Results 7,201-7,220 of 8,212 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is the current wording not confining?

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Senator Norris has not proposed this amendment so is free to bring any amendment he wishes on Report Stage.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To clarify, there are a number of amendments that I have co-signed. This is not an amendment that I have co-signed. It is an amendment which I read, looked at it on its merits and responded to. I am absolutely free, if I wish, to put an amendment of my own in respect of similar issues on Report Stage, as indeed is Senator Norris. The only person whose question and decision it is in terms...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----these amendments when they were circulated and I responded. Anyone is free to table an amendment on Report Stage.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is fundamental. We are setting a potentially dangerous precedent. The Chair has mentioned subject matter, and that an amendment that has been rejected may not be brought back. However, in the first sentence the Chair made it clear that amendments must arise out of the discussion on Committee Stage. If we discuss things on Committee Stage, we absolutely have the prerogative to put...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----amendment. Senator Norris's amendment is entirely-----

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----eligible and my completely different approach, which would be to remove the word "ethos" and substitute the word "supporting" entrepreneurship, is another approach that has arisen from the discussion today. They are absolutely within our rights. It is important that we should not set a wrong ruling on that.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Just to be clear.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join others in expressing real regret that these amendments were ruled out of order. They were very constructive and sought to ensure a voice for students from each of the different campuses affected. From our perspective, I recognise that there was an amendment from the Labour Party in respect of ICTU and an amendment from Senator Grace O'Sullivan in respect of academic representation....

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A single sentence states that it may be looked at for consideration should a similar amendment arise. I do not see that the amendment necessarily increases the representation. Maybe it is something which could be examined. It simply specified the nature of the academic representation, which is already accounted for in the existing numbers. I accept my amendment is out of order, but I...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 19:In page 19, to delete lines 33 and 34 and substitute the following: “(iii) at least 2 but not more than 4 students of the technological university, nominated by the student union in accordance with its own procedures,”. I will speak to amendments Nos. 19, 20, 32 and 38 which relate to the representation of students on the academic councils. In section...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We need to know if this is, in fact, a debate on legislation. There are two Houses dealing with legislation in the Oireachtas and they each have a role and make a contribution. I would like to see amendment No. 19 accepted. One could ask why a limit of four should be put on this but others could say each academic council should have a minimum of two and be able to determine its own number....

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The key point is that students make up only three of more than 20 members of the governing body. As such, the student representatives would not be able to guarantee student representation on the academic council. The Bill specifies that the council must have a majority of academic staff.Clearly, we specify that there needs to be a majority of academic staff, so we make specifications on...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Although I understand the reasons, I am disappointed to note that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, will not be joining us. I hope the Leader will ensure that we have a debate with the Minister in the near future, as it has been promised for many months. I welcome the comments on the Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 that we put...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will come to my conclusion, but this is an important point. When Members of all sides raised legitimate concerns about regional development-----

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----they were told not to talk down rural Ireland. We heard a previous Taoiseach telling us not to talk down the economy. Let us be open to dialogue.

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Although I am very happy to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to the House, I note we have been promised a debate, and we will need to have one, with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on some of these issues in the future because I understand many of them fall within his remit. Nonetheless, I look forward to the engagement with Minster of State, Deputy Cannon. I was happy he spoke...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand that while the European branch of that entity may be in difficulty, it is important that we recognise the role of that entity within the Oireachtas and make sure it is continued to ensure people have a space for more parties to engage in issues that affect Ireland, Europe and Africa. In respect of Irish Aid, we have had a long-standing commitment to the 0.7% of gross national...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect to Brexit, I will not speak in detail on it as I imagine we will have a chance to debate it further, but I want to highlight two issues. First, it is welcome that the Tánaiste met the joint committee on human rights. The principle of human rights equivalence is a vital, if somewhat neglected, pillar of the Good Friday Agreement. That question of human rights equivalence...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The issue on which I wanted to focus is PESCO. I will need to speak to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, because this deeply affects his work on disarmament. I have to correct the record in the context of the Minister of State's speech. He said PESCO is provided for in the Treaty on European Union which was approved by Irish people. Let us be very clear, the opportunity to opt in or out of...