Results 5,061-5,080 of 8,445 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Union: Discussion. (8 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Moreover, this is a highly profitable bank.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that the Bill which my group is putting forward next week has already been formally seconded, so I simply want to voice my support for it. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have talked a great deal about solidarity and vulnerability. One cohort of people who are extremely vulnerable are those who have received letters informing them that they are to be deported and who face the...

Seanad: Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: First Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I encourage the Minister of State to review this, at a minimum. There has been a significant impact on businesses and will be an impact in the coming seasons. The proposals being put forward are reasonable, particularly those suggesting that the change being suggested needs to be reviewed so it does not have a lasting impact.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Procedurally, it is important to note and be clear that this decision by the previous Oireachtas was made in circumstances where legislation was being rushed through. Like Senator Boyhan, I have often highlighted that when one rushes legislation through without proper scrutiny mistakes are made. This provision is an example of that. It is important to note that the legislation in question...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have opposed sections 115 to 118, inclusive, because I had an overall concern. All the sections relate to policies on international protection. There are a number of flaws - anomalies and measures that are not compliant with human rights - within our international protection legislation, which it is proposed to re-insert here. I will not call votes on each section but I wanted to...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will not be opposing sections 115 to 118, inclusive. I am keen to move on to the specific amendments on section 119. However, some of those concerns are specific. Again, this is an issue I wish we had had more proper scrutiny of since the last occasion on which we passed withdrawal legislation. There are concerns, particularly if we end up in a situation where the UK withdraws from, for...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 91, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following: “(b) by the substitution of “14 years” with “18 years” in all places where it occurs within this section,”. This amendment relates to one of the many concerns in respect of our international protection legislation. Whether the Minister accepts it today, it is...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The GDPR came after that EURODAC regulation so it is the more recent law. Perhaps it is due to the vulnerability of the persons affected that cases have not been taken but I imagine when they do take cases, they will be successful. While the EURODAC regulation allows us to have the database in that regard, we should look to best practice both in terms of our obligations under GDPR but also...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 91, to delete lines 21 to 23. The phrase "the person arrived in the State from a safe third country that is, in accordance with subsection (17), a safe country for the person." is used in the Bill. I will not speak at length to this because I wish to address the issue later when we discuss the issue of a safe third country. The European directives give...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 91, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “(b) will have access to the same standard of medical care within the country, as they can receive within the State,”. Amendments Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, relate to a similar scenario. The Minister may be aware that I previously raised with the Minister of State with responsibility for...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for her response. We will be addressing some of the issues in the legislation that we will bring forward next week. Some of the issues we will be bringing forward next week can be addressed by policy but that clearly needs to happen. Some of the issues require legislation and there is a mix in that regard. Many of the amendments to which we are about to move very much...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10: In page 92, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: "(c) there is a significant risk to the health of the person, either as a result of the public health situation in the country to which they are being expelled or returned or if travel to the country to which they are being expelled or returned would carry a significant health risk.".

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 11: In page 92, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: "(c) an expulsion or return would carry a significant risk to the health of the person, either as a result of the public health situation in the country to which they are being expelled or returned or if travel to the country to which they are being expelled or returned would carry a significant health...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 93, to delete lines 25 and 26. We have spoken to amendment No. 12 previously. This is in relation to the first country of asylum. I am pointing to the fact that this is an issue that needed to be teased out a little more. I am also conscious that we have talked about families and others who would be affected by Brexit. I have concerns, which I will not...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They are ameliorating provisions.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 13: In page 93, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: "(5) Where a person specified in an order does not have legal representation, the State shall inform that person orally and in writing, in a language they can comprehensively understand, of legal assistance and advice that they may avail of.". Amendment No. 13 is on the issue of refoulement, which we...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is it the Minister's understanding that this information that should be given to a person under the relevant procedure would include information in respect of the person's rights in relation to non-refoulement?

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Non-refoulement, by its nature, applies even after the event. Under that circumstance, I do not need to press this amendment.