Results 7,661-7,680 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: It is not moved because it has been accepted.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: The amendment is not moved but we are looking forward to and expecting to work with the Department in respect of it.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I already mistakenly spoke in the last grouping.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I would appreciate it if the Minister could------
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: It would be great if the Minister could address the question.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: We plan to withdraw the amendment.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: There is a fundamental point here. I do not want to get into it, because I know we are all keen to move forward, but there is a fundamental point and it came up in the previous section. It is very unusual that we would look at fixed payment notices without an appropriate appeal mechanism and so forth. There are many other areas where fixed payments are due. The reason that there are so...
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: That would be useful.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: That would be regarded as very unusual. Fixed payment notices are used in very few areas, except in the area of the marine. This is an appeal to the Minister to consider having an appeals mechanism to avoid the courts. With the Mediation Bill and so on, I know that the Government is keen to move away from having a court based solution to every issue.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: These are fundamental amendments because the legislation vests further powers in Waterways Ireland and its authorised officers, including in the issuing of fixed payment notices. It would be simple to state such officers need to be appointed from within the staff of Waterways Ireland. For example, we do not want a scenario where this work might be contracted out to a private security firm....
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I appreciate the Minister's assurance. I may engage further on this issue because there are public procurement concerns and about trade agreements for planning. It is important that we ensure where there is public delivery of a service, it is retained for public delivery. In some cases, this may need to be reflected in legislation. I am happy to withdraw the amendments, but I might engage...
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1aaf:In page 10, line 12, to delete “a named authorised officer” and substitute “a member of an Garda Síochána or a Customs or Revenue Official”. The amendment highlights an important principle. We did not have an opportunity to discuss the previous section but it dealt with allowing people to board boats. Amendment No. 1aaf refers...
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I was aware of the question of the court. That does not address my concern that the testimony or opinion of an authorised officer will, in effect, be given the same standing as a garda, who might say he or she has reasonable grounds to seek a warrant. I am very aware of the court process. The Minister's comments do not allay my concerns, but I am happy to have a discussion on that...
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I realise there is a process, but it is appropriate that authorised officers have the same powers as Revenue officials or gardaí currently have without any allusion to that. Let us engage further on the matter.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: The Bill proposes to grant them a new power, namely, the right to seek a search warrant. I do not believe they currently have such a right.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to indicate that I may bring in amendments in respect of some of the definitions that feature in the Bill on Report Stage.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, Minister.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: There is an inaccuracy here but I will come back to it.
- Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Mar 2017)
Alice-Mary Higgins: That accusation has never been made and I ask the Minister to correct the record.