Results 6,841-6,860 of 8,235 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner (9 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Commissioner to the House on Europe Day, as we are reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership. When we look to what is valued by citizens in Ireland and why there is that trust of Europe, it is that legacy that Europe had in helping create the collective momentum for change in areas such as gender equality, workers' rights, LGBT rights and environmental...

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I wish to share time with Senator Ruane. I welcome the Minister to the House. We are proposing this legislation today to address a number of the key issues and gaps in terms of our electoral law with an overarching aim of enhancing democratic participation and voting rights. As we celebrated Vótáil 100 only a couple of years...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to mention one final issue that is related. There has been an 87% increase in complaints. What issues are those complaints largely relating to? Will Mr. Gannon comment on what measures have been taken to address the fact that Meta was not charged for 18 months?

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister may be looking forward to ongoing discourse. I am quite tired of ongoing discourse because, with respect, the discourse has moved backwards. In the last Oireachtas the Government pretended it wanted to deliver Seanad reform. In the current Oireachtas, the Government has removed it from the programme for Government. It is clear it has taken only the action it has been forced...

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I say that with absolute personal respect for the Minister. I know the Green Party would have liked this to be in the programme for Government, but frankly that is why we will have to press this. I think an opportunity has been missed to bring light to this issue, and to move it forward. The Minister should bear in mind that every time the public has been asked the question, in 2013 and in...

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is what is happening. I welcome the Minister's engagement on the vote at 16. In terms of timelines that is urgent, because we have elections coming in May 2024. As my colleagues have mentioned, this is not just something that has been proven to work. The European Parliament has asked countries to ensure that 16-year-olds can have a say. I was part of the future of Europe process...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support the points made regarding the Inagh river. What has happened is a tragedy and also a crime. It is a terrible thing when we lose nature in that way. The time we have to regain and protect it is running out. As well as enforcement of the laws and EU directives on protecting our waterways and habitats, it is important that we ensure all the bodies and instruments of the State are...

Seanad: Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: First Stage (11 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Turf Development Act 1946 and the Forestry Act 1988 in order to reflect obligations regarding climate action and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in the mandate and functions of the organisations established under those Acts.

Seanad: Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: First Stage (11 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a very interesting discussion. I wish to pick up on the discussion of previous fiscal rules. Mr. Barnes mentioned the one-twentieth rule and how poorly thought-out it was. I am concerned that there is not a sufficient evolution from the previous fiscal rules. Regarding consequences, I think Mr. Barnes mentioned the lack of enforceabilty and compliance but the consequences have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Politically, the assumption should be that major factors can and will change. One such factor, which is not speculation and we know is a major factor, is climate. While Ireland may be in a position to invest in climate, I am very concerned that climate is not something that can be tackled as one country. The EU, for example, needs to tackle it collectively, as indeed does the world. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In climate, countries are being asked to adjust downwards, potentially year on year, at a time when we know major transitions involved in climate require front-loaded expenditure. Some of that front-loaded expenditure, as we have mentioned, is not going to be reflected in four- or seven-year profit or growth figures. It is going to be preventative in that it will be reflected in the ten- to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am looking to the fact that the 60% and the 3% are arbitrary constructs and, while we need to set a construct perhaps somewhere, the climate science is quite clear and is a very hard science in that regard. It is a concern. The fiscal rules have had an impact. I mentioned the example of leasing. If we look forward, another example, which is a consequence of the previous application, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is broadly acknowledged that there have been problems with the rules. To be clear, it is not a simple matter of public expenditure that caused the crisis. It was speculation. Part of it is areas of the economy being left in a space for speculation, which can prove to be expensive and inflationary. We have seen, for example, significant inflation in respect of housing costs that is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is fine, Chair. I have waited until last. I will outline my points here if I can have answers on two issues in respect of the potential role of the independent fiscal institutions, IFIs. In respect of debt sustainability assessments and the assumptions that go into them, does IFAC see a role for itself in the input of those assumptions and, for example, does the council see that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is that just financial risks, just to clarify the point, or is there a space for incorporating those other risks with regard to preventative risks and spending?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Examination of EU Fiscal Rules (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (10 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is that within the carbon budgets at an EU and the national level? Do the carbon budgets sit within that or does this budgetary framework sit within the carbon envelope or carbon budget, effectively?

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (16 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “Report on operation of Scheme 2.(1) The Minister shall produce a report which will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas 12 months after the Scheme has commenced. (2) A report under this section shall consider the following matters: (a) whether and to what extent persons engaged in the...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (16 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have some specific questions that need answering. I have been informed that amendments Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, which were on the definition of "relevant person", have been ruled out of order. That makes these amendments, Nos. 1 and 15, which try to address who is included as a relevant person, all the more important in reviewing it. I have some questions for the Minister because these...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Committee Stage (16 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister. I wish to speak on a number of matters and indicate areas whereby if the Minister is sincere in what he is discussing, there is scope for him to bring changes. We had hoped that perhaps the concerns that had been raised right across the House - I acknowledge the members of Government parties who raised their concerns - would mean that something different would be done...