Results 2,861-2,880 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 26, after “soluble” to insert “and/or fat soluble”.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What happened to amendment No. 6?

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This came quicker than we thought. I know this issue was raised in the Dáil. It is a real concern for us. Protection from sun is important but we believe that few sunscreens on the market would be affected by being included. We are looking mainly at certain products with glitter. I know there are other products. I know there is a question over some brand sunscreens that may contain...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As the issue is pursued further, I have a suggestion for the Minister. I accept that there are concerns relating to the medical perspective but we will have a separate discussion on the single use plastics directive when that legislation comes through. The sooner we see meaningful legislation rather than levies, the better. The sooner we see proper legislation on prohibitions relating to...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Thank goodness.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It may be an opportunity to open this up.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are putting it.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 5, to delete lines 13 and 14. This relates to the transit of goods through a territory, as I understand it. We have engaged with the Department on concerns that this could breach other rules. Again, we are looking for a moment of leadership from Ireland. However, I understand the constraints on the matter and that the derogation would not allow for it at...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, in the interests of strengthening the hand of a Minister.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10: In page 5, line 30, to delete “or” and substitute “and”.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 11: In page 5, line 31, after “and” to insert “reuse, recycling or”.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment fits with the changing culture that we are aiming towards, as mentioned by the Minister. I am sure he would acknowledge that our amendment contains a better wording because it includes a wider framing and would send a signal because, increasingly, when we talk about the life cycles and journey of products we are having to move towards life-cycle monitoring, cost and tracking....

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 5, after line 37, to insert the following: “(7) Any regulation made under subsection (3) shall be valid for a period of two years unless renewed by the Minister in accordance with this section.”. My amendment seeks to insert a new section.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment suggests that the regulations that would be made by this will "be valid for a period of two years unless renewed by the Minister in accordance with this section." The goal is to ensure that we could have a strengthening and an ongoing review. It is part of the same spirit of renewal and strengthening. Section 3(6) states "Every regulation made by the Minister under this...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I accept the Minister's concern and acknowledge there is the issue of revocation. As we are on Committee Stage, I ask the Minister to clarify that he does not foresee, for example, exemptions being made and remaining unreviewed for very long or prolonged periods, as science or others things evolve. The Minister has quite wide powers to exempt a product through regulation. Can he clarify...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Sunscreen.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I accept the Minister's argument. We may have, in subsequent legislation, an opportunity to address any inadvertent danger of a long-standing regulation or exemption. I appreciate and am heartened by the fact that the Minister is not currently planning to make wider exemptions in terms of industrial cleaning products. It is in that context that I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 13: In page 10, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “(2) The Agency shall produce a report on the implementation of these Regulations after the first 12 months of their operation and lay this report before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The report shall include an overview of implementation including any exemptions granted with details thereof,...