Results 2,141-2,160 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does that require more than the 20 megatonnes of space allocated?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am happy to come back in at a later point. Maybe I cannot but perhaps the Minister will address the issue of the 20 megatonnes of space allocated, and whether that is sufficient in terms of land use.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On one of the other issues that was raised previously, I might note that all development, including national and international development, is going to have to exist within the planetary boundaries we have in terms of climate. It behoves us to look to how we can adapt our development plans to recognise that. I wish to express my sadness at hearing the news that we may be losing another...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----about its humanitarian approach. It is not clear what we mean by that language. In terms of the word "hard", do we mean hard right individuals like Orbán and Meloni, members of the European People's Party, EPP, who were at that meeting along with representatives from Fine Gael? Do we mean it in the context of being hard-hearted? I refer to the vote by EPP members, including some...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----when we previously used to rescue 8,000 people a year? Do we mean hard borders, something we do not want on our island but which the EU is funding right across Africa? It is pouring money into the wall between Syria and Türkiye rather than pouring money in, as it should, in order to cover the humanitarian needs of the 6.7 million people in Syria who have been displaced, including...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I seek more clarification from the Minister. I have amendments in this section also. The Minister indicated the employer can waive the requirement but I do not see where in the Bill this is allowed. In fact, the language is quite strong and clear in this respect. On page 14, subsection (4) states, "An employee's approved flexible working arrangement shall not commence before a time when...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If there is no objection to employers putting such arrangements in place from the beginning, why not accept the amendment, which would allow employers to apply the statutory measure from day one? It is a choice. If one is choosing between two jobs, it would be good to know. I am happy for the provisions to be subject to an additional bar or to mutual agreement in the first few months but,...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 24: In page 14, line 2, after “not” to insert “, subject to the approval of the employer and the employee,”.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 26: In page 14, line 27, after “certificate” where it firstly occurs to insert “, care order, voluntary care agreement”. Amendment No. 26 seeks to ensure that care orders and voluntary care arrangements are included as documentation that may be used as part of a request for a flexible work arrangement. This is to ensure that foster parents...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am again surprised at the lack of willingness to take on constructive proposals. While the Minister may choose to understand that these documents are included, employers will not be experts on the foster care system, care orders and so forth. The concern is not that the list needs to be exhaustive. We have already spoken about the concerns regarding people who may not in fact be acting...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not overly prescriptive or exclusive. I am leaving it wide open for other documents that may emerge as being relevant. I am not looking for every single document to be listed. That would be if I was looking for an exclusionary list. I am simply saying let us put in and name something we know is likely to be used. That is not the same thing. It is important to be clear on what is...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 30: In page 15, line 14, after “needs” to insert “, relevant to the functioning of his or her business,”. These amendments relate to the slightly strange language used in the Bill. It is not really typical of how we would normally approach it. We have already discussed the solely needs-based approach rather than a rights-based or good...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like the Minister to clarify a matter. Is the directive being specified in relation to the section on flexible arrangements for care or the section on remote working? Is that same directive argument applying to both of those parts?

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, the Minister mentioned one part of the Bill is transposition of the EU directive. I am just clarifying because there are two areas where the language is used. One is in respect of seeking flexible working arrangements for care and the other is in respect of remote working. I am looking for clarification as to whether the EU directive-motivated section applies to both of those...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to clarify a couple of points. I accept, to a degree, the point on the coherence of the language. I still have concerns on it. I do not accept that my amendments would have in any way inadvertently disadvantaged employees because my amendments solely related to the definition of “needs” in respect of employers and that there be clarity. On flexible working...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----reasons might be better language but we can come back to that again on Report Stage. I withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 31: In page 15, line 14, after “needs” to insert “, relevant to the fulfilling of the employee’s duties,”. I withdraw the amendment and reserve the right to reintroduce on Report Stage.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 33: In page 15, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(2A) Where an extension under subsection (2) occurs, the employer shall notify the employee in writing of the reasonable grounds upon which such the extension is required.”. I do not see my notes but I will continue anyway. Amendment No. 33 effectively is related to the fact that an...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would disagree that it is not automatic. It is automatic. It simply states the employer may extend the four-week period by a further period, not exceeding eight weeks. It is absolutely at the discretion of the employer to extend it by the extra two months. Simply saying you have informed somebody that you have extended it by two months does not mean it is not an automatic right to...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak briefly in favour of Senator Currie's amendments. They demonstrate the fact she has a very good understanding of remote working and how it operates. I do not believe there is the right balance. There are problems with the language in the Bill about the basis on which an employer can withdraw the arrangement. It is very fair to put in the words "reasonable and demonstrable"...