Results 6,121-6,140 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (3 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am taking six minutes and Senator Norris must be satisfied with two minutes. I have previously spoken in the House on the CETA trade agreement and other trade agreements. It is important that we are really clear that when we speak about trade it is not a simple matter of those who are pro-trade and those who are anti-trade, those who are protectionist and those who are open. It is and...

Seanad: EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (3 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will conclude and pass to my colleague. This is going to be an ongoing issue. This is the outgoing European Commission. Let us hope that the new Commission will adopt a more progressive strategy and engage more actively with national governments and parliaments to ensure that trade serves citizens and not just corporations.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Second Stage (3 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for bringing this Bill for discussion before the summer. I hope that we will have a chance to engage further in respect of amendments in the autumn. I see that it is planned to ensure there is space and time to allow Senators to supplement or contribute to the Bill. Issues have been raised in respect of short-term illness benefit. There are some other practical issues...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Senator Ruane asked me to speak to the amendment.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to record my intention to introduce a similar amendment regarding Irish Sign Language on Report Stage which is to seek that we are consistent with the other legislation passed by this House.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have just done that and it is consistent with what this House has done in terms of Irish Sign Language in the past. I will put forward an amendment on Report Stage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I may have to leave early because I am due to host a group. May I put my questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With apologies to the Chair, I will have to leave early, unusually for me. I hope to put my questions now, if that is possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not normally ask for latitude, but I am due to host a group from Sudan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I requested that I have the opportunity to ask my questions before the witnesses respond

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Bogus Self Employment: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am very interested in their responses. I will be brief. As was stated, the importance of definitions of what constitutes an employee and a self-employed person has become clear. I wish to commend Senator Nash, who made a very good attempt to set those definitions. I ask the witnesses to comment on what seems to be the inadequacy of the case-by-case approach. Although it is...

Seanad: Adoption, Information and Tracing: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I concur as this is an opportunity to make better law. It is also an opportunity to genuinely engage on and shape the Ireland in which we want to live by addressing the many injustices that occurred in the past. I again acknowledge in the Minister's statements the principles to which she spoke. We are living in an Ireland that has acknowledged a child's rights by popular mandate. It is an...

Seanad: Adoption, Information and Tracing: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise for interrupting, but the public good is a legitimate ground as set out in the law. I want to make that point in case it is useful.

Seanad: Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (19 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am happy our group is collectively supporting Senator Dolan and putting this Bill forward. I commend Senator Dolan. There is much about this Bill that reflects his specific approach, and also reflects the original thematic focus and vision of the Seanad. The idea was that a frame would be applied to legislation from all Departments and...

Seanad: Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (19 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If it is 13 for every 100 persons, consider what it must it be for 2,000 persons. In any large place of public assembly, we should see that reflected. I will move on to another key point: playgrounds. The Democratic Programme of the First Dáil has been mentioned very eloquently. Within that is the first duty of the State to children. Surely it is the case that children must be able...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the section but I first want to acknowledge that there have been attempts to move forward on certain aspects of this Bill. The removal of the undertaking is important and should be acknowledged. I know that this was difficult to achieve and that the concession was hard won. There are also attempts to make the process more functional but there are principles and points of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 May 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Go raibh maith agat. At least I have the opportunity to continue as a European parliamentarian in the Seanad, if not in the European Parliament. I thank the Cathaoirleach very much for his kind thoughts. I am very happy to be still in this House and to be able to use this Chamber. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator Ardagh, who raised concerns about spoiled votes. They would...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 May 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. This is a very difficult subject and I am conscious that many decisions are being made in a void. People have been trying to build their families in different ways and doing so in the absence of a legal framework. That makes it difficult when we then try to introduce a framework or regulatory structure. It is very important to look at the rights of the children who now exist to...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 relate to what happens after an area ceases to be designated as a natural heritage area under subsection 3(b), basically after the de-designation process. I want to mark down that since we last debated this issue a climate emergency and biodiversity crisis have been declared. We have acknowledged the urgency of the issues we face with respect to the climate and the...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 May 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the proposals of the Minister of State in regard to retrofitting. We discussed fuel poverty and other issues around social protection and payments that might be needed, and that is something we may develop further. It is noteworthy that there is a parallel debate regarding the potential for carbon storage payments that may emerge under the Common Agricultural Policy. It would be...