Results 41-60 of 3,488 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Passport Services (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Senator. Demand for passports is increasing. That is happening throughout the country and in the Senator’s region too. Given that Cork Airport, Shannon Airport and Farranfore Airport are in the region, I can appreciate that there are people who want to be able to collect and go straight to the airport, but the message from the passport service is not to rely on an urgent...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Senator for raising this really important issue. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health and I have been provided with a script which I am sure will be provided to the Senator. I am quite concerned because the situation the Senator has outlined does not tally with some of what is in here. Let me read what is in here in relation the Senator's very specific question...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: Every year, 250 women in Ireland are diagnosed with cervical cancer and, sadly, around 90 lives are lost to this disease. It is something the Government takes very seriously. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is very passionate about it. Ireland is on track to eliminate cervical cancer in just 15 years, by 2040. That will be remarkable progress that will save lives. Cervical cancer,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank Senator O'Loughlin very much for raising this matter, which provides me with the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth and to outline to the Seanad and the Senator's constituents the current position on the major building project at the Curragh Community College in Magee Barracks in Kildare. As she outlined, this project is a very important school...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I absolutely hear the Senator on this. She wants to know when students will be able to walk into the school. Unfortunately, I cannot answer that today. We must make sure that the tenders that come in are valid and are awarded correctly. Then the construction phase must be entered into. I am sure that is something the Minister will keep the Senator informed of. Certainly, the Department...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on her appointment as committee Chair, all of the new TDs who have been appointed to this committee, and those who bring much experience with them, which I hope we can work and learn together from. I am pleased to bring the Statute Law Revision Bill, SLRB, 2024 to the committee. The Bill was introduced in the Seanad on 23 October 2024. It passed Report...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, lines 25 and 26, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 10 to 15.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 9, lines 16 to 19, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, lines 20 to 23, to delete “Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment” and substitute “Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, line 30, to delete “Department of” and substitute “Minister for”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, line 5, to delete “Department of” and substitute “Minister for”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 11, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: " 6. February 6, 1685 [P.O.I. Vol. 1 p. 453] Proclamation authorising Ulster King of Arms to prevent improper use of arms, style of esquire or gentleman, etc. ".

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of my officials in the Department and the members of the Law Reform Commission who worked on this. I thank members of the committee for their co-operation today. It is great to get this Bill through so speedily.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputies for their comments. The new Government data centre will provide secure but also green operations that will future-proof the reliable delivery of essential digital services. The intention is to operate a hybrid model utilising a Government data centre that combines Government and commercial cloud technology in an optimised way. That is part of the Government's wider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: Yes, and that is something Government is examining in detail. We need to make sure we invest in our digital infrastructure but that we do so in a way that balances our environmental commitments and obligations. We are working very hard to strike the right balance.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: The Government data centre initiative is led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO, a division within my Department. It is an action item in the Government’s public service ICT strategy and aims to deliver and centrally support ICT as a shared service rather than have common technical solutions in each public sector body. The Government data centre project...