Results 6,241-6,260 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have been asked to substitute for Senator Grace O'Sullivan at very short notice. As others, including Deputy Bríd Smith, have said, I would have loved to be able to come in and have public debate in other areas such as about public transport or public procurement. There is significant potential for this report and this committee to transform the landscape with regard to climate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are going to have to discuss it again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I strongly oppose that amendment. We have just been hearing of the costs and of our having to be serious about the cost of carbon and the costs obtaining. There is a cost associated with transition. With respect to inserting the words "least cost", in the context of procurement, we know what using the lowest cost approach, rather than a best or a quality approach, resulted in. Attaching a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The just transition task force is one of the most fundamentally important parts of the report. It is vital that it be supported. I also support the amendment. I might have framed it differently myself but the key point made by Deputy Smith is important. It is not that separate. We heard about the return to third level and training. One of my key concerns, which emerged in the hearings...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am conscious that the Chairman was suggesting a compromise. There are two sentences in the amendment, the first of which is fundamental as it makes it very clear that nobody should be required to participate in JobPath or a similar programme. I understand there are difficulties because it is difficult for others to agree with some of the other language used, although I agree with it, but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: JobPath or a similar programme. The first sentence might offer another compromise suggestion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Was the Chairman suggesting an amendment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will note that I suggested the first sentence is the core of the issue. I understand the Deputy's wish to go ahead with the formal amendment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This amendment, as phrased, does seek a revision. That does not necessarily mean a massive revision downwards. This is about increasing the ambition for public transport. If we are to get anywhere near achieving our targets, we are going to have to massively increase our ambition for public transport. New strands of funding can and should be drawn on to do that. EU Invest has been...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: How much time do I have?

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There are positive elements in the Bill, some of which have been highlighted. There has been a 12-year consultation with many stakeholders on certain aspects of the Bill in respect of raised bogs. The designation of 25 new natural heritage areas is positive and needed. The Bill includes, as it must, the special areas of conservation. We need to be very clear that these are not being...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Was there consultation?

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Senators have spoken about a number of issues relating to the Bill, for example, the additional representation of two MEPs. I know the Minister did not have a great deal of information on that when speaking in the Dáil, but perhaps the Minister of State might have more now. I would like to know what resources, if any, may be allocated to those elected as MEPs but who are not in a...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 17, after “amended” to insert “, as respects European elections held after 25th May 2019,”. Both of these amendments seek to address the concerns of those UK citizens currently entitled to vote in European elections in this State. The amendments take different approaches to ensuring UK citizens will have the opportunity to...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The right to vote in European elections allows many UK citizens who are pro-European and passionate about Europe to use their voices and contribute to European debate at a time when they may have been disenfranchised by their own country's choice to disenfranchise its citizens. Ireland should send a signal of inclusion through the European elections, even if a hard Brexit has not taken place...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The European Court of Justice is clear in this regard. The Minister of State acknowledged in the Dáil that what I am proposing is possible. I am asking him to take these steps and support the amendments. He should embrace this opportunity to send a signal of inclusion to many people who face the prospect, under Brexit, of their families becoming divided and the connections between the...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I ask the Minister of State to clarify that the electoral register, as it stands, including the right to vote in the European elections, will remain the same in respect of the May election. Is that what he is suggesting?

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Therefore, if Britain were to leave, those residents here would lose their right to vote in the European elections. I have put forward this argument. I somewhat regret that Ireland is not fighting to try to make a special case. As we said earlier, we know the case was made in respect of "close ties" by the UK in regard to the Commonwealth. I think the close ties we have with the UK are...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2:In page 3, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(2) Section 6 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new subsection after subsection (4):“(5) Subsection (1) shall not apply in relation to any person who was registered as a European elector in a constituency in a register of electors which came into force prior to...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 6:In page 9, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 9 of Electoral Act 19928.Section 9 of the Electoral Act 1992 is amended by the insertion of the following new paragraph:“(c) such other persons in the State as may be determined by law.”.”. This amendment would seek to amend the Electoral Act 1992, which was...