Results 5,941-5,960 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: While it is useful to reference the principal Act in respect of amendment No. 11, in terms of a "revenue offence", I feel quite strongly about amendment No. 8 and, indeed, the principles in amendments Nos. 9 and 10. An offence as constituted in that section is potentially extremely wide. We do not want a situation where there is a suspicion that a minor offence will become a justification...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Are we not on amendments Nos. 8 to 11?

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise. I will come to them in a moment.

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I accept the argument that there is a clarification to a degree on what constitutes a “revenue offence” in other legislation. However, in terms of the powers of An Garda Síochána in this section, I think that including the word "serious" as a parameter when describing an offence is an important safeguard in accessing data. I would not want a situation whereby a very...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a disjoint. I understand that the Minister is addressing the court ruling, but we are also addressing what we believe to be good and best practice. I still have concerns in respect of this issue. I am especially concerned in the context of surveillance in the State, as was mentioned. There have previously been some very bad ideas floated in terms of what might be done in that...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is important to be clear that our amendment specifically states that we want to add the word "serious". Our amendments are not in respect of whether serious offences would be a basis. Our amendment specifies that it would be "serious" offences. I note that the word "criminal" is not referenced in the Bill but the term "an offence" is. So we think that "a serious" offence is a...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I share the same concerns as my colleague. We have raised our concerns when discussing other matters like the use of CCTV cameras. It is that idea of "preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting offences". We have tabled two amendments regarding "preventing". Perhaps the Minister might clarify what is meant by "detecting". Amendment No. 9 seeks to delete the word...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have not sought to remove the phrases pertaining to investigating or prosecuting offences. Where an offence is being investigated, of course it is appropriate that the data can be accessed. What we have addressed is the question of prevention and detection. It needs to be seen alongside the wide definition of "offences" that is given here. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 11: In page 8, line 33, after “a” to insert “serious”.

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 12 In page 8, line 36, to delete “preventing,”.

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be delighted to anyway.

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With regard to the question on the definition of "journalist", the Minister is aware that as recently as last year Opposition Members in the other House have proposed legislation on the protection of journalists and clarifying exactly the definition of a journalist in law. They asked whether we should look to the National Union of Journalists for a definition or look at international...

Seanad: Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I echo what has been said. The Minister of State has acknowledged that this is a really important set of suggestions. During the year I spent on the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, this came through again and again. If there are 40 children in an area who need supports at primary school, we should know that, X number of years ahead, we will have the same number of children needing...

Seanad: Night-time Economy: Motion (13 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I start by welcoming the Minister to the House and indicating my support for the motion. I add my voice to that call. It was a pity to see a Government amendment to the motion being put forward, given that so much of what we have heard has been in agreement. Senator Warfield's motion opens by directly acknowledging the positive elements in the Government motion. It literally opens by...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister of State is speaking to the amendments made in the Dáil. Senator Boylan is referring to our proposed Seanad amendments. There are two sets of amendments being discussed.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 1 seeks the deletion of the new subsection (6) inserted via the Dáil amendments into section 32B of the principal Act. That subsection inserted by the Minister provides that a request from a large-scale residential development applicant may include a request that the meeting be treated as a meeting for the purposes of an application under a section 32I. Amendment No. 2...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is why I must speak to the full grouping now.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. I was making the point that it would have been useful to have the Minister of State rather than me outlining what is happening with the sections to be inserted, and where our permission for them to be inserted has been requested. We would have been clear about what they were doing.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. That is what I spoke to in outlining the amendments.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (14 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As I understand it, my amendments Nos. 1 and 2 seek the removal of measures to be inserted by the Minister in group 3. Is that correct? I am not using my speaking slot now but seeking clarification in respect of the grouping. It is the problem and may be why what the Minister of State outlined is disjointed compared with the grouped amendments. My amendments respond to the principle on...