Results 5,201-5,220 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that exclusions are very difficult. I have studied procurement law and realise that if one does have an exclusion then one is more likely to be challenged. This is why it is really good to have price quality from the beginning, otherwise when a company with a poor track record offers the lowest price then one must award it the contract unless one goes through a formal exclusion...

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise and finally I will mention the rights component.

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, line 37, to delete “shall” and substitute “may”. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 do not directly conflict with each other but can be combined in a set of three ways. Like Lego pieces, we will see how best to fit them together. Section 6 deals with the guidelines for social considerations. These are areas of State policy on things...

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The other option is to amend it on Report Stage. Perhaps it would be useful if the Minister of State indicates whether his preference is for "shall consider" or "may comply" because-----

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perfect. In that context, I am happy to withdraw my amendments with the agreement that we put it forward as worded by the Minister of State on Report Stage.

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I note the guidelines on social considerations proposed in this Bill would complement and expand those contained in the 2019 circular. I was very actively engaged with the OGP at that time on the development of that circular because I also dealt with legislation on these issues in the period of the last Oireachtas. I understand and appreciate the situation in respect of emergency provisions...

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In that case, I withdraw my amendment with the indication to come back with the revised wording as discussed.

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 8, line 37, to delete “comply” and substitute “consider”. Again, there is agreement to come back with a revised wording.

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (18 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Exactly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It would be good to just correct the record. Ms Murphy referred to the land being given to the State, but it is clearly not being given in the context mentioned. I wish to be clear about this point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The rent is €850,000, which will be waived to €10 annually, as Ms Murphy has elaborated on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to be clear on this aspect. Ms Murphy mentioned the fact of the hospital clause. Again, actually, nobody has disputed that as the permitted use. I refer to a maternity, gynaecological and obstetrical municipal hospital. The particular issue highlighted was the phrase "clinically appropriate". I would appreciate our guests commenting on this aspect, in respect of their preference...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Are we therefore discussing four to five hospitals being built on this site over time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As I understand it, the National Maternity Hospital has the option to sell and move on from its leasehold, but that may not be an option in this-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will just ask if the legal question I have asked-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was due in-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As I was skipped, I would just ask that the record be corrected in relation to a Canon Law comment that was made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank our guests and as I am conscious of the limited time, I will ask four sets of questions. First, I will ask about an area of concern, that is, the permitted use constraint on which we have heard multiple interpretations here. I believe it was mentioned by one of the speakers today that this related to ensuring that this would be a maternity hospital. However, as there is language...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: New National Maternity Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My time is limited so I am not interested in hearing the history of the phrase. I am interested in hearing the position of St. Vincent's Healthcare Group. At this moment there have been calls for the phrase to be defined and removed. What is the group's position on both aspects?