Results 4,881-4,900 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am not asking about the programme for Government. I am asking about the European Council meeting. I am conscious that we are mixing oranges and apples a bit. Irrespective of what is in the programme for Government about 7% and how that is calculated, what we are really discussing here is the EU framework which is based on reductions against 1990 levels. Could Mr. Carroll specifically...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With great respect, I was asking specifically about the position Ireland will take at the EU Council on the amendments made by the European Parliament. We will have ample opportunity to engage again on the domestic issue. I asked about the EU targets.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Deputy Bruton, because those questions around that architecture of governance and the semester process in the NECP are really crucial. On the cross-European areas, in terms of aviation and shipping, certainly whenever we try to address the issue of aviation we are told this is an EU competency. Within this new set of targets at the EU level, what will the monitoring or structures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We know, for example, that different cases have been taken within Europe against countries that tried to transition away from fossil fuels. I am aware there has been some conversation around the tension between corporate interests and legitimate expectations, as they would call it, from certain industries and member states' efforts to decarbonise in the energy sector. It is one of those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a single one-liner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: When Mr. Carroll spoke to us previously he expressed the concern that if we were to insert interim targets, our level of ambition could raise but it seems that the so-called at least formulation, which is being used in the EU Commission proposal in terms of at least 55% or at least 60% if we go with the European Parliament version, allows that to be a minimum interim target. Does he agree...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would suggest that the programme for Government and legislation are different things. As a non-member of Government I am focusing on the legislation at hand, but I thank Mr. Carroll for that clarification on the question of "at least".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What is the date of the European Council meeting?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank all the witnesses. The optional protocol has been mentioned. I hope that we will have ambition as a committee and drive a wider transformation in all aspects of Irish society. One of our early functions can be as a ticking clock around the optional protocol and suites of legislation. I was struck that there is much legislation that needs to be revised or that is already on the...

Seanad: Living with Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (10 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the House. Like most of those who have spoken today, I supported the move to level 5. I believe it was necessary and that it is a pity that we did not do it a couple of weeks earlier. We have seen what a reluctance to act can lead to. The model of Belgium, which the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, had been promoting, is now a strong...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I support the extension of the university franchise and I have done so for a long time. In that context, of course, I cannot but support the Bill and its proposals. I specifically commend several choices which were made. I support seeking a wide single six-seater university panel. That is important. Another decision which I support, and which was something I and Senator Warfield pressed...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is why I have a couple of notes of caution and expansion regarding how we need to be more ambitious about this and similar legislation. Along with 11 other Senators, I introduced a Seanad reform Bill on my first day in the Seanad in 2016. I did that because I was passionate about it. I know Senators Byrne and Cassells, who also served on the Seanad reform implementation group with me,...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is in the context of this Bill.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Senators for bringing forward their Bill. I will support it today on Second Stage. I hope to engage actively on it between now and Committee Stage, but I also hope that between now and Committee Stage we see the Government stepping forward, delivering the agreed Bill on Seanad reform and bringing it to us.

Seanad: Data Protection Regulations: Motion (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As has been pointed out, the motion corrects an error but it points to several other key issues and I want to pick up on several of them. One is with regard to the points made by Senator Byrne. There is a concern about financial institutions and the quite disproportionate level of concern about data breaches with regard to financial institutions. I recognise the motion will make it easier...

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Report 4. Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report in respect of the impact and use of the provisions in this Act, including a consideration of the use of Investment Limited Partnerships for tax avoidance, and their impact,...

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This amendment builds on the discussion we had with the Minister of State on the OECD and the base erosion and profit shifting, BEPS, on Committee Stage. This is a somewhat wider amendment, however. I am asking that within 12 months of the passing of this Act - and I remind the Minister of State that he can agree to the action even if he does not agree to the amendment - the Minister would...

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to make a point of clarity because I would not want the Minister of State to accidentally misinform the record. I have not objected to the fact that lobbying has taken place. I have objected to the fact that the lobbying documents were not made available to the spokespersons. The fact of lobbying is not the issue. It is the transparency on it.

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Again, it is very important to clarify that nobody objects to the fact of lobbying. It is a normal process. Many of us received lots of pre-budget documents, for example, from various bodies on the budget and the Finance Bill. The issue is the clarity. I note that the Minister of State at least believes the Houses of the Oireachtas should have access to these documents as part of their...

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (6 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I object to amendment No. 7's inclusion in the grouping. It relates to a separate and different issue and should be dealt with separately, if that is okay.