Results 2,721-2,740 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to highlight, with regard to this suite of sections, that there are concerns around what becomes an obligation and what becomes optional. The Minister will be aware of the concerns I had previously expressed about the issue of "may" and "shall" as it relates to the provision of important and relevant information. I intended my amendment to this section to highlight the need to ensure...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a last point as we are on Committee Stage. I will again indicate something that can perhaps be provided for under the regulations. This matter relates to the regulations under GDPR but I will address it more widely. The Minister will be aware I also had amendments that were ruled out of order in respect of what is a very basic suggestion, which is that information campaigns, for...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the Minister's indication in that regard. I reserve the right to bring more amendments around that route to information for parents because that is still an issue. I understand GDPR is one of the important routes. I would like it if this legislation provided more routes in that respect but I appreciate the Minister's bona fides. I look forward to the campaign being...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 125: In page 64, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “Rights under the General Data Protection Regulation 69.Nothing in this enactment shall be construed as infringing upon or limiting the right of a person to make a data subject access request under Article 15 of the General Data Protection Regulation.”.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 126: In page 64, line 37, after “her” to insert “, to commence within 90 days of their request”. Amendment No. 126 would insert a clause stipulating that the provision of counselling support should commence not later than 90 days after it is requested by a relevant person or parent. This amendment seeks to ensure the provision of...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not believe our amendment is prescriptive in terms of what persons would need. In fact, it is the opposite. We have indicated, and Senator Boyhan has indicated very eloquently, that people may need longer periods of time. The key point is that if a person is requesting counselling, he or she should be provided with that counselling within 90 days of such a request. To be clear, and...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I recognise and appreciate the Minister's use of "shall" in that regard. I hope the legislation will be reconfigured in other situations where we debate the use of "may" and "shall". Nonetheless, I believe having a designated timeline is more constructive. In that regard, I will press the amendment.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 130: In page 65, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “(2) A review under this section shall include meaningful engagement with relevant persons, groups representing survivors and families, persons with expertise in human rights and data protection, and other relevant persons or groups as the Minister deems appropriate. (3) At the conclusion of...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for indicating openness with regard to the question of ensuring that any report be laid before the Oireachtas to allow for engagement in that way. It is a useful acknowledgment of the fact that there has been very constructive engagement from concerned individuals from parties across the Oireachtas. The evolution of our national discussion on this issue reflects the...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 131: In page 65, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: "Report on operation of functions of Child and Family Agency 71. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas evaluating the manner in which the Child and Family Agency has performed its functions in respect of this Act and in the...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I give notice that I reserve the right to put forward further amendments to the Schedule. I have already indicated my concern that certain bodies, including the psychiatric institutions and others, may not be reflected here. Depending on how things evolve, I may seek amendments to the Schedule on Report Stage.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is an opportunity for the Title to better reflect the debate we have had and the nuances that have emerged over the course of that debate. I will not rehash all the points already made in respect of amendments Nos. 132 to 137, inclusive, which were grouped with other amendments, including the question of whether "incorrect" or "illegal" should be used. That was an important debating...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is all relevant to the Title, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, so-----

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is why I am using this opportunity to highlight to the Minister that I believe there may be scope in both the Title and in the provisions dealing with next of kin and the question of a tiered series of deaths to strengthen and improve the Bill in that regard. That is not an indictment of the Minister but, rather, a reflection, as I have highlighted-----

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----in certain other areas of the Bill, of previous embedded approaches to the notion of family and the notion of relationship that are very persistent and come through again and again. They need to be tackled everywhere they are manifest. I urge the Minister to reflect on that matter as we approach Report Stage, on which I look forward to his engagement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am having a little bit of a technical issue with my computer. Perhaps Deputy Mairéad Farrell would like to go first. I will be ready in two minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Dr. Stewart for joining us. A number of the issues I was going to raise have been raised by Deputy Farrell but I will follow up on a few points. I am interested in the issue of double non-taxation. Perhaps Dr. Stewart could comment further on that point in the context of the conversation around the effective tax rate. There is a push on the idea of an international effective tax...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the tracking of parent companies, Dr. Stewart mentioned group structures and the control mechanism. Are there examples of how we can strengthen them? The liabilities seem to have disappeared into one company but the control is exercised elsewhere, so the liabilities and the control are quite separated. Is it a matter of dismantling this form of section 110 company and having greater...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Use of Section 110 by Russian Firms: Dr. Jim Stewart (1 Jun 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise to Dr. Stewart for asking him for a way to solve everything. I have asked about the onshore and offshore aspect.