Results 6,121-6,140 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A truism that is constantly put forward in the context of all boards is that we need boards to be much smaller. It is a message that comes out again and again but without evidence.In general, with regard to "nothing about us without us" and all these other principles for which we argue in different ways, there should be an openness to moving to 13 if that is the case. It is not so much to...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 10, line 30, to delete “2” and substitute “3”. I will speak to the grouping because amendment No. 4 is consequential on the other amendments in this grouping. The core of this grouping is amendment No. 6, which would delete the provision in the Bill as stands that the Attorney General would sit on the judicial appointments...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Returning to my amendments, which relate to the Attorney General, if amendment No. 6 is not successful, I will not move amendment No. 11 so you will have it all to yourselves. I will certainly be opposing it if amendment No. 6 is not successful. The statements here have made the case for my amendments. I have not opposed the political stage of the process. My amendments do not seek to...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: We might be better to have separate responses. I have very specific questions. I welcome the Taoiseach to the committee. In his opening statement, he specifically mentioned committing to holding a referendum on Article 41.2 of Bunreacht na Éireann but, as he will be aware, the recommendations of the citizens' assembly relate not only to Article 41.2 but also, crucially, Article 41.3...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: On Article 41.3, the specific aspect I want to focus on is the recommendation on the family. Under Article 41.3 at the moment, the definition of "the Family" really only entails the marital family. That has a very real impact. We have spoken about lone parents where 25% of all the families in Ireland are single-parent households. That is 25% of all our families who are not recognised as...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I must also mention what is useful for us. To be honest, there is very wide agreement in this committee but the information we do not have is on the questions or concerns that the Government has, including from the Attorney General and others. This is why we have constitutional experts who are coming to meet with the committee and who have spoken to us. We have legal experts on the...

Seanad: Poverty and Social Exclusion: Motion (19 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not think I am the ultimate word. I am following some very powerful and true speeches about what poverty is and they are pointing to one of the key asks. I have heard the Minister of State speak about poverty, but the nub of what we are asking for here is the idea of the independent voice on poverty: the Combat Poverty Agency. I want to bring us back a little bit and talk about why we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was not on the premises so I could not speak until now. We have covered so much, I am not going to get the witnesses to repeat things. What was mentioned about Independents is interesting, speaking as an Independent Senator within an Independent Senator group who are all women. There is something there around the signal it sends and the signal that gets sent. I have a specific...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The question is not the suitability of the Attorney General as part of the process. The question is where he or she fits in the process and that danger and concern of him or her being involved twice in the process, as we heard in the debate. There is a role for the Attorney General in the second part of the process where nominations have been suggested but not made, with the names of...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand the Government is not accepting any of my amendments to this section.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Then I am not going to press amendment No. 4. Amendment No. 6 is consequential on this and it might miraculously pass.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, to delete line 32.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 9 is in this grouping. It also makes it clear that one of the laypersons appointed should be nominated by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. This is fundamental. It was fundamental in the understanding we had during pre-legislative scrutiny. It was in the original heads of the Bill. When I do pre-legislative scrutiny I look to make sure that all of the relevant...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not that there are a lot of bodies and that it would be nice to have them represented. This is quite different. Yes, there are lots of different interest groups and expert groups, but we have outlined the fact, that, with respect, has not been addressed, that the public duty and equality and human rights are a statutory obligation. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 10, line 33, after “13” to insert “of whom one shall be nominated for appointment by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission”. I will withdraw the amendment and bring it back on Report Stage, when I will call "Vótáil" on it. I hope the Minister will reconsider the matter in the meantime.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 11: In page 11, to delete lines 5 and 6.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 11, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(4) The Attorney General shall not, as a member of the Commission, play a role in the selection or recommendation of persons for appointment to judicial office in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court or District Court.”.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 13: In page 11, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(4) The Attorney General shall not, as a member of the Commission, play a role in the selection or recommendation of persons for appointment to judicial office in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal or High Court.”. I will withdraw the amendment. I reserve the right to bring it back...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14: In page 11, after line 38, to insert the following: “(5) The Commission shall not appoint a person as a consultant or advisor where— (a) that person is a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas, or has been a member in the preceding 2 years, (b) that person has served as a Minister of the Government in the preceding 5 years, (c) that person has...