Results 2,661-2,680 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) (22 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am conscious that the witnesses were invited to speak on other recommendations and perhaps we could get a follow-up to this question in writing. The cohort Dr. Bambrick mentioned is very specific. Massive changes are proposed, as has been mentioned. Unless people have a large number of paid contributions, they will not be able to actualise their care contributions. The threshold has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With regard to the number of years, the key question will be how many credited contributions. I am sure this can be included in the detailed answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am excited about the focus on flexibility and the four-day week has been mentioned. We know that the right to request remote work Bill has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. I agree with the principle that we do not want to have a two-tier approach on flexibility. The citizens' assembly recommended flexible working in the wider sense and not solely remote working. Should we try to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Will anyone comment on the progression piece? We focus a lot on entry and women in leadership roles. However, we know from when Athena SWAN tried to transform the university sector, much attention was paid to the mid-level roles. As part of the terms and conditions that unions can help, enhance and improve, it is about ensuring there is gender equality around the rungs on the ladder.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I like how Mr. Joyce referred to their "own style of leadership". It is not just about women going into leadership but leadership itself being redefined.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yesterday, the Minister spoke about wanting future legislation that deals with students' unions. If the desire to move forward is to be credible and if we are to strengthen how we think about students' unions and their role, it is important that we not move backwards. The Bill refers to a student member on the boards of governance. There is a danger that this will be a backwards step. The...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am not sure. I thought the Minister was in possession.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 52 relates to the requirement that a person would be recommended by the Public Appointments Service. I wish to ensure transparency and no danger of potential excessive political involvement in the process. The Minister clarified that he plans to address that issue through other mechanisms. One issue not addressed and of real concern relates to trade union representation for...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 54: In page 20, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “(c) Not less than two of the persons appointed under paragraph (a)shall be a trade union representative, one representing professional staff and the other academic staff.”.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 56: In page 22, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(iii) the Irish Research Council,”.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There are a number of amendments to be covered here. Amendment Nos. 56 to 58, inclusive, seek to ensure that the list of bodies with which an t-údarás may co-operate under section 17 would include the Irish Research Council, the Royal Irish Academy and the Health Research Board. As we have discussed, it is important not to end up with a siloed approach. Science Foundation Ireland...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are going to come to the significant area of student representation. The fact is that regulations are not the same as rights. I think there is a question here. We are left hoping that governing authorities will recognise the value of local authority input. Some will and others will not. We are left hoping that the Minister of the day, whoever he or she might be, will be sufficiently...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will move the amendments relating to local authorities and trade unions in due course but I will not move the amendments in respect of research bodies.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 59: In page 22, line 29, after “education” where it firstly occurs to insert “or the conduct of research”.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to this amendment. It is unfortunate that the Minister has left the Chamber at this moment. I will later be pressing the amendments relating to trade unions and local authorities. I have withdrawn or not moved amendments Nos. 56, 57 and 58 in recognition of the Minister's point to the effect that naming individual research bodies might become onerous.Amendment No. 59 addresses...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The key point is where this is sitting alongside. This is not in a listing of higher education institutions. This is a listing of bodies with which the higher education system may be co-operating. That is the section that I am looking to amend. For example, the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland are being named. I was concerned that...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 60: In page 26, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(3) A person may not be appointed as Chief Executive where, in the last 3 years, they have been directly employed by the Government or a Minister thereof.”.

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am not sure if amendment No. 69 belongs in this grouping, but I will not waste our time by challenging groupings. While I think amendment No. 69 deals with quite a different point, I will not delay us by proposing alternative groupings. Amendments Nos. 60 and 61 relate to the appointment of the chief executive under this Act. Amendment No. 60 would provide that "A person may not be...