Results 1,121-1,140 of 3,479 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: Could we not write to them and ask whether the matter has been before them and could they give us a report? That would be useful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank our guests. I apologise for missing the start of this meeting as I had another committee meeting to attend simultaneously, as is often the case, unfortunately. I have read through the opening statements and it is good to get so many expert views on this issue. I particularly loved Dr. Greene's idea about a communications campaign relating to the register. I note there is provision...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: Yes, it is unfortunately.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: As the Taoiseach knows, the prices of everyday essentials and utility bills have risen substantially. In January inflation hit a high of 5% right across the eurozone. The people and families I represent need a targeted suite of measures to help to ease the burden on their household budgets. We need to help people. We need to help low-income families and our squeezed middle who do not...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Land Issues (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: My constituency colleagues have outlined the problem and we are all united in our desire for action on it. The centre has been planned for years and the local community is desperate to have it delivered. The centre will offer speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, a dental suite, a paediatric suite, GP suites and a mental health suite. These are much-needed...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Land Issues (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for her reply and for her acknowledgement of how significant an issue this is locally. It is great to hear that a decision on the disposal of the site has been reached. I ask the Minister to ensure that the disposal is seen through as urgently as possible. I welcome confirmation of the additional facilities for Collinstown Park Community College. I urge the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 506. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is pursing specific strategies to increase the number of women undertaking apprenticeship courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6107/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (8 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 505. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work that has been undertaken to improve the availability and affordability of student accommodation. [6106/22]

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome this Bill and the power it will give regulators to deal with anti-competitive practices by businesses. The Tánaiste has done a lot of work on this Bill and he has acknowledged that while the vast majority of businesses do not engage in anti-competitive practices, some businesses unfortunately do, be it offences such as bid-rigging, gun-jumping or unwinding certain mergers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (9 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 79. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff that are employed in each foreign embassy based in Ireland. [7009/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gender Balance (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 10. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the recommendation of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality that gender quota legislation should be enacted to require private companies to have at least 40% gender balance on their boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7023/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gender Balance (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: What are the Minister's views on the citizens' assembly on gender equality recommendation to provide for a gender quota of 40% in all private companies?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gender Balance (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for that response. His commitment to making change in this area and to further advancing women in leadership roles is reassuring. As he noted, I have brought forward my own Bill in this area supported by the National Women's Council of Ireland. The ambition behind it is to achieve better balance in boardrooms through quotas. I am really keen to see this progressed and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gender Balance (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Tánaiste. That is really encouraging to hear. That will be a success if the Government chooses to support this Bill and it becomes law. The Tánaiste has highlighted the business case for this and it is important we talk about that too. All the research tells us gender balance is better for business. Irish businesses need this as much as Irish society. Diversity of...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Vótáil Pharlaiminteach Chianda), 2020: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Remote Parliamentary Voting) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Deputy Carroll MacNeill for all her work on this and for bringing this Bill before the House. The fact that it has such strong cross-party support is welcome and good to see. That speaks to the fact that this Bill is a common sense one that would make life in politics more inclusive, family friendly and flexible in adapting to emergency situations when they arise. This is a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Programme for Government (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 17. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Programme for Government commitment to promote higher female labour market participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7022/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on plans to develop additional urban horse welfare programmes, working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders to provide stabling facilities and educational programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7033/22]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: 160. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the progress of the Dublin Mountains Makeover Initiative to date; and if there are plans to incorporate additional mountain areas into the scheme. [7034/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Education with the UNCRPD: Discussion (10 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank all the participants for their input today. It has been an informative and uplifting discussion. As Senator McGreehan said, at times it has been very concerning too. That is the harsh reality of the challenges facing people with disabilities and we need to meet those challenges head-on. We need to overcome them with investment and better recruitment so more people can access more...