Results 6,521-6,540 of 8,482 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

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...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9:In page 10, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:"Report and review of European electoral register 9. (1) The Minister shall, within 30 months of the passing of this Act, initiate a report and review on the potential extension of the European electoral register to include Non-EU citizens resident in the State. (2) Within 8 months of the initiation of such...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: The Future of Europe and the Value of European Union Membership to Ireland: Statements (5 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join others in welcoming the Minister of State and congratulating her on the work she has done in the ongoing negotiations. She referred to the treaty-based values which are so important to Irish citizens, as highlighted by them in the series of consultations she held in recent months. Those core decent European values from the EU's treaties and its founding principles are important and...

Seanad: The Future of Europe and the Value of European Union Membership to Ireland: Statements (5 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Does the Minister of State see it as part of the strategic plan post the 2019 to 2027 period, as well as at national level?

Seanad: The Future of Europe and the Value of European Union Membership to Ireland: Statements (5 Mar 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: So it will be at national level and at European level.

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (27 Feb 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and join other speakers in commending our armed forces on the role they have played in the development of the State and in service on United Nations missions overseas. I share the pride of many in that service as well as the concern others have spoken of in great detail about the conditions under which Defence Forces' personnel must work.It is...

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (27 Feb 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A multi-role vessel for carrying vehicles. I know some people such as the Tory islanders who got the Queen of Aran, a very old ship, that I travelled on as a teenager, were concerned at the expenditure on items such as military ships when our ferries are so poorly resourced. That points to the general need for assurance because we have seen the Minister of State's party calling for 2% of the...

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: How much funding?

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Will the Minister of State come back to this House at that point?

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Minister's return would be a great gesture.