Results 3,661-3,680 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is a simple amendment. I raised this issue on Committee Stage. I believe the current wording covers my concern but I am looking for an assurance. Perhaps the Minister of State might provide one. Many people were extremely worried about this deadline. People have been trying to pull together the paperwork for a large number of applications fearing the cut-off date of 31 November. A...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for that clarification. I am happy to withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise for speaking to this amendment earlier. I have the same concerns about foreshore. It is a pity this was not acted on earlier as it would have allowed us to produce legislation that is fit for purpose and works. Instead, we have legislation that has us return to the least bad option, pending a review of rights of way. I hope we can do a good review that does not only protect...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, line 7, to delete “60 years” and substitute “40 years”.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 22, to delete “70 per cent” and substitute “80 per cent”. I note that the scheduling of the business, the times allocated, adjournments, continuations and so forth are all outside of my control, as a member of the Opposition, and are within the scope of the Houses of the Oireachtas as proposed by the Government....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am a little concerned. It is one thing to have the idea that there are certain ancillary facilities, and I know that is recognised around childcare and other supports that are needed in regard to the residential developments. However, I am concerned that, in the Minister's reply, he focused very heavily on what developers want.What developers want, I have heard, is the commercial piece...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will say a last sentence on this. I totally want to see planning brought back to local authorities. We are lauding this as a move on from the SHDs but we raised concerns about the fast-tracking of SHDs. I was in the Seanad when we highlighted concerns we had about how it might be abused and fail to deliver. Many of those concerns proved to be correct. When we are flagging concerns or...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I withdraw it, reserving the right to reintroduce.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, line 22, after “other” to insert “higher”. I withdraw the amendment, reserving the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 24, after “development” to insert the following: “and where the remaining 30 per cent is comprised of public open spaces, landscaping, play facilities, pedestrian permeability or ancillary services, where required, including child care facilities”.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, line 35, to delete “academic term times” and substitute “the academic year”. I withdraw the amendment, reserving the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support these amendments. I note the discussion on my previous comments regarding the importance of planning, the independence of our planning structures and the Oireachtas not being overly prescriptive. By the same token, whatever about the Oireachtas being overly prescriptive, it would certainly not be appropriate for the Minister to be able to override, through these guidelines, hard...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak first in support of amendment No. 7. I understand a large number of my amendments are grouped together with it. It is appropriate that we listen to local authority members and what they ask. They are not requesting this lightly. They are keenly aware of the process. Local area plans and local development plans are a crucial part of democracy. These are the decisions that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his willingness to engage with me, Senator Boyhan and others in relation to amendments Nos. 7 and 10 on the local development plans. I look forward to a positive outcome on those coming through on Report Stage. I also thank him for accepting amendment No. 13. It is important in terms of the transparency of the process. I urge the Minister to consider amendments...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Exactly, but even in that regard it was-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Absolutely, but it was important the members identified there should not be draft proposals on rezonings coming through directly from officials without engagement with members.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following: “(i) obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, with due regard to the principle of universal design and regulations under Statutory Instrument Number 513 of 2010;”.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 6, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: “(j) an estimation of greenhouse gas emissions associated with building, including embodied energy as may be released by demolition in the course of the development;”.