Results 5,461-5,480 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I give notice that I reserve the right to put forward further amendments to the Schedule. I have already indicated my concern that certain bodies, including the psychiatric institutions and others, may not be reflected here. Depending on how things evolve, I may seek amendments to the Schedule on Report Stage.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is an opportunity for the Title to better reflect the debate we have had and the nuances that have emerged over the course of that debate. I will not rehash all the points already made in respect of amendments Nos. 132 to 137, inclusive, which were grouped with other amendments, including the question of whether "incorrect" or "illegal" should be used. That was an important debating...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is all relevant to the Title, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, so-----

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is why I am using this opportunity to highlight to the Minister that I believe there may be scope in both the Title and in the provisions dealing with next of kin and the question of a tiered series of deaths to strengthen and improve the Bill in that regard. That is not an indictment of the Minister but, rather, a reflection, as I have highlighted-----

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----in certain other areas of the Bill, of previous embedded approaches to the notion of family and the notion of relationship that are very persistent and come through again and again. They need to be tackled everywhere they are manifest. I urge the Minister to reflect on that matter as we approach Report Stage, on which I look forward to his engagement.

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was in my office dusting off my "What is Plan B?" posters that we had from debates in the previous Oireachtas on the Heritage Bill. It was a debate on the related issue of habitat and the crucial requirement to protect hedgerows in the context of that legislation. The focus in particular was on habitats that are crucial for pollinators. At that point, we recognised the intrinsic role of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Deputy Clarke can ask supplementary questions now if she would like. I will come down in person for my own supplementary questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have an odd angle on it, so I will allow Senator Warfield to go first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The presentations were really interesting and covered interesting subjects. I am torn about what to speak on because I would like to ask about so many things. I wanted to pick up on the intersectional issue. I was glad to see it named. There are gender equality issues and also layered issues. We talked about the changing of the secondary curriculum, its decolonisation, gender-proofing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses for attending. There are lots of questions that I want to ask. It is very hard to decide where to go. In terms of the future, there seems to be a mandate for change. We heard from people who have been involved in the assembly that the citizens were really open to a reimagining of care. They were open not just to investing more in care, but doing it very differently....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. I have just a couple. I wish to pick up on where the conversation left off. If any of the witnesses have further thoughts on the Constitution element, we would be very interested in hearing them. We have examined the constitutional issues a lot from a legal perspective but, of course, they have significant implications for social policy, legislation and the kinds of measures put in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have one supplementary question which I forgot to mention when talking about the cost of care. I used to sit on the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and it was a long battle to get that cost of disability report by Indecon published. It is being looked at now with regard to those invisible costs that get carried by people who have a disability. It might be interesting for us to get...

Seanad: Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will do my best. I will be coming back on Committee Stage. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, to the House. The legislation is part of a wider set of proposals in Ireland and at EU level to address the climate and biodiversity crisis. This Bill is focused on the economy and how it fits within the planetary boundaries and our fair share of them in terms not just of...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I warmly welcome the Members of the Ukrainian Parliament and thank them for taking the time to address and listen to us and, most important, for putting the work of sovereignty into practice and demonstrating Ukraine as a sovereign state through its Parliament and parliamentarians and the continuation of Ukrainian Members' work representing the people of Ukraine in Kyiv and here. The proof...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This section has to do with the definition of "exceptional circumstances". My amendment suggesting definitions has not been successful. Ahead of Report Stage, I urge the Government to define the term further or to recognise the points I have raised. In European Court of Justice rulings, exceptional circumstances were clearly intended to exclude anything that could create an incentive,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Senator asked about EU law. There were specific rulings relating to previous regimes. I believe we are not satisfying those and that we are at risk. That is why I referenced those other components because those have been attached in this legislation. To be clear, we had a regime for substitute consent already. This legislation is not bringing that in. Of course there should be...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 8, to delete lines 30 and 31. I will withdraw this amendment because I have a concern about its placing. I believe I made a mistake. I will be coming back to this issue, specifically the matter of how the board might be satisfied about the assessments required for development, that is, the environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessment. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak briefly on the amendment. While there are aspects of amendment No. 11 that are constructive, I suggest it is important that there is like with like such that there is an independent review of the environmental impact, rather than just an assessment of the environmental, financial and community impact. A situation can be created whereby a good financial case outweighs concerns...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Given that the State has paid significant fines, there is a sense, be it in the context of the location or perhaps more in the dismantling of the turbines, that it should get be able to take from this. Senator McDowell's proposals are certainly very interesting and imaginative. If there was the prospect of nationalisation and community ownership of badly planned developments, it would be an...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have already highlighted many of the issues of concern. On section 13, many of the amendments regarding section 177E of principal Act are matters of concern, including the mechanism that allows for pre-application consultations with the board on proposed substitute constitute applications. There is also a measure, which is a key change, where there would no longer be a need to apply for...