Results 2,001-2,020 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am so glad and it is so welcome to me that we are having this debate. Taking a pause over the past ten days was the right thing to do because people have questions and it is up to all of us who have questions, including public representatives, men, women and today's children who may someday be using the new national maternity hospital, to get those answers. I thank the Minister for...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I apologise that I had to leave to head into the Chamber. I want to say a huge thank you to our witness today. He has obviously put an awful lot of thought and legal research into this. It is also great he is able to share his own lived experience from Holland with us. In terms of Mr. Walsh's three recommendations, his first was with regard to the legislation that is in place already and...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Mr. Walsh said the vegetable oil-based alternative, which I believe is called Foamstream, is successfully used in the UK to eradicate invasive species and is applied every six weeks when plants are small to medium-sized during growing season. Where farmers are currently using pesticides, how often is it sprayed? I am trying to ascertain whether there will be labour intensification or more...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Okay. We hope to have the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in before the committee. It may have done some surveys or studies on it. Does Mr. Walsh know the price point difference between the two alternatives?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Okay. That is something we may be able to find out for sure at our next deliberations. With all the talk of the cost of living, it would be interesting to see. I thank Mr. Walsh for answering my questions and for being here today.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I agree with Deputy Buckley. I am on another committee that wrote to each of the political parties that receive State funding to invite them before the committee and we did not get a response from at least one political party that receives funding from the State and that is represented in this building. It can be extremely frustrating for members of committees when there is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Street Furniture Fees) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for being here to talk us through this. In many ways the hospitality sector was almost accidentally revolutionised by restrictions during Covid. Just last December I found myself having a late-night drink outdoors outside Courtney's in Lucan, one of my locals. I would never have dreamed of doing that during the height of winter a couple of years ago and I'm sure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Apologies have been received from Deputy Whitmore and Senator Ruane. We will have two sessions today. The first session will consider the issue of protecting the right of the child to his or her history and identity, including his or her genetic, gestational and social origins, and ensuring that existing children born through international surrogacy arrangements can exercise their right to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Absolutely. I thank Senator Keogan. I now invite Ms Caoimhe Nic Dhomhnaill to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am sorry, but there was a little interference. I invite Ms Nic Dhomhnaill to continue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Dr. Muldoon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: We have just under a minute but I am happy to give Dr. Muldoon an extra minute to answer Senator Keogan's questions because the time would be very tight. I will also mention that the question of yesterday's apology is not relevant to today's committee meeting so there is no obligation to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: There are four minutes for replies. If we stick to the time, we will be able to get another round of questions in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I will ask a couple of quick questions. I thank all our witnesses for being with us. It has certainly been very interesting. It has been particularly interesting to hear about the research outcomes. In 2011 or 2012, I was involved in the launch of the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal survey so I was particularly interested to hear about the research Ms Nic Dhomhnaill referenced. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Nic Dhomhnaill. That is very helpful. As she said, it will be great when Dr. Golombok appears before the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I ask the witnesses to be brief as we are out of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Does Ms Nic Dhomhnaill have anything to add?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I call Senator Keogan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Rights of Children: Discussion (12 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: Ms Nic Dhomhnaill said she will not be drawn into that debate. She does not have to answer that direct question.