Results 4,741-4,760 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Decarbonising Transport: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Decarbonising Transport: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I might ask for written answers because I would really appreciate that. One question is on the review of the TEN-T programme - the idea of funding new projects and looking to engage with Europe on the western rail project and those kinds of large-scale projects - while another concerns land use by local authorities and how we can look more at funding. Again, when we look at the recovery and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Decarbonising Transport: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If they have time to comment, it would be great but I-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Alignment of Special Education Policy with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I missed a short period in the middle of the meeting so these questions may have been dealt with. I want to talk about the issue of choice. We have discussed the importance of ensuring those who need that direct education are able to return to school but I am wondering about a related issue in terms of choice where there are children with a disability, for example, in families which may have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Alignment of Special Education Policy with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It was specifically not where the child is high risk but where there is a high-risk family member. It is a challenging situation for families. The system accommodates the child who is high risk but I refer to where, for example, they have a sibling or family member with health conditions. Additional supports are needed in those situations and they seem to be falling between the cracks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Alignment of Special Education Policy with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This might be an area where a more nuanced approach is warranted. I believe that in 80% to 90% of situations expediting the return to school is absolutely the best and most important thing but I know families who are worried they will be pushed into an all-or-nothing situation. I am worried that we may have families, including families where children have special needs, who are falling out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Matters: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. O'Connell for coming before the committee again. It is very clear that all of the issues he had previously flagged to us have come to pass. I also agree that it is clearly not plausible that this decision was only made last week. I was struck by the fact that Ulster Bank disbanded its sustainable banking committee in December. This really points to the idea that sustaining the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Matters: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As others have said, the way that this has been handled is extremely disappointing. The treatment of customers and staff has been unacceptable. I question the idea that a final decision had not been made because it is very clear that many decisions were being made. I ask Ms Howard to comment on the withdrawal from the sustainable banking forum and the disbanding of Ulster Bank's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Matters: Discussion (23 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Ms Howard assured people that they do not need to move and they will be notified. I know, however, that the list of FAQs that the bank is giving to customers says that they will be notified in advance if the mortgage book that contains them is being sold. How far in advance? Rather than waiting for further decisions on their mortgages, a number of people would like to be able to plan their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Engagement with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (16 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am in Leinster House. I am substituting for Senator Lynn Ruane. The Minister will be aware from debates in the Seanad that Senator Ruane and I have strong concerns about the method of operation of the commission and especially about the confidential committee. I want to focus on two sets of concerns. The Minister mentioned in his statement that he has no role or knowledge of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Engagement with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (16 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will follow up on that because the role of the Data Protection Commission is not simply advisory. There is a legal responsibility and potential legal investigation. Section 45 of the 2004 Act states that if a tribunal is established to inquire into a matter that was within the commission's terms of reference, all evidence received by and all documents created by or for the commission...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister and I commend Senator McDowell and the Independent Group on bringing this Bill forward. It is good to see the Government supporting constructive legislation from the Opposition benches. One of the ways we can most effectively make good legislation is when we take good ideas, regardless of where they come from. As other Members said, the legislation follows the Court...

Seanad: Remote Working Strategy: Motion (15 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Like other speakers, I welcome the motion. There was much that I liked in the wording of the motion. I commend Senator Currie on her proposal because she spoke to a number of important issues. Remote working is not the same as home working. It may be about hubs. She spoke about how important this is for rural areas, but also that the idea of a 15-minute city is crucial for cities. We do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with Chairperson Designate of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (9 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I congratulate Mr. Byrne on his appointment. I am sure we will engage with him again on the new statement of strategy for 2021 to 2025. He spoke about increased ambition. We are in a circumstance where we were looking at the recovery and resilience facilities that are coming from Europe, the State being able to take loans and a suspension of the fiscal rules that exist. In terms of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with Chairperson Designate of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (9 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perhaps Mr. Byrne could reply in writing if he cannot address some of those questions now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with Chairperson Designate of the ESB (9 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. O'Rourke. I want to follow up on a couple of issues that have already been flagged. A concern I would have is that it the ESB seems to be at a stage in its planning where it is chasing the regulations that might come in rather than anticipating them. I believe Senator Dooley was making a similar point, that we and the ESB need to be ahead of time. I am a little bit concerned,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I hope to ask questions later about the recovery and resilience strategy. The wage for the post of Secretary General will be €5,615 per week, at the same time that there will be €100 per week for nurses. That is very difficult to defend. What is the rationale that this figure is necessary to attract the best candidates? Is it that the best candidates will be motivated only...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We saw the HSE CEO's salary being used as a justification with respect to this salary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am not debating the value for money or the quality of the HSE CEO. The point is that the knock-on effect is already happening in that this is partially a knock-on effect. We are told we had to raise the bar once and we may need to raise the bar again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In terms of that accountability, it would be interesting and certainly a challenge to see if this very heavily remunerated post does increase the accountability of the Secretary General. I am aware that there has often been frustration in exchanges between the Department of Health and the HSE on who is accountable for decisions. I hope that, given the very considerable remuneration for the...