Results 5,721-5,740 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Acting Chairman for his forbearance.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14a:In page 4, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“(4) Any review under subsection (1) for the purposes of selecting the most suitable bog habitats to be designated or cease to be designated as natural heritage areas must also include all other purposes listed under subsection (3).”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank everybody who supported amendment No. 10 in my name, although it was unsuccessful, and those who are considering the issues that arise from amendment No. 11. As a result of its insertion, the Bill now states the purposes of a review under the section may contribute to the achievement of nature conservation objectives and maintaining bog habitats, or restoring those favoured for...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If the Minister of State is accepting the point, I do not understand why he is not accepting the amendment.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the verbal and interpretative assurance from the Minister of State. I accept that is the good intent of the Minister of State. I feel it is better to have these things copper-fastened in law. A future Minister might interpret it differently. I accept the bona fides of the Minister of State but I might press the amendment nonetheless.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14b:In page 4, lines 12 and 13, to delete “the proposals arising from” and substitute “any proposals being considered during”. Section 4 lays out the process that will apply to a review. The two amendments relate to the sequence in which the elements of a review and a post-review will be taken. The Bill indicates that the Minister will carry...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does the Minister of State see the issue? They are considering the proposals rather than these factors before making proposals. I suggest a more robust sequencing of the process. I will not press both amendments but I will press one. I hope the Minister of State might have better wording to address the timeline issue but, if not, I will press amendment No. 14b.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Just to be clear, it is a matter of proposals arising from a review. The public consultation comes after the review. It is not a part of the review; it comes after it. That is exactly the issue I am trying to address. I acknowledge public consultation is important, and I thank the Minister of State for recognising it, but right now public consultation comes after the review and is not...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14c:In page 4, line 13, to delete “arising from” and substitute “during”. I do not believe I have the support of the House for this amendment. I appreciate those Members who supported me but I know do not have a majority in the House for it. That said, I will withdraw it, although I would urge others in the Dáil to consider revisiting...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 15:In page 4, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:“(c) have regard to any recommendations as may emerge from any relevant Oireachtas Committee in relation to climate action.”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister of State will know I hold the view that it would have been better to take this Bill in two months' time because we are making all these decisions and taking all these votes on the policy of how we manage our peatlands with the designation or de-designation of bogs just two weeks ahead of the Joint Committee on Climate Action giving consideration to a peatlands strategy. We will...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Those are Government strategies and initiatives and some of them are welcome. The funding for them is too low, given the scale and speed of the crisis. I know the levels of funding are not entirely within the gift of the Department but I would like to see more funding in those areas. Nonetheless, while those are positive initiatives arising from the original Joint Committee on Climate...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am pressing the amendment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am concerned by what has been proposed in the Bill and endorsed in terms of the removal of the service charge. I am also concerned from the perspective of customers. The Bill seems to suggest money that is floating around might still reach the staff. There is very little money floating around. Most people when they go into a restaurant make a decision on whether they should give a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Why is a service charge applied to larger groups, rather than to every customer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does Mr. Cummins think it is acceptable for businesses to charge large groups more? Does he think it is acceptable for servers not to receive tips?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does Mr. Cummins agree that serving a large group is harder for service personnel? Does he agree that serving large groups entails much more work and effort for waiting staff?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to make a separate point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Nonetheless, if I pay for a group of six people and leave a 15% service charge in cash, the employer seems happy to absorb that 15% into the system. There seems to be a slight contradiction between the two testimonies. Mr. Fenn spoke about being clear to the customer, whereas Mr. Cummins made a plea for the notice to be kept separate so the menu is not overburdened with information. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Food safety is not-----