Results 4,981-5,000 of 8,445 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Has the Government asked for advice in respect of the legislation?

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, line 18, to delete “€4,000” and substitute “€2,000”. Amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, and to an extent amendment No. 5, are related. They all point to a concern in respect of costs. There has been an incentive here and a wish. In a way, this is other sections of the Health (Amendment) Act that are being...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Thank you.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join other speakers in welcoming the Bill and I support the calls for a move towards more concise and clear language, where possible. However, I also have substantial concerns regarding certain provisions of the Bill and I would appreciate if the Minister could elaborate on them. I have tabled a number of amendments, which I know are not perfect. I am happy to move with the consensus of...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had put some questions which she might be able to respond to.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is Committee Stage.

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am glad the legislation is progressing. I know that it has a further journey to go. I urge the Minister to continue to engage with Members of this House as the legislation continues its journey. I believe there are issues of clarity and I still have two concerns. They may seem to be contradictory but I do not believe they are because they relate to the different rights and different...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am conscious of the nuance in this and that we want to move forward. To clarify, I do not have a single concern; I have two concerns, and the Minister has addressed one of those. I am concerned about how section 93 would be applied. Could it be too narrow in its application or, potentially, could it be too wide in its application? Those are the nuances to be looked at. That is why,...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Before the debate on Friday, I wonder if it will be possible for the Minister to look at scenarios whereby different children may be given different treatment within a case, and the extent to which the legislation allows for that. Perhaps that can be looked at.

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...