Results 6,661-6,680 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will direct most of my questions to the representatives from the Department. Mr. Carberry's contribution was useful in that it gave us a sense of the mechanics of how things are applied. To what extent has the Department embedded the SDG framework in its work plans? We heard about some of the pilot and flagship projects. This was one aspect we have been hearing about. I refer to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had a number of other questions. A quick one was on another important pair of examples. One is on upland areas and the protection of mountain ecosystems, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----on climate finance-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Sure. I will literally-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They will not have time to speak again, so I will be quick. Climate finance is specifically named as one of the Department's targets. Ireland's share is estimated to be €475 million. Why are we not achieving that? The plan is for €225 million, but there does not appear to be a justification for that figure. Are the witnesses concerned that our credibility when chairing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am finished.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No. It is actually the Department first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I might ask about SDG 13.A.1 on financing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I asked about the budget. I was not inquiring about the programme for Government commitment, but about our obligation under the SDGs, which is estimated at €475 million since 2020. I am concerned that the Department of Foreign Affairs is now being talked about as the lead Department. The consensus is that this funding is not overseas development aid but a separate commitment under...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Beyond climate maybe, as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have also asked about budget lines.

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was very happy to co-sign the amendment and I am very happy to second it. The amendment is very important. I have tabled a number of amendments that relate to specific aspects of the Valletta Convention and how it should be applied to the different parts and functions including those of the Minister of State under the Bill. I am placing it alongside some of the other conventions such as...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 34, line 18, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for indicating that, if there are areas of concern relating to the Valletta Convention, he is willing to consider them. Some of the later amendments relate to areas where the Bill falls short of the convention in specific ways. I hope we will have a chance to follow through on the promise of engagement. In one way, this amendment is simple. It changes the...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I imagine that tabular information would be welcome. There are concerns, which we will come to later, around the potential impacts of certain activities under the Bill and the impact in terms of what is designated or not. There is an almost protective element which I am concerned about regarding compliance with the Valletta Convention. I am also concerned, which we will come to later in...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 34, line 24, after “archaeological” to insert “, cultural or linguistic”.

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendments Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, reflect the pre-legislative scrutiny recommendation by the joint committee around inserting cultural value into the Bill, and specifically inserting it in amendment No. 3 into the same section. As I said, this is the narrow portal currently phrased as: .. shall not exercise [the powers around the designation] ... unless he or she is of the opinion that...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I urge the Minister of State to push back on this use of the term "uncertainty". With everything we do in legislation, we do not know how exactly it will be used. Thus, when the Minister of State speaks of uncertainty with respect to the cultural heritage piece, for example, I hear it as him saying we do not know how it will be used. However, that is not a bad thing. If we were doing...

Seanad: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is important that "historic" is placed alongside "archaeological" because otherwise------