Results 8,281-8,300 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There might not even be a sense of wanting to use this in situations where we are being blocked and, since the legislation allows, deployment not simply in situations where a UN veto is an issue but in any situation without concern about whether or not a UN mandate is sought.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This might be answered in writing afterwards but, on Senator Kyne's other point regarding the UN General Assembly, the 2006 Act is quite widely worded in how it allows Ireland to act in response to a UN General Assembly resolution. It uses about seven adjectives. It mentions forces supported or encouraged by the assembly. We are out of time but I would be interested in a response in...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are allowed to act on General Assembly resolutions, however.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Or an informal coalition.

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Work of Dóchas: Discussion (17 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is earlier than I expected to speak. I would like to begin where Ms McKenna left off in terms of the question about the multi-annual financial framework and the transactional point that was made. One of the things we are very proud of in Ireland, and it is really important, is the principle of untied aid. We are engaging in this for humanity rather than to further our interests in...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Work of Dóchas: Discussion (17 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To build on that point, how important has Ireland's neutrality and principle-based approach been in terms of acceptability, access and credibility? That is, Ireland being a neutral country and operating a principle-based rather than interest-based foreign policy. At a time when the need is so high and the crunch is so hard on every area of aid, what is the importance of still having...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to open by commenting on one important thing. We hear the line again and again that supply is the issue or supply is the problem. We need to be really clear that profiteering is the problem. That is the problem. Supply is important, but profiteering is what has been the obstacle in housing. I have seen it over the last ten years in these Houses, again and again. Senator Andrews...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will begin with a very short question and get a quick answer because of my limited time. Do the witnesses believe that the recent bombing by Israel of Iran falls under the definition of self-defence under the UN Charter?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is interesting because what we have heard is all about our alignment with the EU and a reference to the idea of a common EU foreign policy, which of course we do not have. It is important to say that. It is not an EU competency, but right now, we have Germany saying: This is the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us. I can only say [I have] the greatest respect for the fact...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, this is extremely important.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is extremely relevant.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, this is extremely important because it relates to-----

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like my time to be added to at the end because that was inappropriate.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is very relevant. From Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission: "Israel has the right to defend itself" in response to this action. From Mr. Emmanuel Macron: "Israel's right to defend itself". This is around the interpretation of international law, and that is why it is extremely relevant. The UN Charter refers to "self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is extremely relevant and this is inappropriate heckling.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, that is not true. I would like to continue uninterrupted and have my time at the end as well.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Why it is relevant is that this is around the interpretation of international law. As the witnesses have outlined, this is around how we will be interpreting the UN Charter. We have been told constantly there will be references to how the UN Charter is being interpreted. However, we are seeing at the same time a lot of language about the need to align with and...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On my second question, I am not going to focus on the question of-----

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is war an option? It sounds to me that is not the language the witness used around "responsibility to protect". That is not the language that is in this Bill. The language that is in the Bill is "strengthening international security". Do the witnesses believe that opens up a space where war is an option, and where actions beyond the principles of protection are applied, particularly in...