Results 981-1,000 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have had enough slander of the homeless without attributing that those who are on the street are all part of an organised campaign. Let us be clear about that.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If I do not come in now can I speak the next time?

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will let Senator Dolan speak.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I acknowledge the extensive work of the Minister of State and her staff as well as successive Ministers on the Bill and thank them for it. It is important that consultation has been held with TUI, IMPACT, USI and the Technological Higher Education Association. I was glad to see the Minister of State accept a number of amendments in the Dáil. Some of them were very constructive and...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will skip ahead to all of the areas of concern around the Bill. I have discussed with the Minister of State and others the amendments that I will probably table. First, a students' union needs to be recognised as a students' union and to include "other student representative body" is not adequate or acceptable and this cannot be allowed go through. Any of us who have worked in a union...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will conclude on this. A key concern is that the Bill provides for "at least one and not more than 2" students on the governing board of a technological university. What about where we have three campuses? For example, there may be a campus in Galway, Sligo and Mayo. It is important that a student from each institute of technology feeding into the process would be part of the governing...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Although I understand the reasons, I am disappointed to note that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, will not be joining us. I hope the Leader will ensure that we have a debate with the Minister in the near future, as it has been promised for many months. I welcome the comments on the Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 that we put...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will come to my conclusion, but this is an important point. When Members of all sides raised legitimate concerns about regional development-----

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----they were told not to talk down rural Ireland. We heard a previous Taoiseach telling us not to talk down the economy. Let us be open to dialogue.

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Although I am very happy to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to the House, I note we have been promised a debate, and we will need to have one, with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on some of these issues in the future because I understand many of them fall within his remit. Nonetheless, I look forward to the engagement with Minster of State, Deputy Cannon. I was happy he spoke...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that while the European branch of that entity may be in difficulty, it is important that we recognise the role of that entity within the Oireachtas and make sure it is continued to ensure people have a space for more parties to engage in issues that affect Ireland, Europe and Africa. In respect of Irish Aid, we have had a long-standing commitment to the 0.7% of gross national...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect to Brexit, I will not speak in detail on it as I imagine we will have a chance to debate it further, but I want to highlight two issues. First, it is welcome that the Tánaiste met the joint committee on human rights. The principle of human rights equivalence is a vital, if somewhat neglected, pillar of the Good Friday Agreement. That question of human rights equivalence...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The issue on which I wanted to focus is PESCO. I will need to speak to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, because this deeply affects his work on disarmament. I have to correct the record in the context of the Minister of State's speech. He said PESCO is provided for in the Treaty on European Union which was approved by Irish people. Let us be very clear, the opportunity to opt in or out of...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay, I will adjourn but only on the-----

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had to redirect my speech because we did not have the debate that we had been promised and I did try to address the Minister of State's brief, out of respect to him.

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: However, I note that we will be returning to PESCO and we will need clear assurances as to how the Minister addresses the use of those weapons and military equipment which Ireland jointly purchases. It is a very clear question. There is no mechanism to deal with it.

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Will the implementation on PESCO-----

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a concrete question. Will the implementation plan on PESCO be published-----

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----and will it be brought to these Houses and voted upon? That is my final question.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Which amendments are we discussing?