Results 2,581-2,600 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That does not cover private pensions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There was the final question on what is the Department's plan in regard to the gap between 20 years of care credits being recognised and a 40-year requirement for contributions. Of course, a 20-year working requirement is actually more than we had in 2012.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a three-quarter level piece if we look at the ten-year or 20-year contribution whereas previously, a person only required a total of 20 years' contributions. Now, at 40 years, to get the full pension, a person has to have a 20-year employment contribution record or he or she needs this particular narrowly applied scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am happy to let others come in and then I might come back on the other payments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have two sets of questions and I may kick off where Deputy Clarke left off, around lone parents and the child maintenance review group. Given that the report has been ready since April, it would be useful if it was to be published. I request that it be published in the next month or so in order that we can incorporate it into our report because it is extremely relevant. Given that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I suppose that is where the gender analysis comes in. Probably the most relevant part of individualisation is ensuring an independent source of income rather than having one person in the household in financial control who is effectively determining the finances. We are comfortable, it seems, with a private pension tax relief, which is predominantly going to men and those on higher incomes....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am not necessarily suggesting a transfer; I am actually suggesting that we might need an additional scheme. I am aware that, under the directive, leave cannot be shared. Therefore, there is nothing to stop us from introducing an additional scheme in respect of lone parents.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There are two or three points. One relates to those who are in a relationship. We have had stories of people being quite aggressively pursued on whether they are cohabiting and so on but even if somebody is cohabiting or in a relationship, that person is still accepted as the parent of that child. Just because a person may have started a relationship with somebody, it does not mean he or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will finish. I have one positive point that can be answered alongside Senator Doherty's questions. I wish to praise the important work on the minimum essential standards of living that has been supported by the Department. I note that the adequate standard of living is specifically one of the recommendations of the citizens' assembly, when they talked about a basic income. I hope that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to pick up again on a couple of points. As Senator Doherty said, it would be very useful and important for our committee’s work if we had some sense of what the gender analysis process has been on pensions within the Department – not within the commission – in terms of its proposals. Specifically, what modelling has there been around the potential impacts of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise; I have one last thing on care credits that relates to Senator Doherty’s comments There was a problem where people were not getting credits because they previously did not have a social protection record such as, for example, those who had come home from abroad to care. Has that been addressed? Are those people getting captured in terms of PRSI stamps at the moment? ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We need that granular analysis around pensions. We need to do a deep dive on gender and pensions. It is useful to model a few different approaches to bridging the gap and treat it as a problem, which it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The point Mr. Lawler highlights is a serious issue, whereby if a person does not have a previous record, he or she might not get the carer's allowance credit payment. Some people who moved abroad move home to care. They may end up staying home for ten or 20 years caring but remain out of the system in that context. That is a gap that needs to be addressed. In regard to the other issue,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is a proposal that has been discussed before. It is in line with the care bridge and ensuring we have access. It is in line with the recommendations of the citizens' assembly. We need a granular piece around that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to formally object to the content of the Order of Business for tomorrow, Thursday, which is done in the form of a motion. Again, it is regrettable that we are seeing Bills being taken at all Stages. This Government has developed too much of an attachment to emergency legislation. I am also conscious in the case of both of these Bills, and I was on the relevant committee for one of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If we chase getting some of the money from the arms industry, we lose our diplomatic power, which is so fundamental and which has made a difference and saved lives throughout the world.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have to finish.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This has been part of a move away from 2015, when we were rescuing people in the Mediterranean. That year, our Naval Service membership was the highest. That compares to 2017, when we saw Irish ships being brought to arms fairs.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will conclude but I suggest this is a matter of significant urgency for a House that cares about human rights.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am opposing the motion in relation to Thursday.