Results 6,501-6,520 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I commend Connect, Fórsa and SIPTU on the very strong vision for local government and public services they set out today in the More Power To You campaign. My key objective this morning is to move a new Bill. I would like to move an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 15 be taken before No. 1 today. No. 15 is a Bill I am proposing on the preparation and award of contracts by...

Seanad: Public Authorities and Utility Undertakings (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2019: First Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to give further effect to Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 and to Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 and for those purposes to provide for contract award criteria in public contracts, to promote the use of social...

Seanad: Public Authorities and Utility Undertakings (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2019: First Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Period Poverty: Motion (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to add my support to the motion. It is really a positive sign of how things are changing in Ireland that we are discussing more and more topics which had been kept, as my colleague described, in the space of euphemism and were not discussed. They are now coming into the realm. As mentioned by Senator Clifford-Lee, this is part of an opening up or a discussion of the fullness and...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak briefly to section 2. It is very thoughtfully worded and is very much in line with what we are seeing across Europe where there has been increasing pressure to identify what we define as work and an employment relationship. We know that other countries are addressing that issue too including Belgium and many others. The Minister will be aware that we have had a number of...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As the issue of the intermediary is referred to in this section, I ask the Minister to clarify an issue which, as she will be aware, arose while we were discussing these matters at the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Although there is a very strong argument for ensuring that there is responsibility along the supply chain and that end users - which may be...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was making reference to the broader discussion of the points that were raised in that regard.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We know the cost of false or forced self-employment is not only borne by the individual in terms of his or her security, but also by the public. When we have discussed the many things on which the Minister and I would like to spend social protection funds one of the issues that arises is the level of funds and of revenue. The loss of PRSI through false or forced self-employment is immense....

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: People are entitled to speak to the section, if they wish.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: So people are entitled to speak to the section now.

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?