Results 421-431 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: The River Dunkellin was dredged in 1907 by the British Government and that is the last time it was dredged. That is frankly ridiculous. If we do not dredge it quickly-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: -----we will contribute to bigger flooding issues in the future. The situation is much the same with the River Clarin in Athenry which burst its banks for the same reason and destroyed several homes in the Caheroyan area. While I have no intention of interfering with the planning process, I call for a little bit of reality to attach to proposals to deal with flooding in south Galway. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: -----to safety in their homes. We need flesh on the bones of commitment when it comes to providing flood relief. The time for talking is over. We need decisions. We need a legislative timeframe within which decisions from An Bord Pleanála will be delivered. That is the only way we can bind them so the people of east Galway do not have to wait an eternity for decisions which are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care Education (16 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to address my former director of elections in the Chamber. How different things were this time last year. I ask the Minister of State if there have been any moves by his Department to introduce a salary scale for workers in the child care industry to ensure that their qualifications are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care Education (16 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: And a wonderful director of elections he was.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I commend a parish priest in Ashbourne, County Meath, for the novel approach he has taken to confirming children in his parish. Usually children who are being confirmed take a pledge not to consume alcohol until they reach 18 years of age. Fr. Darby is insisting that children take a different pledge not to cyberbully others. He has also invited gardaí to speak at masses, from the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank Senator Byrne. I know she is a constituent of his. It is great to see this proactive measure being taken. It is a great move but it is only happening because there is a legislative vacuum in this area, which is a huge failure. Many people have contacted me over the past year and a half with concerns about online abuse and so on which I have documented in this House, particularly...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (20 Jan 2016)

Lorraine Higgins: That is no problem at all. I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise the issue of flooding with the Minister of State, who has been to Galway and knows that south Galway was particularly badly affected. We badly need a resolution. Any proposal for flood relief measures in south Galway should be sensible and realistic and should provide a real assurance to local families, businesses,...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (20 Jan 2016)

Lorraine Higgins: I just need 30 seconds. They interfered with a number of turloughs in the area. Given that I would not build a house on a turlough, I do not expect the State to build motorways in turloughs without having any adverse effects on the local community. We are seeing this now. We need to examine European directives. I propose that the State go to Europe and seek a relaxation of laws on...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (20 Jan 2016)

Lorraine Higgins: I am nearly finished. This is a very important point to my constituency and I want to make it.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (20 Jan 2016)

Lorraine Higgins: I only need 30 seconds. The people affected by flooding in south Galway need workable solutions. The time for talking is over. I would welcome any action that can be taken regarding my proposals. I commend the Minister of State on all he has done so far and the empathy he has shown to the families. They need workable solutions going into the future. I would appreciate it if the Minister...