Results 1,461-1,480 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Preventing the Sale, Exploitation and Trafficking of Children: Discussion (19 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Roberts. That is a really helpful statement to hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Thank you. The next speaker is Mr. Kevin James of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for attending today. As the last speaker said, the Department has quite a tough task over the next few months. I wish the witnesses well with that and thank them for engaging with the committee on it. I note that one of the key principles is increasing clarity and the streamlining of legislation. An issue that I come across time and again is the lack of clarity and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: In terms of the planning system from a transparency perspective, there is a need to prioritise and maintain that transparency but also to look at reducing unnecessary legal challenges. Is there any indication of where things stand with regard to the substantial grounds from which legal challenges can arise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: We certainly found that in our area during Covid in particular, when there were restrictions and people were still driving to An Bord Pleanála to hand things in and pay by cheque. Being able to do all of this online and pay online would be a very progressive step. That level of innovation and investment in technology would make the planning system more easily accessible to everybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Potential Double Standards in Protections for Surrogate Mothers in Domestic Arrangements: Discussion (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I hope to come in on the next round because I was impressed by our other two key expert witnesses as well, and the information they had to offer. My background is that I worked on the launch of the longitudinal Growing up in Ireland study. I am fascinated by the in-depth work Professor Golombok has carried out, the breadth of her research and its findings. I am impressed by her...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Potential Double Standards in Protections for Surrogate Mothers in Domestic Arrangements: Discussion (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I will be brief as time is of the essence in this session. I thank Professor Madden and Dr. Tobin for coming to the meeting to share their expertise with us. Dr. Tobin said we have the tough task of making our deliberations within a tight period of time. We can only do that because of experts like him, so I thank him. I was interested to hear both witnesses talk about the need for...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: This is a really interesting discussion. I would have loved if we had a session on the issue during our committee deliberations given the many varying views and differing scientific perspectives. I draw members' attention to a book published by Brendan Heneghan in 2018, Secrets of the Ballot Box: How the Irish Voting System Really Works. It is based on research of electoral patterns in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: I want to take the opportunity to raise an anomaly for public transport users. With the 90-minute TFI fare at the moment, someone is better off if they pay for their bus journey by Leap card than if they had purchased in advance the annual tax-saver ticket. In fact they are 20% better off. The tax-saver scheme was introduced to provide a tax-efficient benefit to commuters. It is no longer...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: 86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timelines for the implementation of BusConnects in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30692/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: The question relates to the implementation of BusConnects in Dublin.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: The C spine is up and running in Lucan. It has been a very big change and there are definitely still some teething problems but, by and large, many people have felt the benefit of it. The night-time schedule has been especially welcome. People who have not felt the benefit are those used to having a bus service to the city centre but no longer do so. I am talking about people living in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: I will also take this opportunity to bring to the attention of the Minister of State the withdrawal without any prior notice of a very important bus service in my area. On 6 June, I got a note from a commuter who used the 68X every morning to get to work. He was letting me know that after a full week of going down to the bus stop and waiting for his regular morning bus to get to work, it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Costs (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: This is a welcome initiative. In the budget, the Government did much to focus on young people, including changes to the Student Universal Support Ireland grant for those going to college, free contraception for young women and this youth public transport card, which is offered at a substantially discounted rate. As we approach the next budget and budgetary discussions begin, should we look...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Collection (16 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: Thank you, Deputy. That is your question finished.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Collection (16 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: That is for the next question. We have gone into Deputy Calleary's time.

Special Educational Needs: Statements (16 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate because services for children with disabilities or additional needs are incredibly important. Under the umbrella of additional needs come special educational needs. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, on the work she has done and the commitment she has shown thus far. Having a dedicated Minister of State for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: 464. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department received correspondence from An Garda Síochána pertaining to irregularities in the postal voting system in County Sligo in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28897/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: 995. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when works on a school building project (details supplied) will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29730/22]