Results 741-760 of 8,766 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am going to speak a little. I was going to suggest a different grouping but that is academic now, given the amendments that have been ruled out of order. Those amendments spoke to some of the key aspects of this section. As I understand it, this Bill is going to the Dáil next. That our amendments have been ruled out of order gives the lie to the indication and promise we were given...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am talking about the amendments that have been ruled out of order and the definitions of categories in the Bill. Perhaps I can clarify matters with the Leas-Chathaoirleach. All of the amendments that have been ruled out of order were to page 6, which is section 3. Is that correct?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Do they all relate to section 3? That is what I understand.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to section 3 and the definitions contained in it. We indicated the issues we saw with the section through the amendments we proposed. While our amendments have been ruled out of order, our concerns and issues remain and can be expressed. Our amendments have been available to the Minister. We are being constrained by the limits to what is allowed to be put forward. Even the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am speaking on the section. These are all issues that could be addressed in this section. I have not spoken about a single issue which does not relate to the categorisation of the designated institutions of higher education. To be very clear, I am looking here at line 16. While my proposal - my specific amendment - may not be in order, my opinions regarding the definitions and their...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The Senator can still speak to the definition of higher education institution.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: What about the question on the level of qualification?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Minister-----

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It seems to me that the reason for the narrowness of the interpretation of "graduate" relates largely to the size of the constituency that will already flow from the definitions put forward in section 3 but, of course, the Seanad Bill 2020 addressed this issue. We will have a situation where six seats will be elected by a potential constituency of up to a million electors, as was highlighted...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 14: In page 7, line 28, after "entitled" to insert "and registered". Amendments Nos. 14, 22 and 61, and indeed some other amendments that will be ruled out of order, relate to the transitional arrangements for the creation of the new register and the danger that its creation may lead to the disenfranchisement of many who are currently entitled to vote. It would be a...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: A reduction in the register is perhaps a better way to put it.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for his comments on amendment No. 22. As I said, it is not something that is contained within the Bill. I will take the bona fides of the Minister regarding the intention in respect of contact. That is going to be crucial. As the Minister will be aware, the other amendments and proposals we have made in this area were not solely for the full transfer of the NUI and...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 22: In page 8, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(4) During preparations under subsection (3), the central registration authority shall contact all persons registered as electors in the former National University constituency and former Dublin University constituency to seek consent for their inclusion in the first register of electors.”.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have spoken to the issues already and I will not repeat them at length. My concern relates to the proposals I put forward on carrying forward those who are currently on the register, such as those who voted in the past one, two or three elections. As I said, the Minister and I disagree on that matter and I am noting that.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: These are the same principles. I believe in how it is worded that it could be carried through in that persons who had registered to vote would be considered as having made a claim to register to vote in the new higher education constituency. While I recognise it is a new constituency, it is not simply a matter of merging the two but, rather, that as the beginning point for the new...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have been reminded of one amendment, namely, amendment No. 61, which may have fallen between the stools when the Minister was addressing the others. It will be coming up shortly. One area that does not arise is the idea of the automatic transfer. This is no longer about the NUI or TCD constituencies, but whether, for all the institutions covered by this new constituency, the practice...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 32: In page 15, to delete lines 20 and 21 and substitute the following: “(a) 3 persons from amongst persons nominated by each designated institution for that purpose; (b) 1 person from amongst persons nominated by student unions of each designated institution for that purpose;”. I will be brief because we have a number of amendments to get through....

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There probably are key competencies that students can bring in terms of what will or will not be effective in encouraging persons to exercise their franchise. I doubt there is any marketing expert who can compare with what the student unions often have to bring in terms of engaging that constituency. Sadly, this is an area in respect of which a signal is needed centrally because without...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister. I think we have the same intent. Nonetheless, I will press the amendment.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 33: In page 15, to delete lines 20 and 21 and substitute the following: “(a) 2 persons from amongst persons nominated by each designated institution for that purpose; (b) 1 person from amongst persons nominated by student unions of each designated institution for that purpose; (c) 1 person from amongst persons nominated by trade unions representing staff...