Results 5,901-5,920 of 8,457 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 17:In page 4, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:“(c) assess the potential for restoration of biodiversity.”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 17 concerns the natural heritage areas that are being considered for dedesignation and provides for an assessment of the potential for restoration of biodiversity. There has been an acknowledgement of the need for a new set of actions and perspectives on biodiversity, and I understand that some resources, albeit inadequate, have been allocated to work in respect of...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 18:In page 4, line 26, after “subsection (4)(b),” to insert “any recommendations as may emerge from any relevant Oireachtas Committee in relation to climate action,”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendment No. 18 mirrors the previous language by referencing recommendations that may emerge from any relevant Oireachtas committee relating to climate action, and it tries to ensure we have a joined-up approach. I have raised my concerns about this Bill going through today when on Wednesday, the Joint Committee on Climate Action will be discussing peatland strategy. We are putting forward...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The core problem here is that while any individual can contribute to a public consultation on a specific bog, he or she can only do so after a review and after proposals for specific designations or dedesignations have been made. It fragments the process and does not allow for the policy in respect of natural heritage areas to take people's considerations into account. I accept that my...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The public consultation comes subsequent to a review of the process, and will be on the proposals arising from the review.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: First, perhaps we need a reality check of where we are at present in terms of the balance. It is scientifically acknowledged that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. Some 200 species become extinct every day. Since 1970, humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The assessment of the overall status of habitats in Ireland is that 85% of habitats are in...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In east Galway.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Senator should come to east Galway and see the flooding there.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: When we talk about this, it is not about not developing and nurturing communities. When we talk about rural areas, it is not about the town versus the environment. It is about having communities that are sustainable. That is why we have the sustainable development goals. I am referring to that joined-up approach. I resent the attempt to suggest there is a balance of environment versus...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In recognition of the Minister of State having made considerable efforts to address issues concerning the transparency of the process and online publication, his clarification that a national advertisement would be required, and his acceptance of my amendment No. 27, I will not press the amendment. I recognise the efforts the Minister of State has made to seek an appropriate compromise.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 29:In page 5, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“(8) Where an area ceases to be designated as a natural heritage area under subsection (3)(b)(ii), without prejudice to turbary rights for household use, harvesting using machinery shall not be permitted.”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: May I clarify which amendments are related? It was amendment No. 31a and another amendment.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In this set of amendments I have tried to approach the same issue in a number of ways. If the Minister of State indicates that he is amenable to any one of these approaches, I will be happy to withdraw the other amendments and press forward with the preferred approach. These amendments attempt to address the issue of what happens when an area ceases to be a natural heritage area. It is an...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Of course. I just wanted to indicate that to the Minister of State because it may be relevant.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The concern is that I hoped to have consistency between those who have been relocated to a bog and those who may have an abeyance but where turbary rights exist. The Department's business is to protect those bogs but in terms of the decision as to whether a bog can continue to be protected, the Minister of State indicated that he will consider economic, social and cultural matters, as well...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Anybody who voted for the amendment and claims to be concerned about the environment made his or her priorities really clear. It was a disgraceful decision by those backbenchers. Nonetheless, all these considerations are in play, including those brought by the Minister of State. There was a concession too far but I supported social, economic and cultural considerations. The addition...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This deals with whether designated sites could be de-designated.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 30:In page 5, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(8) Where an area ceases to be designated as a natural heritage area under subsection (3)(b)(ii), peat extraction may not exceed a quantity appropriate for use by a household of the person engaged in the extraction.”.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 31:In page 5, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:“(8) Where an area ceases to be designated as a natural heritage area under subsection (3)(b)(ii), subsequent peat extraction may only be permitted by sleán.”.