Results 321-340 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

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

Lorraine Higgins: That is the most important point that we must take from this debate today. I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Hayes, into the House today. I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead this debate on the Bill on behalf of the Labour Party group. We all know that the national lottery has been a constant feature of our lives since...

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

Lorraine Higgins: It is only the licence to operate this asset that is being sold.

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

Lorraine Higgins: It is important to have clarity on that. That is the point.

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

Lorraine Higgins: This should reassure Senator O'Donnell and members of the public who have major concerns about the sale. It is not beneficial to anybody to be scaremongering about this. With this in mind I would welcome the establishment of an independent regulator to ensure that the interests of participants in the national lottery are protected. The regulator would also have the important task of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Property Taxation Exemptions (23 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his very detailed response. I am glad that he has clarified matters, particularly in respect of the market value of properties. I was contacted by a number of people to whom letters were furnished by Revenue in which it was indicated that their homes were valued at €140,000, whereas properties in the estates in which they live recently sold for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Property Taxation Exemptions (23 Apr 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with the need for Minister for Finance to outline the steps he is taking to ensure that standardised criteria are applied to unfinished estates in the calculation of the amount due in property tax. A large number of people were deemed to be living in unfinished estates and thereby got an exemption from last year's household...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I ask the that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, come to the House to discuss the possibility of implementing a policy which would, without doubt, assist the safety and well-being of many teenagers. Bullying and suicide are two issues persist and remain prevalent among teenagers. Every channel of communication must be considered as we seek to raise awareness of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: The Tánaiste met with John Kerry recently.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her response. It would be helpful if the Minister, Deputy Coveney, were here. Agriculture is his specific responsibility and there were a few points I wanted to put to him. I accept that if applications are not fully completed, it is very difficult to pay out. The reality is that quite a number of farmers have completed their application forms properly...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking this matter on the Adjournment. I seek clarification concerning the payment to farmers of grants under the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS. When will these payments be made? A large number of farmers in my local area, for example, in Athenry, Loughrea, Gort, Tuam and Kinvara, have been waiting for an unacceptably long time to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (6 Mar 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for taking this matter on the Adjournment. I request that she clarify the legal position on planning conditions otherwise known as enurement clauses which are imposed by some local authorities and have the effect of restricting the sale of a dwelling house for a period of time. A significant number of people in my constituency in places such as...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Planning Issues (6 Mar 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I understand the effect of these clauses in that we must strike a balance and address some sensitive planning issues in the countryside, in particular. There is an overriding concern that there has been a clear breach of people's property rights which are inalienable, which is why I have brought the matter before the House. I would appreciate it if some further research could be done on it....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Transport (28 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Regarding the response, it is all very well saying the extension of the route to serve Oranmore is satisfactory and is the reason another route should be abolished. That does not address the issue for the people living west of Athenry in Mulpit, Derrydonnell and the area east of Oranmore. What will commuters and those attending schools in Galway city do? Regarding the increase in rail...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Transport (28 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: At the moment there is no service at 7.30 a.m. I ask that the Minister of State conveys my comment on the bus route to the Minister and asks him to organise a delegation from Athenry, Derrydonnell and Mulpit to attend the offices of the National Transport Authority and see if we can make progress on the matter.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Transport (28 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank him for taking the Adjournment matter which is my request that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport intervene with the National Transport Authority to save bus route 418, which is being discontinued and which operates between Athenry and Galway via Derrydonnell and Oranmore, County Galway. The Minister of State might not be...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Programme Applications (27 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. It is quite clear that there is a difficulty now in that the school will have to go back and seek further planning permission for a temporary, modular-type facility. That will obviously result in a significant time lapse in terms of the school getting through the planning process. As I stated earlier, there is an urgent need for a school in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Programme Applications (27 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I thank her for taking this matter on the Adjournment. This deals with the potential provision of a new school building for the Educate Together multi-denominational school located at Kilcolgan, County Galway. I have been contacted by a number of parents of children attending the school, who want to know the Department's plans to provide a...

Seanad: Ireland's Presidency of the European Council: Statements (26 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: I apologise to the Minister of State for not wearing my Presidency scarf and thank her most sincerely for giving me one. I was afraid it would clash with my jacket.

Seanad: Ireland's Presidency of the European Council: Statements (26 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Perhaps I will take some style tips from Senator Zappone. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is welcome to have her address the Seanad, especially given her experience in dealing with issues of national and European importance in her role as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. She is a great ambassador and Irish people can be proud to have her...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Social Entrepreneurship: Discussion (21 Feb 2013)

Lorraine Higgins: Never say never.