Results 1,041-1,060 of 3,479 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning disability services with the UNCRPD and considering the future system and innovation: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: Wow, okay. That is huge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning disability services with the UNCRPD and considering the future system and innovation: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: It does. It shows how big a challenge it is. I thank Mr. Broadhead for taking the time to go through that and for staying on the call. I am sure it is late at this point where he is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I am here in Leinster House. I wish to thank the witnesses and, in particular, Anois, for sending in a comprehensive that we looked at in our private meeting in advance of today's session. It is really impressive and comprehensive and contains a lot of information to tackle the misinformation that is out there regarding dereliction. I come from the private sector, which I worked in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: Perhaps I could hear from Mr. Grimes on how Waterford City and County Council could help. There are probably bodies that Dublin City Council could be engaging with, for example, in terms of the Local Authorities Members Association and the Association of Irish Local Government doing information sessions for other councillors who could in turn start working with their local authorities a bit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: Chair, we are finished bang on time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I am going to shift the conversation a little, if that is okay, to the vacant site levy. In his opening statement, Mr. Shakespeare identified a couple of challenges with that. One is that no interest is payable. He pointed to the appeals mechanism being there at every stage and being cumbersome and difficult for local authorities to overcome. As we move to the new zoned land tax, are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: I suppose that value appeal will be an issue for us again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Emer Higgins: That is helpful. I thank the witnesses.

Violence Against Women: Statements (19 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: The events of the past week have had a profound impact on our country. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to Ashling's family and to her boyfriend, friends, colleagues and all who knew and loved her. I hope that they take some solace from knowing that a nation stands behind them and that at vigils up and down the country people came together to share...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Online Safety (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: I will begin by thanking the Minister for progressing everything she is doing in terms of online safety and media regulation. I ask her to consider including an individual complaints mechanism for harmful online content in the legislation she is progressing. This is being called for by many of the NGOs that do such fantastic work in this space.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Online Safety (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am pleased the Minister has established this advisory group and that it has such a tight timeframe, 90 days, in which to report back. It is a very complex area, as we know. We need to make sure there is a path through which to escalate individual complaints. I appreciate that this would involve a large population because of so many companies having their EU headquarters here. If there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Online Safety (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: That sounds comprehensive and is really welcome. It is important that the online safety and media commission will have teeth. A few months ago, I attended a protest organised by young people who feel it is time we as a society faced up to Facebook. Social media companies of this type use algorithms to target people to sell advertisements and generate engagement. As we all saw when...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: Yesterday we saw an amazing show of cross-party support in this House on the matter of violence against women, an issue which sadly unites us all. In that vein, I want to extend that cross-party support again today because I was glad to see the Labour Party raising the matter of miscarriage leave. Miscarriage leave is something I have spoken about a number of times in this House and Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (19 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: 87. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Covid-19 business supports that are available to those in the dry-cleaning industry whose businesses are heavily reliant on the normal functioning of the hospitality, trade and business sectors; if he will consider extending the business supports available to the hospitality industry to those employed in the dry cleaning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (19 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: 485. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason that event companies are not included in the quarter 4 2021 commercial rates waiver administered by local authorities given the significant curtailment to events, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has directly impacted event companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63447/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (19 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: 740. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria on which DEIS status is awarded to a school; the rationale for excluding a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63454/21]

Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss this important legislation, which has been long awaited by many people. It follows years of repeated attempts over decades to legislate for information rights for adopted people, all of which ultimately failed. The critical need for this legislation has been recognised by all political parties, by stakeholder groups and by professionals working...

Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Second Stage (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this Bill. Building and construction regulation, or the lack thereof, has created major issues for homeowners in the past and, unfortunately, it continues to create problems. We have seen from the families impacted by mica and pyrite that issues with standards of building works and materials can have simply devastating consequences. I see at first hand...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Measures (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: 92. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the progress of establishing an expert group to review the possibility of introducing an individual complaints mechanism for harmful online content within the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2300/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Jan 2022)

Emer Higgins: 147. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the support available to businesses and performers under the live performance support scheme is sufficient given the ongoing restrictions on the night-time economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2299/22]