Results 7,741-7,760 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies. We talked about a debate on the future of Europe, and a multi-speed Europe was mentioned again earlier. I will raise the issue directly with the Leader but I would like a debate on that.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak to the section which outlines the Short Title of the Bill which is the nub of the concern being expressed. The title of the Bill is the Heritage Bill. There is serious concern about whether this is a heritage Bill or whether it contains components which make it an anti-heritage Bill or will result in a dilution of heritage. I welcome the Minister to the House. However, as the...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will leave it to the substantial debate. I want to signal that we are talking about the hedgerow networks. They represent a network and corridor for wildlife throughout Ireland. This is something to which every group should pay attention. All we are asking for is that everyone would pay attention to the detail. We need to move past sweeping statements and look to ensure this is...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Thank you, Acting Chairman. I look forward to the debate. I urge everyone to listen to what we have been hearing from the beekeepers, small farmers and all those concerned. We should bear all of that in mind today. I hope that on Report Stage we will see more constructive proposals from across the House.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On a point of correction-----

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I shall briefly refer to a technical correction. Senator Paul Daly mentioned that the regulations would be laid before the committee. We do not have anything in the legislation that ensures these regulations would be reviewed and laid before a committee. This is a key concern.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to emphasise that at no point did I make an attack. I simply pointed to the valid arguments that Senator Paul Daly made during the last debate. I urged him to follow through and table the legislative proposals. Let us not wait to see what regulations may emerge after the fact or be laid before a committee because there is utterly no requirement in the legislation. We can talk about...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have made the case collectively.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Unfortunately, it is not put up. Perhaps if we had a constrained circumstance in the Bill, but we do not.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The option exists already under section 70 orders.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The option already exists in terms of road safety under a section 70 order.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: For 365 days a year.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is that amendment No. 1a?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is grand.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That was voted on last time.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are now on to the group of amendments Nos. 1a to a1h.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We had prepared individually for one, but I will come back in on the other amendments. Amendment No 1b is very reasonable because it is a reminder that the protection of the interests of natural heritage is part of the role and obligation that is required under the Bill. In a way, by putting in this practical and reasonable amendment, Members are going some way toward justifying the Title...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is on Committee Stage so-----

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will come back in on the other amendments together.