Results 381-400 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is an important point. We have had a number of Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs in the relevant period. It is important that we in this House ask those Ministers what they know, what briefings they received from An Garda Síochána or from departmental officials. The current Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, who is engaging with us on...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----was the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in May 2014. As well as asking the former Minister if she was briefed on this, I ask the Minister to ask her officials and Tusla if they attempted to engage with or brief various Ministers and, if not, why not. We need to know why a succession of Ministers were not told of an issue which was very much in the public frame at that time. We...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Did Tusla attempt to brief any Minister, or had it briefed any of the previous Ministers? If not, why not? That was the other part of that question.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. For example, did it approach the then Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, during the period in 2014 when this was happening?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Will the Minister ask them?

Seanad: Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am very pleased that we are now discussing a public inquiry. I agree that it is the appropriate step to take. It took a while to get to this point of realisation but it is very good that it is now considered to be the most appropriate way to investigate the allegations, given what we have seen happening in terms of other processes which were not put in place. I am happy to support the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Cycling Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for joining us today. I ask the Minister to make a statement on the national cycling framework, the appointment of a national cycling officer and, specifically, the commitment in the national cycling framework of having 10% of all journeys in urban and rural areas made on a bicycle and the journey we need to make from the 2% at the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Cycling Policy (21 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister mentioned many of the local projects, but it is unfortunate to see that the smarter travel scheme and sustainable transport grants have been cut. We have seen less resources for that in 2015 to 2016 and now into 2017. How do we marry this regional focus with the fact that we are cutting funding in that area? Since 2009, climate change has continued apace. All the evidence...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On a number of occasion in recent weeks, there have been consistent call in the House for a debate on migration, specifically focusing on Europe's migration policies, including Ireland's. As the issues accumulate, I would like to highlight another that may need to be addressed in the debate. We need to have the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald,...

Seanad: The Diaspora: Statements (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome this debate. I will try to build on rather than repeat a couple of the points made by previous speakers who articulated the concern about recent executive orders issued by the President of the United States. The migration orders will have a significant impact on the Irish diaspora. Concerns also arise from Brexit given that we have had a sizeable diaspora in the United Kingdom...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know we are constrained by time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Some of the points I wanted to raise have been identified. Certainly the question of a cost-benefit analysis is very important as is clarity around the cost. In a recent parliamentary question, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, confirmed there has not been a cost-benefit analysis, but I am also interested in a risk analysis. When I read Ms Mangan's presentation, I saw...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to make just a couple of points. I do not believe any inference is being made. We are simply responding to the multiple representations we are all receiving in terms of ensuring restructuring is not simply efficient but also effective, well grounded and well rationalised. That is the spirit in which we try to ensure the process is considered. With regard to the cost-benefit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, if companies do not dissolve, the CIB will not give them funding. How would the CIB seek to have the services delivered in those areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect, it is pertinent because we were told that people would be able to go to the same place to be looked after by the same people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Mention was made of an overlap of services. Are there other areas where particular services are on contract to all of the CIB services? Ms Mangan mentioned auditing. Is that something that could be separately rather than centrally delivered? Ms Mangan mentioned that there are duplications. Are there other areas where there has been a common contract for a specific service to allow for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I just wondered if they could be dealt with in another way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is that available to the Minister? I raised it because the Minister had sent a note to us that he did not have that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (23 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to see that.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the section which outlines the Short Title of the Bill which is the nub of the concern being expressed. The title of the Bill is the Heritage Bill. There is serious concern about whether this is a heritage Bill or whether it contains components which make it an anti-heritage Bill or will result in a dilution of heritage. I welcome the Minister to the House. However, as the...