Results 301-320 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting Applications (22 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her response. It is excellent to hear that 23 people have recently been transferred from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the central vetting unit. I also welcome the plans to introduce an e-vetting system. On the question of dealing with multiple applications, it might be worth considering introducing a card system so that a person...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting Applications (22 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: A central pillar of Government policy is to have large numbers of those who are currently without work gain meaningful employment as a means of resolving the economic crisis. I commend the efforts the Government has made in this regard, including successfully increasing foreign direct investment, implementing two action plans for jobs and announcing a schools building programme. Despite the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Jim Higgins, MEP (16 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome Mr. Higgins to the Chamber. I should perhaps refer to him as "Deputy Higgins", which I understand is the title used by Members of the European Parliament themselves in the course of their work. I get a kick out of that title because it is one I aspire to myself within our national Parliament. It is always a welcome departure to have Members of the European Parliament address the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (9 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. Like the Minister, I am committed to seeing something worthwhile happen with the project. The tower has an historical, cultural and educational significance. It is heartening for the people who are interested in it to discover that there may be further plans for it, and we all welcome the initiative. Senator Healy Eames mentioned...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Architectural Heritage (9 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance. This matter concerns Yeats Tower, Thoor Ballylee, County Galway. This is a building of special importance from an historical, recreational and cultural perspective to the people of Kiltartan and Gort in County Galway. Indeed, in 1965, for the centenary of W. B. Yeats's birth, Ballylee was fully restored by the Kiltartan Gregory Cultural...

Seanad: Overseas Development Issues: Statements (9 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State. On behalf of the Labour group in the Seanad, I also welcome the opportunity to lead the debate on the recent launch of Ireland's policy on international development. It is essential to any foreign affairs or trade process to have a roadmap covering the various issues that might affect the Department or the Third World. One World, One Future sets out the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (8 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House. I wish to raise the need for him to clarify the employment position of Leader and community funded scheme employees. I have concerns that the proposed realignment process his Department is undertaking as part of his local government reform agenda will lead to direct job losses without this group and the loss of economic opportunity in communities...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding (8 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his detailed response and for clarifying the position on the alignment working group, the expressions of interest which have been sought by it and funding issues. I stress that the security of jobs in Athenry and throughout the country is of paramount importance to the people and the towns and local communities that benefit from the economic activity generated by...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation (1 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am glad some clarity has been provided. I am aware that the Department is in contact with the school, on behalf of which I have raised the issue this evening. The school was seeking clarity as to a definite timeline and a date by which students and staff could occupy the accommodation in the new building. As I said, there was concern...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: School Accommodation (1 May 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for taking this matter on the Adjournment. My home town of Athenry is a growing urban area the population of which has increased from 1,000 during pre-boom times to 5,000 currently and, as a consequence, the local schools, and in particular the Presentation College in Athenry, is experiencing over-capacity and ongoing demand for...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister. With regard to security of employment for the employees, will the Minister confirm that it might be a situation where the transfer of undertakings legislation will come into effect to secure the tenure of employment for those employees?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for the very detailed response but unfortunately, I am bogged down in technicality. There was very little to address the problem I have highlighted relating to Department inspections. The Minister must face up to and acknowledge the fact that there is a problem in this regard. He must issue a directive from the Department that any official found breaching...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I have only been a public representative for two years but I am astounded by the number of cases coming before me concerning breaches of procedure and law. I am a member of the Labour Party, which would not have been known as a farmer-friendly party, so it is amazing that farmers are coming to me about it. That highlights the problem so I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I would hate to see many judicial review cases being brought against the State in the High Court.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Does the Minister of State have the details pertaining to my question?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for being present to discuss farm inspections. As he probably knows, the inspection regime is about to restart. In this light, it is imperative that I highlight some of the practices carried out by some - I stress that word - officials during the last inspection period. In my constituency of Galway East and replicated throughout the country,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: On a point of order, I do not have a copy of the Minister of State's speech.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Farm Inspections (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill today and I would like to respond to some of the issues that Senator O'Donnell has raised, particularly about social issues and gambling addiction which will remain a problem regardless of whether this is in private or public ownership. Many leading psychologists would vouch for that. The Seanad is a fantastic instrument in the organs of the...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (24 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: We are not. We are giving someone the opportunity to run and operate the national lottery. We are not losing ownership.