Results 401-420 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: This is a matter of national importance. To ensure that this never happens again it is essential that we legislate for a high percentage, if not all, of developers' contributions to be designated for the area from which they are acquired. It is essential for many reasons that people and towns benefit positively from development and, as a consequence, I call for a debate on the issue so that...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome Mr. Richard Humphreys, SC. I know he has put a huge amount of work into the Bill.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I am not sure whether I can find a way of mentioning Galway or Athenry. I thank everybody involved in this codification endeavour. I am aware from my own legal work that it can be tedious to read through the various items of legislation that might apply to a particular case. This consolidation effort is something I welcome both as a practising barrister and as a legislator. As I observed...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Order for Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for his detailed and informative submission in which he went through the provisions of the Acts. It was good to hear their relevance to today's debate. I welcome the opportunity to lead this debate on behalf of the Labour Party group in the Seanad and to contribute on such an important piece of legislation. As legislators, we have...

Seanad: Farm Inspections (15 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister. The issue I raise is the ongoing situation with farm inspections, particularly in Galway East. Indeed, since I raised this matter on the Order of Business last week I have been informed that it occurs in other parts of the country. A practice exists whereby inspectors are arriving on farms to conduct inspections without giving any prior notice to the farmer. Some...

Seanad: Farm Inspections (15 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for her succinct and detailed response. I am fully aware of the benefits of such grants to the farming community and am all for efficiency and making savings within the relevant Departments. However, it still remains the position that there is a breach of basic law with regard to the notice period. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine should...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I congratulate her on all the great work she has done in her portfolio. This is a busy time for her and I appreciate her taking the time to come to the House. Next year will be significant as we take over the EU Presidency and it is great to know it will be under her capable guidance. What will be our agenda and priorities and what do we...

Seanad: Review of White Paper on Irish Aid: Statements, Questions and Answers (9 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed and informative speech today and welcome him to the House. It seems he has been a familiar figure in this Chamber over recent weeks and I look forward to welcoming him back again during this Government's term. More seriously, I am glad to participate in and lead the debate for the Labour group in the Seanad on the review of the White Paper on...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I ask that the Leader invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, to the House for a debate on the ongoing situation in relation to farm inspections. I understand that in east Galway in particular inspectors are arriving on farms to conduct inspections without giving prior notice to farmers. While in normal circumstances this would be illegal the inspectors are...

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Apr 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I will address some of the point made by Senator Cullinane in particular. Nowhere in the title of this treaty does the word "austerity" appear, and the Senator should be very careful in using the word. The well-being and future of the country is at stake and the Senators should get that into their heads.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Apr 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: This treaty is about transparency and accountability, which Sinn Féin seems to be against. It is also about precluding Governments from engaging in the reckless type of behaviour and spending policies of the past. That is why I urge the Minister of State to ensure what the treaty stands for is outlined in clear, concise, layman's terms in the information leaflet being sent to every...

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and congratulate him on his recent appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and wish him the very best in his portfolio. I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012....

Seanad: Sale of State Assets: Statements, Questions and Answers (19 Apr 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: Following the sale of State assets, there is a general pattern of job losses as a result of investors seeking to acquire the best possible return on their investment when such a programme is undertaken by any government. We do not want a situation in which we are introducing a job creation fund with some of the moneys we will acquire from the sale of some of the non-strategic assets while at...

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and the members of the business community who are in the Chamber for this debate on the proposed introduction of supports for small businesses and the self-employed. I thank the Minister of State for his responses to the issues raised by colleagues. I intend to refer to some of the specific challenges facing the business community. Prior to my nomination to...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and compliment her on her work in the Department since she took over the portfolio. In particular, I commend her for the recent announcement of €3 million in grants for the adaptation of homes for the elderly and those with a disability in County Galway and a further €4 million for the improvement of the existing housing supply in the county. While these...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on the Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. This is the most important treaty to come before Irish people for their consideration and has been the subject of much scaremongering. This has been addressed by the Tánaiste recently in the Dáil and will continue to be addressed by the Government...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend the Government's swift and decisive action on tackling the jobs crisis. A number of essential practical measures will help businesses to create jobs in this and subsequent years. I particularly welcome measures to help the SME sector to get better access to credit, which has been a major problem. Last year, 1,900 companies went to the wall or...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Lorraine Higgins: It is imperative that we fast-track this because these kind of companies are very labour intensive.