Results 7,921-7,940 of 8,220 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The key point is the ratio. Can we get an up-to-date figure on the ratio so that we can get a sense of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With regard to some of the specific issues mentioned such as the release for professional development and the question of progression, what does Ms Fitzgerald see are the gaps in terms of retention and progression?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Before we move on from the capital funding, I am a little concerned. Mr. Woods was mentioning the side-by-side services and it seems that they are now going through capital funding, even though they are described in some cases as new units. However, the low-risk birthing centres are potentially relatively low-cost and I am concerned that they may well fall by the wayside if we are talking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It might be useful to get a sense of how the model works. A concern has been expressed about accountability in the networks. Is there an accountability structure? Is somebody responsible for the structure? It is important to know this information both in terms of recruitment and giving confidence to people down the line. How does the delegation see this matter impact on accountability?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is there any danger regarding the allocation of moneys to the NTPF? Is it possible that similar, parallel resources will be allocated to increase capacity? There is a concern that when money is put into the NTPF, we are told that funding has been allocated to deal with a health crisis or problem and the issue is taken off the agenda. I suggest that when allocations are made to the NTPF,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We were told that the figure for Cork University Hospital is 50%. Half of people are able to access this service. The figure had reached 70% at one point, but it has decreased to 50%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Two issues were raised that relate to policy rather than to resources. There has been a policy change to ensure people can be released to pursue professional development within nursing and midwifery. Do the progression scales and increments ensure that people are rewarded and have a progression model-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----into clinical practice as well as into management? That relates to midwifery. It is a policy thing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It would be training and management.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know we are finishing but there was a point that was not addressed. Perhaps I could follow up on that. It was the question of neonatal nursing and that there may be inadequate training in that. Parallel with that is postnatal care. I know there is a question of perinatal psychological resources, which are crucial within the picture.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Discussion (17 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to be here and thank Mr. Kelly for his presentation. Before I ask a question, I want to pick up on one point. We have been hearing of the benefits but Mr. Kelly mentioned our own research. The only research we know we have in Ireland is that Ireland asked, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, which is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Discussion (17 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to ask one concrete question in regard to the European Court of Justice, ECJ. What is the witnesses' view in regard to whether the investor court mechanism be referred to the ECJ and, if not, why not? It is an important check and balance that would give assurance to the population. What is Ireland's position? Between provisional application and final ratification, many states have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Discussion (17 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Would that be subject to compensation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Discussion (17 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: And new standards?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is still 37%. It has gone from 35% to 37%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Some of the matters I had wished to raise have been touched on already. I wish to touch on a few other points. I will begin by picking up on some of the points Senator Humphreys raised. I will begin with the universal supplementary retirement saving scheme and then move on to the first-tier pension. The current marginal rate tax relief system will be important. While it is a matter for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise. The final point I will make relates to the homemaker’s credit. The current system is inadequate. Total contributions will not fully fix it because it only fixes it at pension age. I know there were discussions with the Department previously on the idea of a re-entry credit. If, for example, one were to allow contributions to be on an ongoing basis for people who were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is there consideration being given to allowing people to make another form of contribution besides class S?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was asking about the rules in being allowed to make a voluntary contribution. I also wanted to know about qualified adults and the independence of income because it was highlighted as a route.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Overview of Pensions: Discussion (15 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The partnerships' research is a very useful resource in having a more tailored basket.