done in creating jobs in very difficult times. There is no doubt that we have come back from a very difficult place, bringing the country back from the brink and into a zone where we can see stability and recovery. Before...

Seanad: Child Protection: Motion (5 Mar 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I call Senator O'Donnell and she has six minutes.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (12 Mar 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter, which is of importance to the recovery of this country. It is the need for a bank to actively lend to the small and medium enterprise sector. This week we were informed by reports in the Irish Independent that lending to small and medium enterprises has declined for each of the past three quarters when lending to farms and property...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (12 Mar 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his answer and acknowledge all of the efforts being made by this Government. The creation of 61,000 new jobs last year, so soon after taking office, is indicative of the success of its policies. However, we all know of small businesses in towns and villages all over Ireland that have closed down as a consequence of the recession. I am trying to draw a...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: First and foremost I apologise for aiming to dress well today because Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has said that is the reason I decided to run for Europe. He would say that given that there is no hint of colour or style in his wardrobe and God knows he needs a little bit of help in that department. However, he can pay for such advice.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise the serious issue of the lack of change in the culture of banking in this country. I am sure many of us in this room watched last night's "Prime Time" debate. It featured a young couple who were forced to sell their family home for €60,000 having been left with an unsustainable debt of €190,000 and they were made bankrupt which is most regrettable. I...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is my first opportunity to address her as Minister for Justice and Equality and I commend her on the work she has done on the brief since she took over the portfolio and on bringing forward this very reforming Bill, which is very welcome, not only for consumers of legal services but for many legal professionals. The Bill is a key part of legislation...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I am sure Senator Mullen has gotten over it.

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I join in the chorus of support for this legislation. There is no doubt it is a momentous day and this measure will make a big difference in terms of trying to attract foreign direct investment into this country. This measure is essential because companies take into account factors such as our court structure when deciding to locate here and we have had a very good record in recent years of...

Seanad: Companies Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (30 Sep 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I join in the chorus of congratulations to the Minister of State on his new role. It is great to be at the forefront of introducing this seminal Bill. It is a great piece of law and I understand that 12 years were spent in researching, drafting and working on it. Well done to everybody in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and to the foresight of the Ministers who have gone...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to join in the chorus of compliments to the Minister and congratulate him on taking this important legislation through the Houses. I commend him, as the Bill will make significant changes to the way people access information. This has been a priority for him. I also commend him on being a reforming Minister, given the changes he has introduced to legislation under his Department's...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: -----for all they have done in researching and drafting this necessary legislation. Well done.