Results 5,501-5,520 of 8,445 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I warmly congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, on his appointment to his new role. I welcome the statements that have been made recognising the importance of solidarity and of stimulus. It seems that at least some learning has happened from some of the failures and shortfalls in the European response to other crises in that there is now a very wide international recognition...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the section. I also wish to highlight some of the issues that will arise if we continue with the practice of trying to bring legislation through all Stages at once. I hope that practice will not continue because it fails to allow for nuance in the debate. When, for example, all Stages of a Bill are taken together, the Government is unable to bring forward amendments in...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----relates directly to a section and to the functions outlined therein, which is------

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment relates to section 12.2 of the fund description and the specific powers allocated thereunder which, as such, can be considered to form part of the Bill. The mechanisms by which decisions will be made in terms of a change in the beneficial mix are set out on page 39 of the Bill.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am speaking to amendment No. 2, which relates to section 10. I am speaking to the section.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No, I am speaking to amendments Nos. 1 and 2 which have been ruled out of order. I am speaking to the section they were intended to amend. This issue is not simply about an amount that goes in and I am certainly not simply talking about the amount that comes out. Rather, it relates to the processes for managing that. All of those processes are dealt with in the Bill. The Bill does not...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “Support for Public Services and Public Infrastructure 12. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas, a report outlining how Ireland will seek to use the Fund alongside the EU Covid-19 Recovery Fund to support investment in...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank Senator Gavan for his support and I thank the Minister of State for his recognition of the importance of the points made. If he is not taking them on board, I hope he might be able to make a commitment on reporting. It is one thing to say that concerns will be taken on board in the budget, but it is another to say what I propose. Our second concern - it is an overriding concern -...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a specific question. I appreciate the point about the private affairs of each company, and that is not what we would look for detail on. In the report the Minster of State has already committed to doing, can I confirm that will include the main objectives that are listed for the fund? I mentioned the ones I like, but there are lots of other objectives that Members will like, such as...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In that context, I would be happy to withdraw the amendment to facilitate speedier passing of the Bill.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach for offering me the opportunity to speak on it but I am hoping that elements of it might be reflected in this report that we are looking forward to receiving.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle and all those who have worked since the leaders' meeting to ensure that we are able to perform our work in this Chamber of course but, most important, in ensuring that all Members of the Seanad are able to fulfil their constitutional function by scrutinising legislation and decisions made in the context of that legislation. While much...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is welcome to see an approach based on stimulus. There has been recognition of and learning from some of the mistakes made in the recessions of the past. ICTU, SIPTU, the Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, and other important groups have always presented the alternative and made the case for stimulus but now the OECD, the IMF, the European Commission and others recognise that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Many of us who were elected to this Seanad conducted our campaigns during the early stages of the pandemic and, indeed, during lockdown. As we now convene and start our work, many months later, the virus is still very much with us. While we may be very happy that the curve has been flattened in Ireland, there are many, including myself, who have concerns about the pace at which we have...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On behalf of the Civil Engagement group, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election to the role. I know he is somebody who has great respect for the Seanad and an ambition for the role that it can and does play. Indeed, he has an ambition for the even greater role it could play were we deliver the Seanad reform that is still on the agenda, whether or not it is included in the...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I had intended to propose an amendment to this motion to require a review of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act. However, given the statements made by the outgoing Minister, Deputy Flanagan - and I acknowledge him as somebody who came very regularly to this House and engaged very respectfully and actively with it - on the intention to have...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House. As I stated when we met last week, I am conscious that, as Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister is also playing a key role in the global response to this. If at an appropriate point in the debate there is an opportunity to speak to that, I would appreciate it because this is a global pandemic and we must be in international solidarity now....

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, to delete lines 3 to 6 and substitute the following: “(i) the nature and potential impact of Covid-19 on individuals, society and the State, (ii) the capacity of the State to respond to the risk to public health, (iii) the need to restrict the movement of persons in order to prevent the spread of the disease among the population, the making...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. I know he addressed similar issues in the Dáil. He spoke about when we emerge from this. It is important that when we do, we reflect in terms of what we have just heard about the idea of anything being balanced against the common good - the common good to which everybody, including responsible business, is stepping up.We have seen the businesses...

Seanad: An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19) 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Mar 2020)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw the amendment in the context of our co-operation but I anticipate we will be returning to this matter.