Results 461-480 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I ask the Minister to give careful consideration not just to the common sense put forward in the reasonable proposals put forward by Sinn Féin here, but also the gender and equality issues which he must consider. I ask him to ask his colleagues in Government to re-evaluate this and assure us that he is not going to give some kind of a blanket long term provision of the 9% rate.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Announcement on Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (9 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I thank her in particular since, when the horrifying details of Tuam and the children there were being presented, she acknowledged that it was not unexpected. That was important, because we need to recognise that this issue was in the public realm and had been discussed. Something that the Minister addressed in her own speech and that we need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses for their clear presentations which contained valuable points for the committee. I have much to discuss but my time is limited so I will try to deal with a few key questions, to which any of the witnesses may respond. What we heard about the consultation is interesting, as it is a core starting point. What we heard is striking, especially in the presentation from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to make a suggestion. I know NACIS made a submission to the Pathfinder consultants. The Pathfinder report is only a summary of the submissions. Perhaps the original submissions could be examined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Money Advice and Budgeting Service Restructuring: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Pathfinder has been mentioned extensively. I note that the Pathfinder report said the current structures are working well in respect of exercising control of legal and financial compliance. The Pathfinder report also states that the structures that support core processes and local boards are established and work well. The report also states that the staff resources centrally of the Citizens...

Seanad: JobPath: Statements (21 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for the opportunity to discuss JobPath, which I recognise is one part of a comprehensive set of other measures we are discussing in the Committee on Social Protection. I have two or three questions on JobPath. A concern I have in respect of JobPath, and I would appreciate the opportunity to have it addressed, is that it saw a very rapid scaling up, with 60,000 talked...

Seanad: Death of Martin McGuinness: Expressions of Sympathy (21 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join in expressing condolences and paying tribute to the contribution which Martin McGuinness made to the lives of all on this island in moving through our history and shaping our future together. In my small number of encounters with him, Martin McGuinness was a very warm, generous and engaging person. He was somebody who knew what it was to live in history and have the weight of history...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not speak at length because Senator Grace O'Sullivan spoke very eloquently about what it means for the marine and Senator Nash gave the legal context. I add my concern to their voices.I am concerned in particular over the fact that the legislation seems to be extremely pre-emptive. It is coming at a time when we hear there are ongoing court cases, which is unusual. It is coming at a...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is an area that has become increasingly important also. I would like to understand exactly how we can ensure we are not damaging an industry of extreme importance along the west coast. I refer to sustainable practices in terms of food and the health benefits of seaweed. This is a huge area of concern. I am not confident and do not see how we can meaningfully regulate and be sure of...

Seanad: Pensions (Equal Pension Treatment in Occupational Benefit Scheme) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to express my support and that of the Civil Engagement group for Senator Bacik's Bill and commend the Labour Senators again on being consistent in using their Private Members' business to bring forward legislation that will improve the lives of a small number of people in our country. I join my colleagues in commending David Parris and Gerhard Scully for not just their bravery but...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Common Travel Area: Department of Justice and Equality (23 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the officials for their testimony. We have received some assurances for EU nationals to ensure their free passage within Ireland would not be affected. I am concerned for non-EU or third country nationals. We have heard about the British-Irish visa scheme which has been significant. As has been said, we have benefited from large increases in the numbers of tourists from China and...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join others in expressing concern about the Bus Éireann dispute.Much of the debate has focused on whether the Minister should get involved. The Minister is involved and is the major funder, along with the Government, of Bus Éireann. The point was made during a previous debate with the Minister in the House that this is an area of investment. We do not ask whether our schools...

Seanad: An Garda Síochána: Statements (28 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for joining us in the House. What we have been hearing about in the past few days is either a matter of the most extraordinary inefficiency or a serious malpractice. I believe the scale and the fact that it took place in every district in Ireland seems to point strongly to the latter, and that we are looking at issues of malpractice. We are looking at potentially not...

Seanad: An Garda Síochána: Statements (28 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My apologies. Members of An Garda Síochána are the guardians of the peace and the public and our serving gardaí need to have peace of mind. I urge the Tánaiste to take serious action to deliver it.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Cathaoirleach did not ask if the amendment was being pressed.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is likely that many of the amendments will not be moved.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak briefly to the group. In principle, when a notice is published in respect of a proposed by-law it should have already been screen. We do not want to see by-laws published where there is a 90 period and there is information missing. We would expect that if Waterways Ireland is publishing by-laws, it would have already ensured that all of the necessary screenings and checks are...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies. I did not realise. I have spoken on it and will not need to speak to it again. These are pragmatic proposals. I look forward to the Minister's response. As I say, in our group we do not intend to press the other amendments at this time but in respect of these amendments, in deciding to press we need to hear the Minister's response in respect of these issues.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Did the Minister just say that the Department already writes to Waterways Ireland and the local authorities?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As the proposer of the amendment, I can confirm that if the Minister was to indicate she was happy to look at what might be an appropriate review mechanism, we would be happy to withdraw the amendment until Report Stage. We thought that 36 months seemed like a reasonable period. The Minister might like to consult with Waterways Ireland, but we need a review mechanism.