Results 6,181-6,200 of 8,468 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizen and Community Measures: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----but the reversal of order-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizen and Community Measures: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am conscious that the time available to me is limited. I might put some brief questions to Dr. McGowan and his colleagues because they will not have much time in which to respond. I will begin with a specific question. Is the regulator concerned about grid offers? Is there a point of expiration in a planning process that follows the grid offer? It is a technical question. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizen and Community Measures: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The goal of making up to 50% of non-batch connection offers available was mentioned. "Up to 50%" is a fluid notion. What is envisaged in that regard? I refer to Mr. Kenny and Mr. Fogarty. They have a great deal of equity in community projects. While members of a community wishing to exit is not as much of a concern in relation to community projects, we have seen in the United States that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizen and Community Measures: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I take strongly and endorse the point around an actual percentage delivery-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizen and Community Measures: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----rather than a revenue one which could be written off against the profits of a private company.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizen and Community Measures: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We did not get a chance to discuss the capital grants aspect of micro-generation. Do any of the witnesses have comments on that system and how it fits with bids? It would be useful to get those, even if it is in written form. What is the date for the launch of community energy?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in light of Ireland's climate change targets and the likely impact of increased fuel prices on tenants in particular, what his plans are to accelerate the retrofitting of social housing and raising energy ratings of private rental accommodation while protecting existing tenancies. We know Ireland has been a laggard with climate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Unfortunately, he did not answer my question about the amount of money that is planned to be invested. He has stated only that investment will be made "as resources allow." We are not standing still on this issue as every year we fail to retrofit, there is a cost to the public and individuals. That is the reason I question the split incentive. It is a straw man. The real issue is the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They may avoid a fine in so doing.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I echo the pleas Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell made about personal assistance services and home care supports. These are key proposals within the pre-budget submission of the Oireachtas disability group, of which I am proud to be a member. I also welcome the proposal to ensure that history is a fundamental part of every citizen's understanding and skills for the shaping of the future. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As we are not having a full debate on the Sinn Féin proposal perhaps we should refrain from attempted summarising of it.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and join others in commending her, the Tánaiste and their team for their work in representing Ireland in the current negotiations. As others have noted, there has been some strong commonality of concern from all parties. There are also some shared clarities on core principles, which are vital to all of us and about which all of us have...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a responsibility for us to ensure this, and an assurance is needed by the public that Ireland will do everything it can from its side to avoid, even in a no-deal scenario, anything that looks like the borders of the past or the borders in other parts of Europe at this time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Mr. White and Mr. Reid may be aware that we held a joint sitting of this committee and the education and health committees during which we discussed the obstacles for persons with a disability in accessing employment. The workplace adaptation grant was raised and the Department referred to it. I was quite shocked at the low allocation to the workplace adaptation grant. Is there a large...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The exclusion of not-for-profits is discriminatory to the organisations themselves but also to the individuals, such as Mr. Reid, who want to work in social care by finding employment in the not-for-profit sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Mr. Reid is locked out in terms of his choice of how he wishes to contribute. Is the application from the potential employer or does it come from the individual? If I apply to three, four or five companies in a particular area, is there anything that would allow me to say I had received sanction for a workplace adaptation grant, which I could bring with me to the job?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The employer has to apply in respect of a particular individual.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: An employer could not apply on the basis of wanting to adapt their workplace. The way it is done, which I imagine adds pressure, is that it only comes into play if an employer advertises a role. Employers generally want somebody to start within a month or two, but there is effectively a delay which makes it difficult for the applicant and creates a reluctance. I wanted to tease out that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will take the concern on board. It is an extraordinarily low allocation for something I have heard trumpeted as a wonderful solution which is available to both persons and organisations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have a final question about an issue on which the committee has placed a strong focus before and which is worth teasing out. As the delegates will be aware, my colleague in the Civil Engagement group, Senator John Dolan, works with the Disability Federation of Ireland; therefore, there is an overlap. As we push forward and make a case, it would be useful for us to have a sense of the...