Results 281-300 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Suicide Prevention (20 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am delighted to learn of this latest initiative to deal with an issue I raised some months ago as a result of lobbying from people in my area. It was great to be able to bring it to the floor of the House and now to see that something so positive is being enacted as a consequence. Teenagers are our future. I was one, as indeed was the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Suicide Prevention (20 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the possibility of implementing a policy that would undoubtedly assist the safety and well-being of Irish teenagers. I raised this issue in the Seanad a number of months ago. As we know, the issues of bullying and suicide are persisting right across the country and, unfortunately, are remaining prevalent among teenagers. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I request that the Minister for Justice and Equality comes into the House to discuss the possibility of introducing minimum sentences for those convicted of certain crimes. I raise this in light of the decision reached by the Australian court in the Jillian Meagher case. Justice was not only seen to be done but it was done and the convicted killer got a minimum sentence of 35 years. While...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response. However, I am most dissatisfied with it. There is a pressing need right now to provide health care services within Portumna and its surrounding area. As the Minister of State mentioned, some 6,500 people want to avail of these services and it is not good enough to think that they are being ignored. What will the people of Portumna and the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: No more than the Minister of State, I am in the business of finding solutions. Unfortunately, this is a long-term solution to a short-term problem. Something needs to be done and more urgently than kicking the ball down the road until such time as a primary medical care centre is built or until such time as GPs come on board. My door is open at any time to facilitate and help people in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I am aware the Minister is in talks with a private company in that regard. However, what I need is a short-term solution for the people of Portumna. I am not looking at a situation two or three years down the road. I want to represent the people to the best of my ability.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: A location has already been identified, but the problem is it is on a long-term basis.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for coming to the House to address an issue which is of great concern to people in Portumna, County Galway, and surrounding areas. People in the town have been left without public health services since November 2012 as a consequence of a rat infestation in the health centre building. This matter was brought to my attention at the time by...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (12 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, for coming before the House to take this matter, which relates to the well-being of and future plans relating to the artefacts from Yeats' Tower at Thoor Ballylee outside Gort in County Galway. As he is probably aware, this building and the artefacts contained within it are, from a historical, recreational and cultural perspective, of special...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (12 Jun 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his reply. I am absolutely thrilled with the content of the reply. It is great that museums and similar entities in the area may now be in a position to enter into negotiations with the Department in the context of housing some of the priceless artefacts from Thoor Ballylee. In light of my background as a barrister, I would be delighted to offer legal assistance to...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Margareta Wahlström (29 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome Ms Margareta Wahlström to discuss the challenges and opportunities for building risk resilience to disasters of nations and communities. It is a great opportunity to have someone held in such high esteem as Ms Margareta Wahlström to address the House. Every Member of Seanad Éireann is privileged to have her here to debate the issue. It is not often we have the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I express my serious concern at the news that a senior official in the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, who was responsible for managing some of the most indebted borrowers with the banks in this country has taken up a new job with a London based property investment firm just weeks after leaving his position with the agency. To have a senior NAMA official taking a position in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: This is a matter that was reported in a Sunday newspaper; therefore, it is very much in the public-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: People are familiar with the individual in question. However, the point is that he was-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I will, a Chathaoirligh, and apologise for doing so. The individual in question will have had access to commercially sensitive information which could potentially benefit him to the detriment of the taxpayer in his new role in the business in which he is a partner. We must do something about this. It is outrageous that there is still an inside track culture in Ireland. We must call on the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (23 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the response of the Minister of State and the approval to open the castle for the event, albeit in limited circumstances. This is the first time that the people of Athenry have sought its opening so I expect that every effort will be made to facilitate them. I welcome the suggestion of guided tours and the possibility of a marquee being allowed on the grounds of the castle and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (23 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I commend the Minister of State for his enthusiasm for the project that will take place on his birthday, 15 August. The people of Athenry will welcome him wholeheartedly to the town.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (23 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Will the Minister of State ask his colleague, Deputy Hayes, to supply my office with a contact name in order to avoid unnecessary delays and get the project moving in the right direction immediately?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (23 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for taking this matter on the Adjournment. It relates to the opening of Athenry medieval castle for the use and benefit of the people of Athenry who want to host a social evening at the castle to mark a twinning event in the town on Thursday, 15 August 2013. Athenry tourism committee has been working extremely hard since its inception to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (23 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: We will extend an invitation to the Minister of State.