Results 8,461-8,480 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We are legislators and should not be afraid of significant changes in legislative direction. The very fact that we are looking at these amendments now, that we have the Child and Family Relationships Act, we had the marriage equality referendum and the many other changes that we have had, reflect the fact that we do not need to be afraid of significant legislative change when it is moving in...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am withdrawing but I reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am going to speak briefly in support of this amendment. I urge the Minister to consider taking it on board and to accept it. I believe it strikes a clear balance. I recognise the importance of security and stability. I recognise the importance of a timeline being set in order that we do not have children in limbo for long periods. I realise much of the positive intent in this section...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am replacing Senator John Dolan today. I thank the speakers very much for their very interesting and comprehensive answers to the questions. I will not ask again many of the questions, including that on fertility asked by Deputy Murphy O'Mahony. I wish to highlight a couple of key points and ask the delegates for their thoughts. In a previous role, I worked with the National Women's...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I also referred to the neonatal and postnatal services, including lactation and psychologists. Does it put pressure on nursing services when those specialist services are not available?

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Is there a sense that it is moving now that it has been included in the strategy?

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Overall, we welcome the strategy and our questions concern its implementation. The National Women's Council worked with the HSE around some of the consultation on this. One of the strong desires among women was for choice and options. That is set out to an extent in respect of the supported care options as well as assisted and specialised care. The strategy seems to envisage side-by-side...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Will that bring us to the ratio of 29.5? When does Mr. Woods see us arriving at the recommended ratio?

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...