Results 1,001-1,020 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 70. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if further support is planned under the Covid stability programme given the ongoing challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the revenue of charitable and community organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60004/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 160. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to expedite the promised extension of the C2 bus route into Adamstown, Lucan, County Dublin; the timeframe for the delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59791/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 161. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the direct bus route from Dodsboro, Lucan, County Dublin into Dublin city centre at non-peak hours has been removed; if there are plans to reinstate this service to ensure that persons in Dodsboro are serviced at off-peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59792/21]

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: The integrity of our planning system can be summed up in one word - transparency. This means transparency in our planning laws, consultation, decision-making and appeals process. Pre-planning is a lesser known but very important part of the planning system, especially when it comes to large-scale developments. It is also a very important element of this Bill, which will deal with those...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for his reply on the specific question around websites, which was very encouraging. The websites worked very well when it came to SHDs, but there were some shortfalls. Part of that is the search engine optimisation issue. If one sits down and googles "Palmerstown + SHD" or "Lucan + SHD", one cannot automatically find the planning website for which one is looking. It...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I agree with what the Minister said around the regulations and why they are so badly needed. Also on a couple of points that were made around consistency, the guidelines provide such huge opportunity to give consistency. The Department, through the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, is working at the moment on rural housing guidelines to replace existing guidelines. Things like that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (8 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the budget allocation that will be required to administer half-price public transport to 19 to 23 year-olds as announced in Budget 2022; and the number of persons this measure will cover. [60641/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (8 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 172. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to introducing saliva tests for Covid-19 as an alternative testing method for those that struggle with PCR testing such as those with intellectual or mental disabilities. [60826/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I fully agree with the Tánaiste that we need to invest in innovation and science and continue to incentivise that, given we all rely on innovation and investment in science when it comes to the research and development of the vaccines that are saving lives throughout the world. This is a worldwide pandemic, which is why it is so important that initiatives such as COVAX are happening and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (9 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 104. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the statutory sick leave scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60493/21]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Gender Balance (9 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 147. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on Ireland’s progress in implementing gender quotas in corporate boardrooms as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality. [60494/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: On the topic of energy suppliers and the cost of utility bills, it is really important that we consider the number of people who, on the advice of the Government, are working from home. Working from home is having a huge impact on the cost of utility bills, as well as the general increases that we have been talking about today. Many people are spending a lot more time at home, which is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Generation (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I am really pleased to hear the Minister of State confirm that we have secure electricity supplies. It was not long ago that we heard the leader of the Opposition predict that the Government would not be able to keep the lights on this winter. Scaremongering like that can have a profound impact, especially when it happens in this Chamber. I am pleased to hear the Minister of State confirm...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I want to use this opportunity to put a query to the Minister of State that I got through my constituency office from a couple-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: It is. This relates to a couple living in Lucan who wish to install a new solar panel system which is coming in at a cost of €9,000. They are hoping to apply for, and are likely to get, the grant for €3,000 towards that. That still leaves a shortfall of €6,000. Would couples like that be eligible for the no-interest loans that the Minister of State is speaking about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: 40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if local authorities will receive support in 2021 and 2022 to help fund anti-dumping initiatives. [61307/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: My question is related to the previous one in that it concerns illegal dumping. Will additional money be made available next year to fund anti-dumping initiatives?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: That update was really great to hear. Unfortunately, littering and fly-tipping have become bigger and bigger issues recently. I commend the work of Tidy Towns throughout the country and particularly in my areas of Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Saggart, Brittas, Newcastle and Lucan. They do tremendous work using some of the grant funding the Minister of State mentioned and working with local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: That is really good advice and I will certainly pass it on to the county councillors in my area. Councillors Shirley O'Hara, Kenneth Egan, Vicki Casserly, Baby Pereppadan and others are doing a great deal of work to respond to littering in particular. Turning to on-street recycling, I acknowledge we have invested substantially throughout the pandemic in new bins for parks, villages,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Nov 2021)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of our guests who are here. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, in particular for all the updates she has given us thus far. I would like to ask the Minister of State for information on respite, in particular, when it comes to decongregation of residential respite. I work closely with Stewarts Care in Palmerstown which offers incredible residential and holistic...