Results 2,521-2,540 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. I will continue to pursue the issue because it is significant. I am glad we are getting more data. That is progress. I am aware that our transfer system does redistributive work regarding our extraordinary high levels of income inequality. In this regard, there is a discussion to be had on the Social Welfare Bill, which is touched upon. I would be...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 7: In page 66, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “Report on private pension tax reliefs 25.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on private pension tax relief including: (a) an assessment of the cost to the exchequer; (b) a comparative gender analysis of tax...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes but some 70% of the benefits go to the top 20%-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The key point is the cash, which the Minister himself mentioned. The fact is that 70% of the money - an extremely large amount of money - is going to the top 20%. The fact that smaller amounts are going to the majority of people in that scheme should not be used as a shield for what is effectively a trickle-up effect. The cap is clearly not adequate if 70% of the benefit is going to top...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a lot of detail set out in the legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a few follow-up questions. On biodiversity, I have a few nice things to say about the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. I am often very harsh on the Government on lots of issues but, as I said, I am pleased that biodiversity has been included alongside environmental sustainability and climate change in the provisions relating to the European works scheme. Ms Craig talked about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To follow up on the international aspect, we know that in the film-making area there is significant transnational collaboration. We see productions co-funded by multiple bodies. Similarly in regard to national broadcasters, when it comes to television and radio programming is there scope to look at collaboration between BAI schemes and other schemes internationally because the stories are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a final question on production.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise. I did not realise another member had indicated. Perhaps within the other member's response there might be something on the production side. I was interested in what Ms Craig said on production. When she is responding to the other member, she might have comments on the production-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If no one else is indicating-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Very briefly. I am happy if a written note is provided to follow up. I was very interested in the Albert carbon calculator that was mentioned and the idea of production. One of the points is a reduction in the carbon footprint of audiovisual production and the audiovisual sector. Does that include the digital broadcast sector, given that there is a lot of difference between things being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. McLoughlin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Ms Comey very much. That is very interesting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Ms Craig.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, I am speaking from my office. I thank the witnesses. This has been a really interesting discussion. I will follow up on one of the points that was very well made by Senator O'Reilly on coverage. It strikes me that when discussing the actions, there is, of course, the question of covering those actions, but there is also the aspect of incorporating the science and properly reflecting...

Seanad: Comhshuí de Dháil Éireann agus de Sheanad Éireann - Joint Sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas - Address by H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (1 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome President von der Leyen to the Oireachtas on the 50th anniversary of Ireland's accession to the EU.One important early benefit of accession was the impetus it created for more progressive national policies in areas such as gender equality, the environment, employment, ending the marriage bar and the working time directive. That version of Europe, as a collective momentum for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (30 Nov 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting the matter and the Minister of State for attending. It has been reported, as the Minister will be aware, that in the negotiations on the long and eagerly-awaited new EU corporate sustainability due diligence directive Ireland has taken a position to seek the exclusion of asset managers and institutional investors and certain products associated with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (30 Nov 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This effectively includes the actors but not their products. The products are where the money is. I noted from one of the reports on Ireland's submission to the early negotiation process – I appreciate that the process has moved on since – that Ireland raised concerns about the significant administrative and cost burdens on, for example, pension schemes. This is where the...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Motion (30 Nov 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I echo the calls on the Minister to consider or accept some of the amendments that have been tabled by a number of groups. I have my own amendments, which I will go through one by one. Constructive proposals have been put forward by other parties. If accepted, they would mean we will be in a better position next year. I say that after a number of years of rolling through this issue....