Results 5,861-5,880 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In that context I think it would require-----

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is a very significant area and requires a lot more scrutiny.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is an area that requires-----

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for taking our recommendations on board. This will improve the transparency of the operation of the commission.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome this amendment, although I still have some concerns about the powers and operation of authorised officers. I have not submitted any Report Stage amendments in that regard but this is an area that could merit further revision in the Dáil. Transparency around the rules for the conduct of authorised officers is a very important step forward and I thank the Minister for that.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 128: In page 117, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “(aa) where the content appears to the Commission to fall within the category of age-inappropriate online content defined in section 139D, requiring the provider to restrict access to the content to persons who have attained the age of 18 years, or”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I think this is the last grouping we will discuss so I want to say I am deeply appreciative of the genuine and sincere engagement of the Minister and her officials. It was thoughtful and constructive. We have met for many, many hours in addition to the many, many hours of debate in the Chamber. I believe the Bill has been strengthened by that. I want to acknowledge the Minister's...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Again, I thank the Minister. I will move and withdraw the different amendments in due course.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 135: In page 132, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(aa) support cultural and social participation and access to programming for users of the Irish Language and Irish Sign Language,”.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a few initial questions, with the first one on procurement, which I have been considering. I might come back in later as I am going through the hard copy of the full report. I have produced legislation and engaged with officials in the Department on quality public procurement. The use of price quality approaches means that rather than going with the lowest price that meets the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is demolition included?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Before Ms O'Loughlin responds on the equality issue, I have a quick follow-up question on the cost-benefit aspect. In the climate committee's report on transport, one of the issues we identified was the concern that the cost-benefit approach used on major transport and other projects did not really give a weighting to the idea of induced impact. It was very much based on a demand-centred...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a quick follow-up to that. I should mention that I am also a member of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality. I know that we will be talking about gender mainstreaming and equality. We might look at the very good individual projects that are listed on pages 115 to 117, many of which specifically relate to supporting equality in the context of certain targeted groups Ms O'Loughlin...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. Hearne. My final question is on that because that is exactly what we hope will happen; that it will become a different kind of approach. Ultimately, I focused on budget really although as Mr. Hearne said, this is around public service performance in that sense. This question is about public service performance - I know I mentioned procurement so this is not necessarily around...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The point on outcomes versus output is important. I will give an example, although it is not in the remit of this committee, from the area of home care. There is a concern that much is contracted out and the outputs can become X units of dinners made and X hours, whereas the outcomes in terms of qualitative outcomes for persons receiving care are crucial. In the end the money is part of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would say that pensions is the issue I would choose for this committee. I ask the witnesses to have a look at private pension tax relief from an equality perspective. I will leave it at that. The Vice Chairman has been very indulgent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On Enterprise Ireland, there was quite a high estimate of the potential sales from client companies, but I noticed that figure was not available. Are there areas such as that where we are giving a public input into Departments, especially Enterprise, Trade and Employment, but for commercial sensitivities we are not getting to see either the outputs or outcomes? Building on the discussion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay. Across Europe, there has been this realisation. It is why the recovery and resilience fund is framed in a slightly different way. I regret that last decade, however, because I feel that we could have done many things better in that period. I thank the witnesses for answering my questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Service Performance Report: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (22 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses.