Results 761-780 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

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...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 35: In page 16, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(d) the level of participation in elections in the Higher Education constituency, including the collection of quantitative and qualitative data in relation to voters and their preferences,”. Again, I will be quite brief because we still have a number of amendments to get through. The...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 38: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(2) The Commission shall, after each electoral event to which this Act applies, prepare and publish (in such a manner as the Commission may determine) a report on the administration of the electoral event concerned. (3) Where the Commission prepares a report under subsection (2), the report...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 39: In page 16, line 38, after “register” to insert “including measures to increase the level of voter registration in the Higher Education constituency, including a mechanism for the automatic enrolment of qualified new graduates of designated institutions in the register of electors”.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief on the section to discuss those amendments. I will come to the issues with section 40, but these were technical amendments on the key issues in section 40 which concern the new proposals for a replacement list system. This is a fundamental problem with the Bill which I really urge the Minister to address. It is a fundamental step back for democracy. We know that,...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: To add another specific concern on section 40, there is a question of who is electing in terms of the Oireachtas. There is also the fundamental question of allowing the full constituency to have the opportunity in relation to a by-election or a casual vacancy. There is also the fundamental question of who is eligible for consideration for election and that is where a situation arises where...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 43: In page 23, line 19, to delete “60” and substitute “8”. Amendments Nos. 43, 47 and 50 all relate to the fact we are making the bar for the person standing for election to the Seanad higher. As I say, the electoral process is not just those who vote, it is those who stand. The bar has been raised to a different degree so instead, I...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Similarly, I note again in relation to section 40, it is a disservice to democracy that we deny the opportunity to persons to put themselves forward for election in the case of a casual vacancy or by-election. These are backward steps for democracy and it is deeply regrettable they are in the Bill.

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be brief. I am proud to co-sponsor the Bill brought forward by Senator Martin. It is a really good piece of work. I hope it is speeded through the Lower House. It will affect every corner and hedgerow across Ireland. If we look to something with wide-reaching implications, it is this legislation. Senator Martin mentioned two halves in terms of the Seanad and the Dáil but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I pick up where Senator Warfield finished, which was on education. Concerns have been expressed in the House about education. One of the key tools is education that reflects the experiences of minorities in the State and the fact that there is gender, sexuality and ethnic diversity, as well as all the other categories discussed in terms of protected characteristics. That understanding and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, that is quite a significant accusation to make. Earlier, there was reference to particular organisations and their engagement in school training.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I formally second my colleague, Senator Ruane’s amendment to the Order of Business. I support Senator Gavan’s recommendation about our nurses, from student nurses up to those who are trying to put together teams who are managing entirely unwieldy situations in our hospitals. We need to look at a crisis not only in recruitment but also in retention of our nursing staff. For a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I listened to some of the debate. I apologise if I repeat some of the questions that have already been asked. I was trying to make sure I was on the premises in order to contribute. I will begin with the Office of Government Procurement. Ms Stewart spoke about developing the criteria, which is really important work. She referred to what the OGP will use for assessing green public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Of course there is individual discretion and, even in my legislation, the individual discretion of the procurement officers is there. What would indicate a change? What would give us the shift we need? Ms Stewart might also address the question of the technical specifications. There are two pieces: the technical specification, which is included within the details, and there is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The witnesses might provide the committee with figures on life-cycle costing and the extent to which that is being done. I know it was touched on a little bit but it would be good to get it in writing, particularly some examples of the kinds of weighting given to environmental criteria and a sense of the extent of life-cycle costing. I have two specific questions, one of which comes back...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know another Senator has arrived. On the SEAI, there is something I cannot understand. The witnesses spoke about the €96 million that has been invested in the HSE and the fact that ten buildings are being done. It seems to me that again, we are operating within a particular timescale. It seems that 2030 is almost the bar for how we achieve things. It seems to me that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is interesting that 80% of industry emissions are from 250 companies. There are two things. One is the business case. A concern I have about the climate fund is that this is where most of the resources are going. When a business case is being made, is there scope in that for preventative spending? Is there a narrative of "We are spending so that the State does not have to spend in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Update on the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate: Discussion (15 Oct 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am referring to what occurs above that level. Let us say it is about the State leading.