Results 7,561-7,580 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (National Asset Management Agency) Order 2017: Motion (24 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I support the establishment of the commission of investigation, although I share some of the concerns expressed by others. It was very unfortunate that the report produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General which was clear was challenged in the way it was by a Minister and the Government. The Committee of Public Accounts also produced a...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage (24 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join with others in commending Senator Bacik and welcoming the Bill. It is an important step forward and something that has been sought for a long time by groups such as trade unions, including SIPTU and IMPACT, the National Women's Council of Ireland, with which I have a record, the Union of Students in Ireland and many others. The necessity of the Bill is clear. Despite the legislation...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Second Stage (17 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join others in welcoming the Minister to the House and the opportunity to discuss and debate these issues. It is a very welcome step that we are looking to legislate on the access to information for adopted persons, on the exchange of information and for better tracing mechanisms. I accept and acknowledge this aspect. I will move on to the areas of concern, some of which the Minister has...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Second Stage (17 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The State must restore trust in its citizens. I welcome the Minister's proposed amendment on Committee Stage regarding the National Archives. I think that is appropriate for this paperwork. As well as the concerns of all those individuals relating to tracing and the appropriate treatment of records, we also need to acknowledge that the State has a duty to be able to amass these and look to...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters: Statements (17 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. On one of her previous appearances in the Seanad, we discussed the issue of a former home in Tuam. I welcome her acknowledgement that the information that emerged in the Tuam case was not a surprise and the issues were known. It is, therefore, somewhat disappointing that the Government, including the Minister in her statement, is rowing back in...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters: Statements (17 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My final point is a technical concern related to the future operation of the commission of inquiry. There is very serious concern about the lack of counselling supports for those who are engaging with the commission, the lack of timely response, both indicated and applied, to engage with the commission and a lack of clarity on the question of the informal confidential committee and the sworn...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters: Statements (17 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Thank you very much. I apologise for my excessive time.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Today, the European Court of Justice, ECJ, issued a ruling on the Singapore free trade agreement, specifically on the question of whether it is a mixed agreement or can be negotiated exclusively by the EU. The ECJ's ruling is clear: in any investor-state dispute mechanism, which are the corporate courts that the House has debated, ratification by all member states is required. This...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My remarks will be short. A number of the points I wish to raise have been raised by other Senators. Others have discussed the question of the habitual residency condition and the obstacles it has caused and the problems of the direct provision system, which we still need to move past. The message conveyed by the Minister of State and the migrant integration strategy is very committed and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is this on the amendment or the sections?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My point relates somewhat to section 6. I know that we are going sequentially, and I will speak more about this under section 6. As we discuss section 4, I want to flag the high pertinence of this section given the attacks we have seen over the weekend in the UK, but also noting that when we talk about altering data or information, there are a few opportunities that could be missed in this...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It may be coverable by regulation. Is that correct?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to highlight what I believe to be a potential gap in legislation. It is a pity that the matter about which I am concerned is not explicitly addressed. I hope that it may be addressed by means of a ministerial order or regulation or through other means in the future. I refer to the use of behaviour targeted advertisements and the use of end-user consumer information management. This...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am somewhat confused about section 10 on foot of the deletion of section 9. I assume that this is all normal.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My concern relates to the nature of the jurisdiction under section 10(3). It is limited to an Irish citizen or a person ordinarily resident in the State. What I liked about the original section 9 – I realise it is gone now – was that, as well as a body corporate, an individual could also held accountable. I wonder about the rationale for limiting or curtailing it. Surely, if...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I congratulate the Minister of State on having this good legislation passed and welcome the indication he gave that he is willing to discuss related issues. This issue will move from the periphery to the centre of political debate. For this reason, I welcome any opportunity we may have in a future debate to discuss some of the other issues I raised. I sound a note of caution, however, and...

Seanad: Gender Recognition (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (10 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Like others, I must begin with compliments. First, I compliment Senator Fintan Warfield for the long and thoughtful process he has put into bringing the legislation forward. It is part of a very strong commitment by him to looking at how best he can use his time in the Chamber to make a real difference to people's lives. I compliment him and his co-signers, Senators David Norris and, my...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to support three calls for debates today, first, Senator Ned O'Sullivan's call for the Minister for Arts, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to come in to discuss gorse fires and the damage they have done.To answer the Senator's question, there have been only 11 prosecutions since 2007. That is 11 prosecutions in a decade on this issue. It would be very appropriate to have the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a question in terms of Ireland and ethical procurement policies and how we bring social, environmental and ethical considerations into play in our procurement policies. I want to endorse Senator Richmond's call for a debate on the future of Europe, which is something he is passionate about. It is Europe Day. I would add to Senator Richmond's point that I believe people in Ireland...