Results 6,441-6,460 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. Others have spoken about the collective work on Brexit, which is important, and the solidarity from our European partners. It is important that Ireland also shows solidarity by engaging actively and genuinely in the debates Europe is facing around a social and sustainable future. Europe is at its best when we are pressing each other to raise standards...

Seanad: An Bille um an Ochtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Scaoileadh ar Phósadh) 2016: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Bill to the House and I support of my colleague, Senator Ruane's, amendment. She referred to the fourth referendum. I remember the first referendum on divorce. It was probably the scariest public speaking I have done in my life as I was studying in the Gaeltacht at the time - I was nine or ten - and was the only child in the class to speak in favour of the concept of divorce,...

Seanad: An Bille um an Ochtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Scaoileadh ar Phósadh) 2016: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I may correct the record. I now realise I was, in fact, 11.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Picking up on the last point, there can be a touch of disingenuity in trying to effectively pitch the participants in the scheme against each other. I have been a young contributor to schemes and have left organisations before benefiting from them. It is very important that younger employees can have a level of trust in their pension scheme and trust in their employers. If they see their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On that point, I do not think there will be clarity. I think what the Minister has told us is that it is a matter for discussion and a debate. Will Dr. Bambrick clarify the position of ICTU on the issue of the number of contributions and the issue of having at least a ten year lead in time, if the Government is going to increase the contributions requirement by ten years? Will Dr. Bambrick...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The 520 number is also required if a person wishes to make voluntary contributions. It changed when the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, was Minister. There used to be a one-year window to make voluntary contributions and now there is a five-year window. I did not succeed in getting the Government to reduce the threshold. If a person has 470 contributions, for example, it is not just a case...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Scrutiny of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Irish Association of Pension Funds and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (11 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: And also the Seanad Stages.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I agree with Senator Burke on certain matters but I cannot support this amendment. There is already provision in the Bill for designation by the Minister. Environmental criteria can be considered in addition to national, regional, and local economic, social and cultural needs. That provision adequately allows for a balanced and appropriate consideration of economic, social and cultural...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They are walking and cycling routes.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is also one in Mayo.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In response to the point made by Senator Ó Céidigh, I have travelled on the road from Galway to Clifden hundreds of times.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. I have gone past it on the Sky Road as well. Nobody is suggesting that we do not have roads in Connemara or that we do not have surfaces on roads. I will pick up on points that have been mentioned. I refer to claims that this amendment would add something to the Bill. It would not. It is subtracting from the Bill. The crucial issue is that what it proposes would be inserted after...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They are slightly different.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9:In page 4, line 39, to delete “and” and substitute the following:“(b) place an advertisement in at least one national newspaper to inform the public of the making of the order, and”. I know we are speaking on the amendments together but I have the amendments divided into groups so I will speak to amendments Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together....

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, it proposes "to delete “(b) cause” and substitute “(c) cause”." because I have proposed a new section 18A(6)(b). As the Acting Chairman mentioned, it is a consequential amendment. It is really a drafting amendment. Amendments Nos. 12 to 15, inclusive, are all effectively drafting amendments. I do not know if we needed to submit them to be honest.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They are all consequential amendments. I was wondering where this list of amendments came from. I can probably thank the expert drafters, who are precise about the inclusion of details. Given that they are consequential amendments, I do not believe there is any need for me to speak to them.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I ask the Minister of State to clarify the issue with regard to the committees.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is he referring to one specific committee or a number of committees? I also ask him to clarify his intentions in respect of online communications.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perhaps we could engage on this before Report Stage because there may be other committees that are relevant here. This was brought to my attention after I submitted my amendments. We may be able to liaise on this just to ensure that our amendments do not overlap.

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Apr 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Given that the Minister of State is inclined to accept or work with the amendment, I am happy to withdraw it.