Results 3,161-3,180 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As I will not be able to speak on the other amendments in this group after I make my decision on No. 61, I would like to respond quickly to the Minister of State, if I may. I accept the point he makes in respect of amendment No. 63. His analysis is fair and I realised that as he spoke. The thrust of the other amendments was about trying not to erode the independence of the commission but...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 62: In page 31, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(2) Before giving their consent, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance shall consult with and seek the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach.”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 65: In page 34, line 42, after “Minister” to insert “and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media”. Amendment No. 65 amends section 29(1). It provides that when preparing a strategy statement, as well as submitting it to the Minister, the commission would also share it with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, I have moved amendment No. 65. However, I am still speaking to it.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On amendment No. 65, I understand, accept and welcome that the intention is to ensure language in terms of relevant committees will be inserted by a Government amendment on Report Stage. I accept that the title of the relevant committee may change at a certain point. However, it is important that there would be that parliamentary oversight or engagement in terms of the strategy and not...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 66: In page 35, to delete lines 15 and 16 and substitute the following: "(3) When preparing a strategy statement, the Commission shall consult with— (a) the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, (b) the Data Protection Commission, (c) the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, (d) Screen Ireland, and (e) such...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 67: In page 35, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(4A) When preparing a strategy statement, the Commission shall consult with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.".

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 68: In page 35, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(4A) A record of such consultations described in subsection (4) shall be kept and deposited with the Minister and laid before both Houses the Oireachtas.".

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 69: In page 35, to delete lines 38 and 39 and substitute the following: "work programme, have regard to the need to ensure the most sustainable and efficient use of its resources, while ensuring that such resources are directed towards maximum social and cultural benefit to the public.".

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 70: In page 36, line 16, after "any" to insert "appropriate". I propose to withdraw this amendment, but I may return to the issue on Report Stage. May I speak to the other amendment in the group?

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I indicated that that is my intention, but I want to speak to amendment No. 71.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have queried the procedure where I propose to withdraw amendment No. 70. Amendment No. 71 provides that where there are consultations, a record would be kept and that such record would include the rationale by which the commission deemed the person to be appropriate to consult with. Here, again, I have used the language that such record should be deposited with the Minister and laid...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like clarification. A similar answer was given in terms of the earlier piece when the focus was laid on the phrase "laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas". I have made it clear that that is not the core point. Does the Minister agree that records in regard to with whom the commission consults should be kept? I am speaking about those with whom the commission consults in the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister of State can choose to not answer that question. This is the Committee Stage debate. When we come to the section I will speak to it and ask the Minister of State the same question and, perhaps, he might answer it. He is currently answering in respect of the records being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. He is not answering in terms of the other issue. In this...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: He has spoken to the amendments. We can come back to the issue when we come to the section.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We will come to the section presently.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 71: In page 36, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(4A) A record of any consultations conducted under subsection (4) shall be kept and such a record will include the rationale by which the Commission deemed the person to be appropriate to consult with, and such records shall be deposited with the Minister and laid before both Houses of the...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 72: In page 37, line 14, after “rules” to insert the following: “and shall identify specific barriers to accessing audiovisual media services for people with disabilities along with possible mitigation measures”. This deals with the annual report which addresses the issue of the accessibility of audiovisual media services to persons with...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My amendment seeks to ensure that we did not end up having very general figures in terms of accessibility but that the report looks to address specific barriers and how they might be mitigated. Rather than having a very generic progress report, it should actually be a problem-solving report. I welcome the existence of the annual report within the legislation. I think it is a constructive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (4 May 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief because I am conscious that others, even during the term of the last Oireachtas, have worked in this area. I want to follow up on two or three subjects, particularly regarding liability insurance, because I have encountered several cases, particularly in the voluntary sector, where there is an extremely negative impact. I have a couple of questions on the impact of the...