Results 2,361-2,380 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 92: In page 53, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(5A) Provision made for the purpose referred to in subsection (2)(d)(i) may prohibit the inclusion in programmes of commercial communications or content relating to conversion therapy, or any commercial communications or content which seek to promote practices or beliefs with the aim of...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I echo the points made by Senator Pauline O'Reilly and thank the Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland. Sometimes a stigma is created when anyone seeks to promote breastfeeding but it is worth remembering that sadly, breastfeeding in this country is very much the underdog, as fewer than 6% of babies are breastfed, compared with an average of 40% in other jurisdictions. Choice is fundamental but...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the Minister's reasoning and, therefore, I will not press the amendments at this point. Even so, and perhaps this will be picked up in the Dáil, it is important there be a clear timeline in that regard. Having brought forward proposals on this a number of years ago, we need to have a clear timeline for this and I welcome the fact the Minister will engage with the Minister,...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 93: In page 53, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(5A) Provision made for the purpose referred to in subsection (2)(d)(i) may prohibit or restrict the inclusion in advertising or programmes of advertisements or commercial communications relating to the promotion of gambling.”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 94: In page 53, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(5A) Provision made for the purpose referred to in subsection (2)(d)(i) may prohibit or restrict the inclusion in advertising or programmes of advertisements or commercial communications relating to the promotion of speculative financial activities likely to pose a significant financial risk to...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 96: In page 56, line 21, after “person” to insert “for a minimum period of 30 days”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment seeks to ensure there will be a minimum period for the public consultation on media service rules or codes. While I expect the commission to operate best practice, I would like a minimum period to be set in law to ensure there will be proper public consultation. Sometimes if there is just a two-week period of consultation, for example, and if that falls over a Christmas period...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome amendment No. 97. It relates to the earlier amendment that was around strengthening the information channel and exchange between an individual and the commission, for example, through the commission informing individuals when their information had been passed on. This is an amendment that seeks to ensure people will get a timely response, even if it is the case that their...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 98: In page 78, to delete lines 37 to 40, and in page 79, to delete lines 1 to 3 and substitute the following: “139D.(1) In this Part, ‘age-inappropriate online content’ includes online content that either— (a) is likely to be unsuitable for children (either generally or below a particular age), having regard to their capabilities, their...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to this group of amendments. I had intended to table another amendment in this group, but it was a narrow one put forward in the context of amendment No. 112 and commercial communications. I had wanted a general provision in respect of commercial communications and young people, which is one I would have pressed further. In effect, these amendments seek to address the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is a matter that should and could get taken up later. I will not dwell further on it. While I accept the Minister's point that some of the provisions, including those relating to alcohol, gambling and high-salt and high-fat foods, have been addressed somewhat, we could strengthen the provisions in respect of weapons.We also need to strengthen the tools the commission will use and the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 99: In page 79, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(fa) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” .

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This amendment seeks to include a specific reference to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I am aware it is the Minister's preference not to name individual conventions and specific charters but we have ratified this one and we have made a commitment as a State. I believe that we must start embedding it. Again, this is just being consistent with ensuring that we...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 102 focuses on the question of young people and children's access. My amendment No. 128 seeks to put greater pressure and an onus on the content provider. I spoke a little bit to this in the previous section. I was not sure if I had put it in but I realise that I have. This is a really practical proposal. One of the powers is around the content limitation notice whereby the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I hope we will see it coming into effect and that the phrase "in accordance with the law" will not constrain it. I particularly welcome this amendment because it is bringing those same provisions from the media service codes into the online safety codes measure, which is really positive.It is a positive, significant step forward, because it addresses these issues not simply as media...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 106: In page 82, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following: “(4A) Without prejudice to subsection (2) an online safety code may prohibit the targeting at minors of commercial communications.”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not speak at length because I have already spoken on this. I was mistaken about the groupings. I spoke earlier about how, since 2018, we have theoretically had something on the books to state we should not target minors with commercial communications. That needs to come into effect as soon as possible. I feel strongly about this matter. My amendment states, "an online safety code...