Results 21-40 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I ask that the Leader invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, to the House for a debate on the ongoing situation in relation to farm inspections. I understand that in east Galway in particular inspectors are arriving on farms to conduct inspections without giving prior notice to farmers. While in normal circumstances this would be illegal the inspectors are...

Seanad: Review of White Paper on Irish Aid: Statements, Questions and Answers (9 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed and informative speech today and welcome him to the House. It seems he has been a familiar figure in this Chamber over recent weeks and I look forward to welcoming him back again during this Government's term. More seriously, I am glad to participate in and lead the debate for the Labour group in the Seanad on the review of the White Paper on...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I congratulate her on all the great work she has done in her portfolio. This is a busy time for her and I appreciate her taking the time to come to the House. Next year will be significant as we take over the EU Presidency and it is great to know it will be under her capable guidance. What will be our agenda and priorities and what do we...

Seanad: Farm Inspections (15 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister. The issue I raise is the ongoing situation with farm inspections, particularly in Galway East. Indeed, since I raised this matter on the Order of Business last week I have been informed that it occurs in other parts of the country. A practice exists whereby inspectors are arriving on farms to conduct inspections without giving any prior notice to the farmer. Some...

Seanad: Farm Inspections (15 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her succinct and detailed response. I am fully aware of the benefits of such grants to the farming community and am all for efficiency and making savings within the relevant Departments. However, it still remains the position that there is a breach of basic law with regard to the notice period. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine should...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Order for Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for his detailed and informative submission in which he went through the provisions of the Acts. It was good to hear their relevance to today's debate. I welcome the opportunity to lead this debate on behalf of the Labour Party group in the Seanad and to contribute on such an important piece of legislation. As legislators, we have...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I am not sure whether I can find a way of mentioning Galway or Athenry. I thank everybody involved in this codification endeavour. I am aware from my own legal work that it can be tedious to read through the various items of legislation that might apply to a particular case. This consolidation effort is something I welcome both as a practising barrister and as a legislator. As I observed...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome Mr. Richard Humphreys, SC. I know he has put a huge amount of work into the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to bring to the attention of the Seanad a matter I raised in the 2009 local elections when I ran as a candidate. On that basis I seek that the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and planning would come to the House to debate the legislation on developers' contributions. Changes must be made to the rules and laws governing same, as right throughout the Celtic tiger era...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise it in a preliminary manner.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: This is a matter of national importance. To ensure that this never happens again it is essential that we legislate for a high percentage, if not all, of developers' contributions to be designated for the area from which they are acquired. It is essential for many reasons that people and towns benefit positively from development and, as a consequence, I call for a debate on the issue so that...

Seanad: Primary Care Facilities (19 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for taking this Adjournment matter regarding the potential provision of primary health care facilities in the east Galway area. Primary health care was born as a concept under the Declaration of Alma-Ata in 1978 but it entered the Irish lexicon only in recent years. It was an important milestone in the promotion of world health as...

Seanad: Primary Care Facilities (19 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her succinct response. I am delighted that 485 primary health care teams have been rolled out in recent times or will be rolled out in the near future. It represents a firm commitment on the part of the Government with regard to this country's health service. It is fantastic that deprived urban areas and small rural towns will get the benefit of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I note that the submissions of the Galway Senators refer to the Volvo Ocean Race which is taking place in Galway in July. Consistent with the talk of water, I call for a debate on the setting up of a single inspectorate for water quality. The position now is that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Environmental Protection Agency, the local authorities, the HSE and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: Before raising an important issue, I commend the CEO of ISME, Mr. Mark Fielding, and Deputy Michael McGrath of Fianna Fáil on backing my calls to have Ulster Bank waive its fees to customers and to have the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform use its powers to deal with this issue. I seek also that the Minister for Finance would come to this House to debate...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Croatian ambassador to Ireland. I wish her, her government and country the best of luck on the road to accession to the European Union that will happen next year. I also welcome the Tánaiste and thank him for his detailed and informative contribution. I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead in the Second Stage debate on the European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012 on...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: Tomorrow.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.