Results 5,801-5,820 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 20:In page 14, after line 25, to insert the following:“10. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within one month of the enactment of this Act, consult with the Joint Committee for Employment Affairs and Social Protection with the intention of attending a meeting of that committee and providing a briefing in relation to the Public...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 20 is on the Minister's engagement with the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. I understand from the clerk to the committee that the Minister is scheduled to appear at the committee on 26 October. If the Minister is able to confirm that, I do not need to press the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In the context of having confirmation that the Minister will attend the committee on 26 October I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 21:In page 14, after line 25, to insert the following:“10. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within six months of the enactment of this Act, prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas outlining potential actions in relation to social welfare supports and services in the context of the Climate Action Plan and...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 21 is on the wider issue of a just transition. We have had a lengthy debate on this. I look forward to engaging with the Minister on this elsewhere. We have not had a satisfactory engagement on this issue but it intersects with a number of other processes so in that context I will withdraw it at this point.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 22:In page 14, after line 25, to insert the following:“10. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within eight months of the enactment of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on policy options to strengthen social protection supports for one parent families with a youngest child between the ages of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: While I appreciate the pressed nature of the Department's budget, and I have argued for a higher budget for the Minister for many policy areas that are of national concern, I am more concerned about the pressed budgets of lone parents with children over the age of 14 and in that sense I am pressing the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Under Standing Order 62(3)(b) I request that the division be taken again other than by electronic means.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My apologies. Perhaps the-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for the clarification.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 23:In page 14, after line 25, to insert the following:"10.The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection shall, within eighteen months of the enactment of this Act, prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the role of social protection supports and services and the provision of educational opportunities for people in receipt of social...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We discussed this amendment at length on Committee Stage. I do not believe it needs much more elaboration and I will press it.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect, the amendment was found to be in line with the topic of the Bill and, therefore, to be in line with social welfare. It is not apply to all of the issues. It refers specifically to the access route through social welfare payments to educational supports, further education and training and literacy support. I am not asking for a major piece of work. I am asking specifically...

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On behalf of Civil Engagement, I wish to speak formally in favour of the Bill. We support it. Senator Ruane, a member of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, has been vocal in supporting it. It is very much in the spirit of No Child 2020. I join Senator Bacik in commending the Government on the hot meals and books schemes. I hope such schemes scale up from pilot schemes very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I contacted the clerk and was instructed that this is the appropriate time to raise the fact that at 4.15 p.m. I must move several amendments in the Seanad. I may discuss with colleagues whether I can make my contribution before then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The issue was well signalled, however. There should be sufficient expertise within the Department, which is extensive, for it to be able to provide a representative.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank all of the presenters. Professor Howarth mentioned that only have ten years of research and we are only learning about the impacts of methane. It seems that everything we have learned about the impacts of methane is alarming, particularly that it has a far greater impact than carbon dioxide on global warming. Professor Howarth stated that methane can be 100 times more powerful than...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Slovenia and Croatia have put together a PCI for renewable energy sources and have prioritised that as their project of common interest. If Ireland was to develop renewable energy, LNG energy would still have higher priority access to the network. Is that what Mr. McElligott is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have had a wonderfully lengthy answer, which is good. Based on what Ms Walsh said, I understand that our potential purchase of this LNG is a driver in the development of liquefication plants and a terminal in the United States. It is different from the importation of mixed-source gas. As I understand it, LNG terminals can only be used for LNG, so we are specifically prioritising and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----upstream impact and global target production?