Results 161-180 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: It is timely that I am making my submission after my Sinn Féin colleague. I welcome the fact that the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy Gerry Adams, took up my point in the Dáil yesterday when addressing the Taoiseach. I raised this issue in the House last Tuesday, when I called on the Minister for Finance to seek the taped telephone conversations from all the State bailed-out...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (2 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: It is fitting that I am the next speaker, given that I come from County Galway. I welcome Senator Craven. It is a great honour to have her visit the Seanad to listen to our debate, which has been quite lively thus far. I want to raise a troubling matter which has raised its head in today's newspaper. It relates to a number of banks which have been contacting customers who have tracker...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (2 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: -----but this is quite clearly a breach of contract, a breach of duty and a breach of the Central Bank's code of conduct. It is completely unacceptable.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (2 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: The reality is the banks took a gamble in offering tracker mortgages some time ago, this has not worked out and they are attempting to shift the goalposts. I would say to those on tracker mortgages that the banks must live with this situation and it is very much a commercial reality. In the circumstances, I ask that the Minister for Finance come to the House to debate this matter further...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: If ever there was as reason to save the Seanad, it might be the dedication seen tonight from various Senators, including Senator Ó Clochartaigh, Byrne and myself. On a more serious note, I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House. It is the first time I have raised a matter in the wee hours of the morning so I am grateful he is here. The matter relates to the upcoming...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I want to make it clear that I am not against the introduction of this law. I was a practising barrister for a number of years and would have acted for and against financial institutions during that time. It is important that banks and those people who are availing of loans have certainty. For banks in particular, it is a commercial reality...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: It is very important for the Government to get that message out. I am very mindful of the fact that it is a last resort but I am concerned about any distortion of the property market.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Safety (11 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I believe the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Tom Hayes, is in the House to take the matter on the Adjournment, not my constituency colleague.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Safety (11 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his recent appointment to the post. There is no doubt he will be a great asset to the Department given his vast experience in farming and politics. I commend the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on his work on the recent Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, negotiations and the great results he secured for the country in his endeavours. Not only...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Safety (11 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome in particular the work of the Health and Safety Authority, including the survey carried out, as well as the steps taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine relating to farm safety. I welcome the comments of the Minister of State to the effect that he would welcome suggestions. Earlier, I referred to looking at...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Safety (11 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I wrote to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this matter last year and the committee members will be aware of my correspondence in this regard. If the Minister of State could chase it up, I would appreciate it.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for taking this matter which is the very serious situation in which Portumna, County Galway, finds itself as a consequence of a number of different factors. As the Minister of State will know, rural Ireland, County Galway and, in particular, Portumna have been hit very hard during this recession with the closure of various businesses and...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I join in the chorus of congratulations to my colleague, Senator John Gilroy, on the publication of his book. I look forward to attending the event this evening and purchasing a copy, and to reading not only fifty shades of Shatter during my August holidays but also Senator Gilroy's publication. I refer to a matter highlighted in a weekend newspaper. A leading psychiatrist has taken it...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Since 1992 the Legislature has been obligated-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: -----to legislate for the X case. That is the reality. It has been ignored by successive Governments since then but this Government has taken the bull by the horns to sort out this sorry situation. We must be clear about what the situation was and is under the X case before this Bill becomes law. I will put myself in the situation. At present, if I happen to be suicidal by virtue of my...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: It is a very important point. There has been a great deal of scaremongering in the House about this section. There has been a great deal of faux philosophising also. The suggestion that we are liberalising the regime must be put to bed. Outlining the scenario as it is and as it will be is very important. There is also the suggestion that was made earlier today that abortion tourism will...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters (18 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy John Perry, to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Like my colleagues, I also welcome Senator Naughten to the House. It is great to see the Galway contingent within the Oireachtas growing. I can firmly attest that she served the city of Galway brilliantly during her term as mayor and as a city councillor. It is great to see more young female politicians in the House. I wish her the best in the remainder of her term here. I wish to raise...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water Supply (22 Jul 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Has the Senator a question?