Results 7,941-7,960 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In response to Senator Reilly, it is important to say we do not need to have a divisive conversation but we need to be honest. It is straightforward; it is an expenditure. The fact that if a company is paying 6.25% because of its research and development, if it was going to pay €500,000 to the State it will now pay €250,000. It is just a straight expenditure and it may well...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay, I am sorry. I apologise for that. I wish to state that an issue arises in respect of amendment No. 10 and I will withdraw it and reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage. The public reporting is one issue but the other issue is the information the Minister will receive. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Employment has a plethora of measures and wide-ranging...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2016: Second Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I rise to commend Senator Leyden on bringing forward the Bill. I recognise that a very important principle has been established and set out therein, which I will support on Second Stage. There is strong value in encouraging the registration of wills, in terms of ensuring there is a paper trail, which is of such importance to families. I concur with Senator O'Reilly that it might be very...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want to highlight two issues quickly but before doing so I note that I was disappointed our amendment to the Social Welfare Bill, which we will be discussing later, was ruled out of order. It is a missed opportunity. I urge the Leader to engage with the Minister to ensure that he proposes some solid and meaningful alternative way to take action in relation to Independent News and Media on...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is simply one sentence.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will be very brief. It is a matter of some urgency. I am simply asking that in reflection of the motion on Aleppo that was passed unanimously in this House, the Leader remind the Government of that motion and urge it to take immediate action to press for a ceasefire. I know we have talked about a debate. We have seen those on the ground who called for a three-day ceasefire now calling...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am present in the House now, so I would like that to be noted.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I left the House for two minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would point out that I was here for all the Order of Business and I left for two minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I want that to be clarified, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My remarks were not in any way defamatory of the Leader or suggesting otherwise. I was only acknowledging regret as to the decision, while not attributing any decision to the Leader.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is this my only opportunity to speak during the debate?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am supportive of amendment No. 1, but I will also speak to those that have been ruled out of order because I believe-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Then I will speak to the wider question of the Bill. At what point will I get to do that on Report Stage?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will comment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will reserve my right to comment at that stage. I just want to ensure that I get the opportunity.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to make a quick couple of points. For clarification, the particular measure on voluntary contributions which I acknowledge was accepted by the Minister, related to all people and they will have a period of five years in which they can make voluntary contributions following their last previous contribution. I was thinking especially of women returning to the workplace in that context,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Excuse me, I am entitled to speak to the Bill and this is my slot to speak.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I have to make a number of points that relate to the Bill because they relate also to what the Bill is not doing that it had the opportunity to do. I will not speak at length on this issue but I will point out that the proposals were within the OECD guidelines and were part of that wider package of pension reform that was debated in great depth on Committee Stage in this House. The...