Results 5,121-5,140 of 8,445 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Combating Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (24 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am very glad we can have this discussion. Many of us from all parties have been calling for action and a debate on this since this Seanad first convened. It has acquired particular urgency this week in the context of the image-based sexual violence we have been hearing about.It is also important to note that in the wider context of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a shocking increase...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Following on from the previous contribution, I note a factual inaccuracy. There is no reason development cannot take place on the site. The eight years to which the Senator referred is the opinion of one person. The real debate we need to have is whether Ireland will be taking advantage of the fact that we can access loans at rates of 0% or lower in order to build public housing. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The State should be able to, and can, build. It has built in the past. We were asked to expedite fast-tracked planning permission which was then not used, as the Senator will be familiar with. Strategic housing developments were never built. We may have a debate about it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I refrained from interrupting during the previous debate. I second the proposals for adjournments or a 90-minute or one-hour period for the Seanad Bill. I second the proposals to oppose the taking of the proposed amendment to Standing Orders in respect of speaking times for Private Members' business. I believe that is a signal of intent from those who once sought to abolish this House and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The CPP did not do that.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment to amendment No. 1: To delete “31st December, 2021” and substitute “31st May, 2021”.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the amendment later. I am glad to co-sponsor this very comprehensive legislation at 104 pages. While I am one of the co-sponsors, this legislation is not simply a product of those who are putting it forward today. This is the agreed legislation that came from the Seanad reform implementation group and the points made by Senator Warfield are important because there has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (18 Nov 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join the others in extending to Professor Quinn my warmest congratulations. I was delighted that he was appointed to his role. Of course, I am delighted as a Galwegian but, most important, we are now in our national roles and Professor Quinn is in his international role. It was interesting that Professor Quinn commented on foreign policy. In his new international role, I encourage him to...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Mr. Carroll. I want to focus on a couple of areas around that question of targets. As I understand, because Ireland is a laggard and has not met its previous targets, I do not believe that will give us a free pass. It might mean that we need to have a higher nationally determined contribution. Is Mr. Carroll suggesting that this would require us to be reducing by 55% to 60% from...

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...