Results 7,501-7,520 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the delegates. It is interesting to see that similar themes have been emerging from witnesses over a number of hearings. A fundamental matter about which the Women's Council spoke is the question of the anomaly and legacy issue that exists and the fact that it is known. Mr. Berney from ICTU spoke about the 2012 changes coming in without analysis or consultation. One would think...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will make one last point. The issue of tax and the standard rating is absolutely crucial. It is costing fortunes. We know that it is one of the things the troika asked us to change and is one of the only measures in the memorandum of understanding that was not implemented. We know that it is disproportionate. I also must ask about the gender issue because it has been highlighted. Am I...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: First, I draw the attention of the House to a report which was recently laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Joint Committee on Social Protection, of which other Senators and I are members. It is an important report which deals with the position and treatment of lone parents in Ireland. Will the Leader provide time for a debate on it and its concrete recommendations? Members...

Seanad: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and commend Deputy Tony McLoughlin, who demonstrated an extraordinary positive initiative in bringing forward this Bill and building cross-party support. A positive aspect of new politics that we have seen is not just that quality proposals coming from the Opposition benches are more often beginning to be considered - we have some positive...

Seanad: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to comment on one other point. We are on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is okay.

Seanad: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No. It is fine.

Seanad: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I again commend Deputy Tony McLoughlin and all Members in the House on passing the Bill. It is very important that it is passed today, and I recognise those who were unable to support the amendment in that regard, because regulatory co-operation under the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement, CETA, is due to start in July and would potentially have jeopardised this Bill. The...

Seanad: Home Care Services: Motion (28 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I will be supporting the motion. This is an important issue and one that has been crucial to me in my campaigning life. I had the honour of working with Older and Bolder, with other organisations across Ireland and with thousands of older people in the Make Home Work campaign. It is so clear whenever we talk to older people that, in the vast...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I seek clarification with regard to the motion in respect of the special joint committee. Am I correct in understanding that there will be five minutes for a debate on that?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I asked for-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is perfect. I was actually here but I just wanted to clarify that to determine whether I needed to use my time on the Order of Business to speak to that issue. I thank the Leader for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate it. As was mentioned, we will be speaking on the motion. We have tabled an amendment in respect of the order that has come through from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. We are very concerned about the motion, especially with regard to its effective barring of substitution on a new committee, but we will have an opportunity to speak to that when the motion is being...

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1:In paragraph (ii), to delete "the provisions of Standing Order 81 shall not apply to the Committee" and substitute "the provisions of Standing Order 81(1) shall apply to the Committee save that only one member and no other member may act as a substitute for an absent member: Provided that the name of such substitute be notified in writing by the relevant member of the...

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I acknowledge that.

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am pressing it. I want to acknowledge-----

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Nobody else has spoken. They should be allowed to speak.

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Do Sinn Féin Senators want to speak? Sinn Féin Senators had indicated they wanted to speak.

Seanad: Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Motion (20 Jun 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, and I would like to acknowledge that we sought to negotiate a compromise. I appreciate the Leader's recognition that this is not a good practice.I hope we will robustly oppose any further use of this non-substitution clause in future. In that spirit, I am pressing the amendment.