Results 201-220 of 8,553 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does Deputy Timmins wish to contribute?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Public duty, equality and human rights, as I mentioned to the Minister, extends to procurement. We have obligations in the context of equality and human rights. Has there been a review in light of this? We know that some of the very largest companies, a number of whom may have public or Irish Government contracts, have recently been disavowing their commitment to equality. Certain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to follow up on some of the related themes that have been discussed. I was glad the Minister indicated that the intention is to continue and deepen the well-being framework, which previously had been on a pilot basis. I apologise if this may have been discussed already; I was called away for a vote. Will that be extended in the next budget? There was a hearing earlier this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (25 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. I had a separate question but I will leave it for now.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to open by commenting on one important thing. We hear the line again and again that supply is the issue or supply is the problem. We need to be really clear that profiteering is the problem. That is the problem. Supply is important, but profiteering is what has been the obstacle in housing. I have seen it over the last ten years in these Houses, again and again. Senator Andrews...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will begin with a very short question and get a quick answer because of my limited time. Do the witnesses believe that the recent bombing by Israel of Iran falls under the definition of self-defence under the UN Charter?

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is interesting because what we have heard is all about our alignment with the EU and a reference to the idea of a common EU foreign policy, which of course we do not have. It is important to say that. It is not an EU competency, but right now, we have Germany saying: This is the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us. I can only say [I have] the greatest respect for the fact...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, this is extremely important.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is extremely relevant.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, this is extremely important because it relates to-----

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like my time to be added to at the end because that was inappropriate.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is very relevant. From Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission: "Israel has the right to defend itself" in response to this action. From Mr. Emmanuel Macron: "Israel's right to defend itself". This is around the interpretation of international law, and that is why it is extremely relevant. The UN Charter refers to "self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is extremely relevant and this is inappropriate heckling.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, that is not true. I would like to continue uninterrupted and have my time at the end as well.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Why it is relevant is that this is around the interpretation of international law. As the witnesses have outlined, this is around how we will be interpreting the UN Charter. We have been told constantly there will be references to how the UN Charter is being interpreted. However, we are seeing at the same time a lot of language about the need to align with and...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On my second question, I am not going to focus on the question of-----

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is war an option? It sounds to me that is not the language the witness used around "responsibility to protect". That is not the language that is in this Bill. The language that is in the Bill is "strengthening international security". Do the witnesses believe that opens up a space where war is an option, and where actions beyond the principles of protection are applied, particularly in...

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My time is limited.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It says "strengthening international security" versus policing.

Committee on Defence and National Security: General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 : Discussion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2025)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Our current legislation refers to a police function. Now it will say "strengthening international security".