Results 21-40 of 658 for speaker:Emer Higgins in 'Dáil debates'
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (18 Apr 2024)
Emer Higgins: Let me be clear that Ireland is fully supportive of the principles of this directive. It will increase the number of workers covered by collective bargaining, and that is something with which we agree. It is important to remember that, even without this directive, Ireland has one of the highest minimum wage rates in the EU. Article 4 of the directive is specific to collective bargaining in...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Directives (18 Apr 2024)
Emer Higgins: We should not lose sight of the fact that the overall ambition of the directive relates to the national minimum wage. Ireland has the sixth highest national minimum wage of the 22 EU member states that have national minimum wages. The directive does not attempt to set the minimum wage. Rather, it is about consultation when setting new minimum wages. That is something Ireland is a leader...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)
Emer Higgins: As the Deputy may be aware, it is not possible for the State to provide that a retirement age below 66 in all circumstances will be illegal. The reality is that certain roles may require a lower retirement age, often for the health and safety of the workers in question. That is especially so where people have very physically demanding jobs, for example. It is also critical for...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)
Emer Higgins: The Deputy and I agree that when it comes to certain occupations, it may not be appropriate to have indefinite periods of working life and that is what this legislation provides for. There are complexities where there are existing contracts between employers and employees, particularly in the private sector, that specify a mandatory retirement age. What we are doing here is making changes...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)
Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputy for her kind remarks and I look forward to working with her. The purpose of the general scheme of the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill 2024 is to implement a key recommendation related to mandatory retirement age, which is included in the Pensions Commission recommendations and implementation plan. As recommended by the Pensions...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: I have been a Member of this House for four years.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, why is he allowed talk to me like this? Is this not through the Chair?
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: So much for working together.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: I am standing here yet again to ask for updates on 12 schools in my area. I raised this as a Topical Issue recently and the Ceann Comhairle suggested the Department host a briefing meeting with me. I am thankful for the note the Department provided, but, as usual, there is no new information, no action plan for progress, no timelines and no meeting has been set up. Meanwhile, the parents...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: The budget is there. The plans are there. All these schools are waiting for is the go-ahead from the Department.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: Lucan Community College-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: -----Holy Family Community School------
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: -----Griffeen Community College, Coláiste Pobail Fóla, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin, the gaelscoil campus in Clondalkin-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: -----Divine Mercy senior and junior schools, St. Thomas's SNS, Scoil Áine-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: Leas-Cheann Comhairle, this is the problem-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: -----the list goes on and on and I cannot get-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: ------I cannot get updates for these schools that so badly need this.
- Rare Diseases: Statements (6 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: Wait times for access to medicine for those with rare diseases is growing. The Alliance of Rare Disease Companies Ireland tells us that Ireland now ranks 31st out of 37 countries when it comes to waiting lists for approval of drugs. Patients are waiting for an average of 877 days for orphan medicinal products to be approved. That is more than two years of uncertainty for them. Six years...
- International Women's Day: Statements (5 Mar 2024)
Emer Higgins: Apologies for being breathless. I just ran from a committee vote. That underscores how important it is that we get more women into this Chamber, so that the women who are here do not have to sit on too many committees in order to achieve gender balance. This Friday, 8 March, as we all well know, is a really significant day and this year, it is a significant day for two reasons. First,...
- Child and Youth Mental Health: Statements (29 Feb 2024)
Emer Higgins: Some 4,400 young individuals are waiting for support from CAMHS. We are faced with a really stark reminder of the urgency and the immense responsibility we have as a Government in addressing youth mental health issues across Ireland because this number is not just a statistic. It represents real lives in need of immediate attention and the urgent need for reform and for better resourcing...