Results 6,161-6,180 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am sorry I went over time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Youth Perspectives on the Circular Economy and COP27, including Climate Justice and Energy: Discussion (21 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the corporate Bill, I should be clear it is Senator Ruane’s Bill. Like me, the Senator is a member of the Civil Engagement Group. It was not an alternative to the labelling idea but rather related to what is called corporate accountability every year. The idea is that, as a whole, corporations would have to publish their emissions, much like we are doing now with requiring much...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will begin with pensions and then move on to some wider issues. While benchmarking and indexation of the State pension would be welcome, the concern relates to who will get the full pension. Changes were made to the State pension system in 2012. As of a couple of years ago, two thirds of those receiving the full contributory pension were men, with women making up only one third of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is a 30-year requirement on that total contributions approach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Mr. Lawler said less than half of women are qualifying for the full contributory pension under that system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is still very significant. Our remit here is gender equality and making sure we do not embed further gender inequality. We are talking about a situation where less than half of women are qualifying for the full contributory pension, so, on that point on benchmarking and indexation, if people are on a reduced rate, they will be below whatever the benchmarking and indexation rate is in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is very notable as it is almost exactly the same figure that we are spending on private pension tax relief. Has there been a comparative gender analysis of the gendered benefits of a universal pension costing €2 billion to €3 billion versus the private pension tax relief, which costs almost the exact same amount per year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Was it correct that the Commission on Pensions did not look to, if not removal, then removal or reform of that private pension tax relief? We know there is research that it predominantly benefits men on higher incomes and the Department might confirm that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: And a gendered analysis generally on the gap between the 20 years recognised for care that I had asked about and the 40-year threshold. I am concerned that only 20 years are recognised for care but we have moved to a 40-year contributory requirement. I want to know how that gets bridged. I also want to know if there has been a very robust gender analysis of all of these measures, including...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That does not cover private pensions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There was the final question on what is the Department's plan in regard to the gap between 20 years of care credits being recognised and a 40-year requirement for contributions. Of course, a 20-year working requirement is actually more than we had in 2012.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP27: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The witnesses' testimonies and debate have been really powerful. On loss and damage, it is important that we do not have a situation in which we are choosing between supporting a loss and damage facility and leading the way. Will the witnesses confirm that by taking the lead, as Denmark has done in taking an individual position and recognising that historic responsibility and committing, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP27: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will finish really quickly. I have just three really quick questions. On quantity, what does the timeline for doing our fair share on quantity need to look like? What of a fair share on mitigation? What do the next two to three years need to look like for Ireland to be credible about doing our fair share? I completely agree on fossil fuel non-proliferation. The Treaty on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP27: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will address two or three issues, one of which relates to loss and damage. Perhaps Mr. McLoughlin could confirm that loss and damage is not in any sense aid. One of the issues of concern in terms of other aspects of our climate financing is that it is meant to be new and additional. However, Ireland has described doubling the share of official development assistance, ODA, that could be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP27: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will leave it at that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP27: Discussion (25 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am concerned about the expansion of the treaty, but that is by the by and I am sure other members will pick up on that.