Results 7,321-7,340 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move recommendation No. 5:In page 88, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"86.The Minister for Finance shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report with recommendations as to- (a) how Part 30 of the Principal Act might be amended to allow for replacement of the current marginal rate tax relief in respect of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is the most crucial recommendation and, therefore, I would appreciate it if the Minister could indicate how intends to tackle this issue. There has been extensive media coverage of the deep structural inequities within our contributory pension system, which ensure that those who have taken time to care for someone or to contribute to society in different ways have been penalised through...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am aware of the intention to develop a new five-year pension reform plan, as flagged by the Minister of State's Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty. Her Department is considering an auto-enrolment pension system. That will be given due consideration in these Houses, particularly by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Employment...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief. I second Senator McDowell's comments on the effective tax rate and how it can be better. We can look to achieving this and, at this point of the year, we send an arrow towards next year's Finance Bill and the considerations involved in it. There is a question about the effective tax rate and how we can bring it forward but there is also a question about our tax reliefs....

Seanad: Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I note that this Bill has passed through the Dáil without amendment. I also realise that it is a money Bill and it will continue on its journey. While there are measures in the Bill that have already been talked about and praised which are positive and which will lead to a concrete and meaningful, albeit partial, restoration of pay and...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will propose an amendment to the Order of Business because I believe the Taoiseach needs to come to the House. We need to have the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, because this will have a fundamental impact on our foreign affairs policy and our record on disarmament. I recognise they may be at the Brexit negotiations, in which case we can look to the Minister of State with...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will move my amendment at the end, but I want to be clear about what Minister is available, so I am giving some scope to the Deputy Leader in that regard. It is deeply patronising to the Irish public that it has been told that somehow it inadvertently signed up to this when it signed up to the Lisbon treaty. We had that from the Taoiseach last night. Let us be very clear; in so far as...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am sorry. This is the context. It is very serious. I will be moving my amendment formally at the end of the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I look forward to the debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am looking for an indication of whether the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Taoiseach are available.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will move an amendment to have the Taoiseach or, failing that, the Minister of State with responsibility for defence or another representative of the Taoiseach come into this House today.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have so much more to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Can the Acting Leader clarify who will be taking the debate on PESCO in the Dáil today?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Subsequent to Taoiseach's questions, will the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, be available?

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is an unfortunate and indelicate time to be pushing this through when we are negotiating Brexit.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My amendment seeks that the Tánaiste and Minister, Deputy Coveney, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, or another Minister come to the House for a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: By way of clarification, my amendment seeks that the Taoiseach or a representative of the Government would come to the House for the debate. I believe it is important that those in this House who have concerns have the opportunity to put those concerns on record before this decision is rushed through tomorrow. I trust that the Acting Leader will nonetheless follow through in ensuring that...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We could accept an alternative representative today.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2017: Second Stage (7 Dec 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House. I first acknowledge there are some positive measures in the Bill which has been put forward. I will, of course, be supporting those measures. There are some progressive elements, particularly in respect of maternity benefit. With regard to the payment increases, we must note that those on reduced rates will not be receiving €5 extra including,...