Results 7,821-7,840 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have until 2.45 p.m., so I appreciate the extra five minutes. If we only have 0.5% of our funding for cycling I would appreciate if the Minister could give us 0.5% of his time to give us some indication of his policy direction, even if detailed replies have to follow.

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: As a point of information-----

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----the Minister indicated he was answering a question of mine about public transport.

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to clarify that my question was not about the industrial dispute. My question was not answered. In fact, none of my questions on cycling, Shannon and pre-clearance or public sustainable transport has been answered.

Seanad: Annual National Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, to the House. We already have heard that Ireland is off track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% across non-industrial sectors by 2020. At present, we are heading for cuts of only between 6% and 11%. I am more concerned about a report from Brussels-based non-governmental organisation, Carbon Market...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for coming in to the House and for the clarity, sincerity and consistency of her remarks. I also thank her for her willingness to take the McCabe family seriously and to engage appropriately with them at a very early point, which is commendable. I will not, in the limited time available, dwell on the indefensible and appalling treatment of the McCabe family but I...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is an important point. We have had a number of Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs in the relevant period. It is important that we in this House ask those Ministers what they know, what briefings they received from An Garda Síochána or from departmental officials. The current Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, who is engaging with us on...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----was the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in May 2014. As well as asking the former Minister if she was briefed on this, I ask the Minister to ask her officials and Tusla if they attempted to engage with or brief various Ministers and, if not, why not. We need to know why a succession of Ministers were not told of an issue which was very much in the public frame at that time. We...

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Did Tusla attempt to brief any Minister, or had it briefed any of the previous Ministers? If not, why not? That was the other part of that question.

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes. For example, did it approach the then Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, during the period in 2014 when this was happening?

Seanad: Clarification on Statements made by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Will the Minister ask them?

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief in respect of group 1. This legislation is long overdue, but I commend that there has been some strengthening of it, especially in the area of child pornography within group 1 and also in terms of the strengthening of the offence of withholding information in offences against children and vulnerable persons. That is positive. We have had a very deep problem and have a...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I spoke briefly about the last group of amendments, but since it has been referred to by many other Members, I want to raise the question of the timing and conduct of this debate. We have had a long journey with this legislation which has been debated in the public sphere for five years, with hundreds of submissions being made on it. I recognise the work of Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop, Noeline...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak very briefly because I recognise that there already three lawyers at work, engaging in detailed discussion of the potential and likely processes through the courts of these various offences. I want to highlight one point which is important from my perspective. We are on section 22 and we will move to amendment No. 4 and the question of a person in authority. While there may be...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am pointing to the fact we did not previously have adequate or appropriate legislation to address the particular breach of trust of a person in authority. The contractual relationship with a person in authority was referred to. There is a relationship of trust and it is a damaging thing when it is broken. It is not simply the actual violence against or abuse or exploitation of an...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Are other Senators indicating, because it will affect how long I will speak for?

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will try not to take too much time. I would like to speak on one or two of the specific concerns raised by Senator McDowell and by my colleague, Senator Ruane, and then I will come to why I have reached the position of supporting the criminalisation of the purchase of sex. I want first to address the question raised about aiding and abetting. Currently, no prosecution has taken place of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was speaking in terms of solicitation. I will keep going as I am very limited in my time. I have much less time than Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I also wanted to speak on the question, which the Senator raised, of the fetish. It is not something that someone suffers with. People have fetishes and that is all very well and fine, but it is very important in areas such as sadomasochism that there is mutual desire and very clear lines in terms of consent. It is more important in those areas because of the potential damage that may come...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have many other points that I would like to make but I will put them aside.