Results 2,921-2,940 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, but I had indicated I wished to speak on section 28. I am entitled to speak on it, with respect.

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that. That is why I am speaking to the section.

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief. I would not have pressed my amendments; I would have withdrawn them. I hope the Minister will be able to address my concerns. The language used in the Bill is not strong enough. For example, I had sought that the "ability to pay" be used as the language in the provision because we have a mechanism for asserting inability to pay rather then reasonable efforts or best...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is amendment No. 62 in order?

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is fine. Regarding the timeframe issue, will the Minister indicate when it is planned that this section will commence? I have been receiving inquiries concerning the commencement of section 9 and changes to planning laws. Will that commence from Monday? When does it come into effect? I am sorry for asking, but this is a query I have received because people are looking for certainty....

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment proposes a new section 10 in the Bill. I had my own version of section 10 that related to consents, permits and leases for the Air Pollution Act, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, the Waste Management Act, the Local Government Act and other Acts. I am conscious they have not really been addressed in this Bill and perhaps it points to an arrow or another area for...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I hope the Minister might take the points to the relevant Departments and perhaps consider them. There are a number of ancillary processes that may need tailored pauses and clarification around this time. We do not want to have a large number of other planning staff working on processes or working to timelines in a way that is endangering or unnecessary in terms of maximising public health....

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perhaps the Minister can provide clarification.

Seanad: Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Motion for Earlier Signature (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Thank you, a Chathaoirligh, because you have been so patient, so good, so fair and so even-handed. You have served extraordinarily well and honourably in your role as Cathaoirleach. I thank all the staff who I know are working under difficult circumstances, even to arrange these sittings of the Houses. I am very proud to have been part of the Twenty-fifth Seanad. It has been an...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On behalf of the Civil Engagement group, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election to the role. I know he is somebody who has great respect for the Seanad and an ambition for the role that it can and does play. Indeed, he has an ambition for the even greater role it could play were we deliver the Seanad reform that is still on the agenda, whether or not it is included in the...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had intended to propose an amendment to this motion to require a review of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act. However, given the statements made by the outgoing Minister, Deputy Flanagan - and I acknowledge him as somebody who came very regularly to this House and engaged very respectfully and actively with it - on the intention to have...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Many of us who were elected to this Seanad conducted our campaigns during the early stages of the pandemic and, indeed, during lockdown. As we now convene and start our work, many months later, the virus is still very much with us. While we may be very happy that the curve has been flattened in Ireland, there are many, including myself, who have concerns about the pace at which we have...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and all those who have worked since the leaders' meeting to ensure that we are able to perform our work in this Chamber of course but, most important, in ensuring that all Members of the Seanad are able to fulfil their constitutional function by scrutinising legislation and decisions made in the context of that legislation. While much...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is welcome to see an approach based on stimulus. There has been recognition of and learning from some of the mistakes made in the recessions of the past. ICTU, SIPTU, the Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, and other important groups have always presented the alternative and made the case for stimulus but now the OECD, the IMF, the European Commission and others recognise that...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I warmly congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, on his appointment to his new role. I welcome the statements that have been made recognising the importance of solidarity and of stimulus. It seems that at least some learning has happened from some of the failures and shortfalls in the European response to other crises in that there is now a very wide international recognition...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the section. I also wish to highlight some of the issues that will arise if we continue with the practice of trying to bring legislation through all Stages at once. I hope that practice will not continue because it fails to allow for nuance in the debate. When, for example, all Stages of a Bill are taken together, the Government is unable to bring forward amendments in...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----relates directly to a section and to the functions outlined therein, which is------

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment relates to section 12.2 of the fund description and the specific powers allocated thereunder which, as such, can be considered to form part of the Bill. The mechanisms by which decisions will be made in terms of a change in the beneficial mix are set out on page 39 of the Bill.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am speaking to amendment No. 2, which relates to section 10. I am speaking to the section.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No, I am speaking to amendments Nos. 1 and 2 which have been ruled out of order. I am speaking to the section they were intended to amend. This issue is not simply about an amount that goes in and I am certainly not simply talking about the amount that comes out. Rather, it relates to the processes for managing that. All of those processes are dealt with in the Bill. The Bill does not...