Results 4,201-4,220 of 8,214 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Banking Matters: AIB (30 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think we are finishing up. We spoke about walking down the different main streets and the many actors. There is significant concern regarding Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland branch closures. I know the witnesses mentioned that they see it as key. I am a bit concerned by the references to customer preference because I think during Covid, it might not be a fully accurate measure because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Banking Matters: AIB (30 Jun 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Could the witnesses respond to that point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies, I was not within the precincts. I was listening to the contributions and to the discussion, but I had to get within the precincts for speaking purposes. I thank the Minister for coming in. I am interested to the provisions he mentioned in respect of mica. What he said points to the need for quality public procurement and greater attention to that matter. He will be aware...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The concern is that it might create a policy chilling effect. If the precedent of previous fiscal targets, which we know were quite unachievable and created a great deal of pressure in many countries in Europe, is used, it may create an environment where a stimulus in public investment is needed, not only in the Covid response but also the transition necessary in the climate emergency that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister. I look forward to further engagement on the matter. I am conscious colleagues are waiting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses for what has been an interesting discussion. Several areas of interest have been discussed. I look forward as well to reading the written submissions on data centres. I also welcome the invitation to provide input to the next strategic plan. That is something our committee will do. Turning to my questions, one concerns data centres. It is alarming to think that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My final questions concern energy poverty. I am worried about demand pricing and energy meters. We do not want to develop a situation where what gets called “choice” is effectively placing responsibility on people to turn off their energy and energy poverty being the result. Therefore, I would like the witnesses to comment on energy poverty-proofing in respect of measures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was hoping for something much more specific. An over time approach towards green hydrogen seems very vague. Gas is a fossil fuel. There is an idea that gas plays a role in decarbonisation. I would really appreciate more information and detail on that and on the CRU's scenario planning regarding brown hydrogen and blue hydrogen, as well as an indication of where we end and exit more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is no problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Resourcing of Personal Assistance Services: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank all of the witnesses. This has been interesting. I was struck by Mr. Collumb’s last comment. It comes back to that question of choice. It is important to centre choice, both in terms of how time is used and of the priorities in life for the person with the disability. It strikes me that this is something we have encountered in the committee, in that Ireland drags its heels...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Resourcing of Personal Assistance Services: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a very quick follow-up question. I noted the comments made by Ms Weldon on the assistive technologies not having budgets at the moment. In that bigger transformative picture on independent living I am very struck by the idea that there seems to be three or four pieces to it. We have focused a lot on the personal assistance service, which is core. In his previous contribution Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Resourcing of Personal Assistance Services: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Those points are for James or for any other witness who would like to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Resourcing of Personal Assistance Services: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We need investment in both.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Resourcing of Personal Assistance Services: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I could not speak before as I was not in the Leinster House precinct, but I am now. I have been really interested in the discussion. Others have spoken about the issue around electric bikes and that part of the electric vehicle picture, which intersects with that reallocation of road use and potentially, public transport, if we look at the links between bicycle cycling and public transport...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (14 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Chair. I am happy to substitute for Senator Black, who would have liked to be here. The Minister talked about the antiquated building in Holles Street. The concern is that we are continuing with an antiquated approach to healthcare in that a private voluntary body would be delivering healthcare to women rather than there being national delivery of such healthcare. That is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (14 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister is disbanding the National Maternity Hospital and replacing it with a new entity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (14 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not. It is a new governance structure in which the National Maternity Hospital will play a part.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (14 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No. I am proposing that the new national maternity hospital would be a national maternity hospital and that it would, as it already does, pay the same commissions, deliver the same services and so forth but that the ownership and the governance would be public and nationally delivered. I have limited time so I would like the Minister to address my questions on whether services will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (14 Jul 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No, I am asking what the difference is. What is the difference from its perspective? It is not just about whether the services will be available. How will they be available? The Minister mentioned that a person can potentially get an emergency abortion, for example. However, it is not listed on the HSE list of providers for voluntary terminations, for example.