Results 3,761-3,780 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will; that is fine. I think only one amendment remains after this. Exactly as the Minister has outlined, the focus of this amendment is on the ad hocattendees. While people may not have voting rights, their presence in a room when a discussion is taking place and decision is being made is very relevant.I suggest with respect that where there are ad hoc attendees, which, as the Minister...

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 7, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “Report 8. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, publish a report outlining what procedures, safeguards, firewalls and internal confidentiality protocols are in place to ensure appropriate separation between— (a) ESM engagement with the EU Commission in...

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 7, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “Report 8. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, conduct and publish a report outlining— (a) where, between 2012 and 2020, compliance with EU fiscal rules has been a factor in Government decisions to deliver public services or infrastructure “off...

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is the final amendment for discussion and it goes to the crunch. It is a retrospective amendment whereas most of the others look forward. I am asking that the Minister publish in the next year a report looking at the period in question. If we are to shape the future in terms of a new economic governance framework for the EU we need to learn from the past. It would be beneficial if...

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is an opportunity cost that has been lost. The idea is that the State will gather the money first but we know that not all large-scale investment firms and other funds move to gather the money first. In many cases, they look to the future dividends.When we as a State invest up front, it will not necessarily be about spending dividends and revenue but about creating future social and...

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “Meetings of Board of Directors 8.The Minister shall advocate for the publication of a list of all persons attending meetings of the Board of Directors to be published and to be publicly available.”.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Aligning Disability Services with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank all the speakers. There are many points to follow up but I will try to deal with three or four. I will begin with the early part which is the question of diagnosis. I am particularly interested in comments the witnesses might have on adult diagnosis. The other part is co-diagnoses because the witnesses mentioned that there are frequencies. I know that Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, EDS,...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 23, after “force” to insert “which is part of an international organisation as defined under section 1 of the Act of 2006”.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Based on conversations I had with the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, on Second and Committee Stages and his indication that he was interested in examining areas of the Bill, I had been hopeful that the Government would have proposed amendments in respect of this part of it. That would have been appropriate. The Bill has already been passed by the Dáil, so I do not know what...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I regret that the Government has not clarified this matter. As Members will be aware, my amendments explicitly excluded the humanitarian piece on Committee Stage but there are lots of other things such as monitoring, observation and recognisance. There are a number of different activities listed in section 3. Most of them are not direct military activities but it does matter and makes a...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I believe that amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, are related and that amendment No. 2 is a separate matter.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Acting Chairperson has asked if we agree to them being grouped. I am saying that I would like amendment No. 2 to be discussed separately and to discuss amendments Nos. 3 to 5 together.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to discuss amendment No. 2 separately and I am happy to group the other amendments, if that is agreeable to the House.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 1 of Act of 2006 17. Section 1 of the Act of 2006 is amended in paragraph (d) of the definition of “international organisation” by the insertion of “and is currently working” after “or has participated”.”.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The reason I move it is that it is particularly important and it is one where we would have a heightened concern following the debate on Second Stage. Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, relate to changes to section 3 of the Act whereas amendment No. 2 is really about section 1 of the 2006 Act. It specifically relates to that definition of "international organisation". This is one of the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With due respect to the Minister of State, what he has said is not accurate. The amendment would not prevent postings in the EU because the EU is covered under paragraph (c) of the existing definition, which refers to "the European Union or any institution or body of the European Union". It would not prevent postings to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe either because...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, after line 36, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 3 of Act of 2006 18.Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2): “(3) Where a seconding under subsection (1)(a) is— (a) for a contingent, rather than an individual member, of the Permanent Defence Force,...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, all relate to section 3 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 and propose a new section 3(3) to introduce a little clarity. Again, I have adapted all of my amendments to reflect the discussion I had with the Minister. I greatly respect the Minister and the very strong points he made on Committee Stage. That is why I have adapted these amendments to reflect...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief because I am aware there are more amendments to get to. My amendments did not relate to individual members. My proposed subsection (3)(a) explicitly states, "for a contingent, rather than an individual member, of the Permanent Defence Force". It was explicitly about contingents, not individual members. It is unfortunate that the response still reflects the same argument...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (3 Nov 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, after line 36, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 3 of Act of 2006 18. Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2): "(3) A contingent or member of the Permanent Defence Force shall only be seconded to any regional arrangement or agency that participates, or has participated,...