Results 861-880 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have so much more to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Can the Acting Leader clarify who will be taking the debate on PESCO in the Dáil today?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Subsequent to Taoiseach's questions, will the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, be available?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is an unfortunate and indelicate time to be pushing this through when we are negotiating Brexit.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My amendment seeks that the Tánaiste and Minister, Deputy Coveney, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, or another Minister come to the House for a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: By way of clarification, my amendment seeks that the Taoiseach or a representative of the Government would come to the House for the debate. I believe it is important that those in this House who have concerns have the opportunity to put those concerns on record before this decision is rushed through tomorrow. I trust that the Acting Leader will nonetheless follow through in ensuring that...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We could accept an alternative representative today.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Second Stage (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House. I first acknowledge there are some positive measures in the Bill which has been put forward. I will, of course, be supporting those measures. There are some progressive elements, particularly in respect of maternity benefit. With regard to the payment increases, we must note that those on reduced rates will not be receiving €5 extra including,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Dr. O'Sullivan for her presentation. I want to pick up on a couple of the themes that have come up. As we will produce a report, we want to gather data to inform the recommendations we bring forward. I want to focus on two areas. The first, which was touched by Deputy O'Dea, is the question of compulsion. This has been a key debating point and Dr. O'Sullivan talked about it very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to elaborate on that. It is perhaps the case that people are not able to be part of the vanguard of the jobs of the future. We know that in some cases people are getting degrees now for jobs that have not been invented yet because the workplace is changing. This is something we afford to all our young people when they choose their courses through the CAO but we do not do it for others.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 3:In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"86. The Minister for Finance shall ensure that Budget 2019 is gender and equality proofed and accompanied by an Equality Statement.".

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This recommendation relates to the potential for ensuring budget 2019 is gender-proofed, equality-proofed and accompanied by an equality statement. I recognise that progress has been made in this area. I am making this proposal again now because we did not have an opportunity to debate it fully on Committee Stage. I am disappointed that budget 2018 does not deliver on the Government's...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the recognition of the SWITCH model which has been used to date. While it captures the distributive effects, it misses many other social impacts, as we have been flagging. I know that it has been flagged by the community and voluntary pillar to a significant extent. We need to look beyond the distributive effects and consider the social impacts. In terms of their assessment, has...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not press the recommendation.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw it, but I would like a response first.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw my recommendation for now, but I will continue to press the issue.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Have we skipped a recommendation?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to clarify whether recommendation No. 2 was taken.