Results 6,061-6,080 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am sorry but-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have been subject to an accusation.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I asked to be given the opportunity to respond and I was told I would be.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like the Minister of State to withdraw his comments.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The quotation was directly relevant to the point I made, which was specifically on the balance between universal suffrage, of the 43 panel seats, and the councillors. My points were accurate. I thank the Minister of State for withdrawing his comment. I have never been subject to such a comment in this House before.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We do that currently.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On that point and the other points, I expect that many of us want to be consulted about the amending Bill the Minister intends to bring forward in the autumn. On what was said about the quality of diagnostics and governance, on Second Stage I indicated my concern about public procurement. I have had some indications that that would not be within the scope, potentially, but I am sure we will...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I concur with the Minister that publically delivered health services is the ideal.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 5:In page 13, line 31, to delete “and the Tribunal agrees that it would be appropriate to do so,”. The Minister and others have spoken very eloquently in this House and elsewhere about the contribution made by many of the women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal. It has had very deep and personal effects on their lives, in some cases causing the loss of...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. If we are having a discussion about what is reasonable, I will note a couple of points. I appreciate the point that one should not be able to say "My words will be documented but the response will not be." That point has been made to me and it is fair enough. That is the kind of nuance that may be there. However, it should also not be the case that...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to speak on section 31. My issue relates to section 32 as well. I can speak twice or in a combined manner, as the Acting Chairman prefers.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This section relates to a point I will address in section 32 on recommendations to the Minister, whereby all those involved in a meeting make recommendations to the Minister. I simply note that in section 31 the facilitator has been appointed by the Minister. In that context, the concerns I am going to raise in relation to section 32 may be addressed in the implementation of section 31. My...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To build on the point made earlier, subsection (10) of section 32 reads: "A restoration of trust meeting may with the unanimous agreement of those participating in the meeting make recommendations to the Minister." My concern again is to ensure that a facilitator appointed by the Minister, as one of those participating in the meeting, would not have an undue chilling effect on the making of...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As Senator Nash has said, the key thing today is the women who have been affected, the more than 20 women who have died, and the women who generously gave the last part of their lives to raise and highlight these issues. I refer to people like Emma Mhic Mhathúna, who has been spoken about; Julie O'Reilly; and Orla Church, who died during the long process of seeking justice through the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join in the thanks to all the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Many of them will continue to work during the summer, and I thank them for that too. I second Senator Gavan's suggestion that we have a debate on military transport through Shannon when the House returns in September. I have heard calls for such a debate on many occasions. It is overdue in light of the very hawkish...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Second Stage (11 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is a very important tribunal for the women who have been affected and their families. It is also important for Ireland. Dr. Scally spoke about the lack of grace and compassion in how Ireland had engaged with the controversy. While financial remedy may be part of the solution, it does not do the job fully in terms of addressing what we need to address. Dr. Scally also spoke of a...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I sit on the Joint Committee on Climate Action, and we have been discussing the issue of retrofitting. Large-scale changes will be required. We have been focusing on housing, but they will also affect businesses and others across the country. I reserve the right to try for an amendment on Report Stage. If a local authority that is trying to achieve a climate or environmental target wants...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect, there is something of a contradiction in the Minister of State's answer. He thinks few people will seek to leave a place empty for one year because of the loss, but he says that if it was two years, they would equally benefit. He says he does not believe many will seek to use this as a loophole in terms of leaving a place vacant for one year. While he thinks one year is a...

Seanad: Genetic Testing: Motion (10 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am sharing my time with Senator Dolan. I welcome those in the Visitors Gallery. I commend Senator Norris on his thoughtful contribution. This is an important motion. I had the opportunity to speak on a very similar motion or resolution last week at the OSCE, where Italian parliamentarians — this issue has been led by Italy — tabled a successful resolution on neonatal care...