Results 181-200 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A reduction in the register is perhaps a better way to put it.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his comments on amendment No. 22. As I said, it is not something that is contained within the Bill. I will take the bona fides of the Minister regarding the intention in respect of contact. That is going to be crucial. As the Minister will be aware, the other amendments and proposals we have made in this area were not solely for the full transfer of the NUI and...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 22: In page 8, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(4) During preparations under subsection (3), the central registration authority shall contact all persons registered as electors in the former National University constituency and former Dublin University constituency to seek consent for their inclusion in the first register of electors.”.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have spoken to the issues already and I will not repeat them at length. My concern relates to the proposals I put forward on carrying forward those who are currently on the register, such as those who voted in the past one, two or three elections. As I said, the Minister and I disagree on that matter and I am noting that.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These are the same principles. I believe in how it is worded that it could be carried through in that persons who had registered to vote would be considered as having made a claim to register to vote in the new higher education constituency. While I recognise it is a new constituency, it is not simply a matter of merging the two but, rather, that as the beginning point for the new...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have been reminded of one amendment, namely, amendment No. 61, which may have fallen between the stools when the Minister was addressing the others. It will be coming up shortly. One area that does not arise is the idea of the automatic transfer. This is no longer about the NUI or TCD constituencies, but whether, for all the institutions covered by this new constituency, the practice...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 32: In page 15, to delete lines 20 and 21 and substitute the following: “(a) 3 persons from amongst persons nominated by each designated institution for that purpose; (b) 1 person from amongst persons nominated by student unions of each designated institution for that purpose;”. I will be brief because we have a number of amendments to get through....

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There probably are key competencies that students can bring in terms of what will or will not be effective in encouraging persons to exercise their franchise. I doubt there is any marketing expert who can compare with what the student unions often have to bring in terms of engaging that constituency. Sadly, this is an area in respect of which a signal is needed centrally because without...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister. I think we have the same intent. Nonetheless, I will press the amendment.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 33: In page 15, to delete lines 20 and 21 and substitute the following: “(a) 2 persons from amongst persons nominated by each designated institution for that purpose; (b) 1 person from amongst persons nominated by student unions of each designated institution for that purpose; (c) 1 person from amongst persons nominated by trade unions representing staff...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 35: In page 16, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(d) the level of participation in elections in the Higher Education constituency, including the collection of quantitative and qualitative data in relation to voters and their preferences,”. Again, I will be quite brief because we still have a number of amendments to get through. The...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 38: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(2) The Commission shall, after each electoral event to which this Act applies, prepare and publish (in such a manner as the Commission may determine) a report on the administration of the electoral event concerned. (3) Where the Commission prepares a report under subsection (2), the report...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 39: In page 16, line 38, after “register” to insert “including measures to increase the level of voter registration in the Higher Education constituency, including a mechanism for the automatic enrolment of qualified new graduates of designated institutions in the register of electors”.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief on the section to discuss those amendments. I will come to the issues with section 40, but these were technical amendments on the key issues in section 40 which concern the new proposals for a replacement list system. This is a fundamental problem with the Bill which I really urge the Minister to address. It is a fundamental step back for democracy. We know that,...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To add another specific concern on section 40, there is a question of who is electing in terms of the Oireachtas. There is also the fundamental question of allowing the full constituency to have the opportunity in relation to a by-election or a casual vacancy. There is also the fundamental question of who is eligible for consideration for election and that is where a situation arises where...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 43: In page 23, line 19, to delete “60” and substitute “8”. Amendments Nos. 43, 47 and 50 all relate to the fact we are making the bar for the person standing for election to the Seanad higher. As I say, the electoral process is not just those who vote, it is those who stand. The bar has been raised to a different degree so instead, I...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Similarly, I note again in relation to section 40, it is a disservice to democracy that we deny the opportunity to persons to put themselves forward for election in the case of a casual vacancy or by-election. These are backward steps for democracy and it is deeply regrettable they are in the Bill.

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief. I am proud to co-sponsor the Bill brought forward by Senator Martin. It is a really good piece of work. I hope it is speeded through the Lower House. It will affect every corner and hedgerow across Ireland. If we look to something with wide-reaching implications, it is this legislation. Senator Martin mentioned two halves in terms of the Seanad and the Dáil but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I pick up where Senator Warfield finished, which was on education. Concerns have been expressed in the House about education. One of the key tools is education that reflects the experiences of minorities in the State and the fact that there is gender, sexuality and ethnic diversity, as well as all the other categories discussed in terms of protected characteristics. That understanding and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, that is quite a significant accusation to make. Earlier, there was reference to particular organisations and their engagement in school training.