Results 961-980 of 3,462 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46171/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for her Department's decision not to approve accessibility modifications, including a ramp for wheelchair access to the PE hall and a wet room/shower facility, in the recent SEN room reconfiguration project at a school (details supplied), given the importance of promoting equality of access as stated in section 6 of the Education...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for being with us to discuss the concept of a directly elected mayor for Dublin. The citizens assembly did a lot of work on this and produced a comprehensive report after many Saturdays and weekends of deliberation. Despite this, it is very difficult to sum up the vision of a directly elected mayor for Dublin in a report. Ms Graham hit the nail on the head for me when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: Will Ms Graham give us an indication of how having a Dublin mayor with responsibility for transport would work successfully from a practical perspective in ensuring there is a level of collaboration and integration with the directors of services in the four local authorities, the NTA and the Department of Transport?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: That is very useful. We will all feed into the proposed Bill. It is very difficult for the witnesses attending these sessions because we are not working off a detailed framework. We are almost trying to create one. I appreciate Ms Graham's input. What she said is really useful.

Capital Support for Sports Facilities: Statements (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: When we talk about the heart and the soul of a community, what comes to mind? For many people it is their local sports club. Sports are not just games that we play or watch, they are the lifeblood of communities drawing together from all walks of life. They teach us resilience, teamwork and discipline. Most importantly, sports provide a platform for personal, social and community growth....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 23. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to increase support for grassroots clubs in the League of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45607/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 65. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has had discussions with major film and TV studios on potential plans to expand their operations in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45606/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for being here and sharing their expertise with us. It is disappointing we do not have any of the cathaoirligh or mayors of any of the four local authorities with us. If this goes ahead, it will have a huge impact on local democracy, local councillors and the offices of mayor and cathaoirleach. Unfortunately, they are not here to provide us with any insights from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: Each chief executive, if I have enough time, on budget, resources and staffing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: New staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: I might return to the issue of staffing because I got some different perspectives on it. Mr. Curran seemed to say new staff would be required to staff the mayor's office so it could carry out the various new functions it will be getting. Mr. Shakespeare, if I got him right, made the point that it was likely that staff would need to follow the budget. Could I tease that out a little more?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: Is anybody else coming in on that? No. My next question probably follows on from Senator Moynihan's contribution. She very much stated that the recommendations are the recommendations and it is not necessarily up to us as a committee to reinvent them but it is more to figure out how to implement them. I have a friend who sat on the Dublin citizens' assembly who I think would very much...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: Minus housing, homelessness and economic infrastructure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: Do other witnesses feel similarly? There are a lot of nodding heads. Will Ms Feeney speak about what impact it would have on existing public representatives?

Middle East and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: As we stand here in this Chamber, innocent civilians are dying in Gaza and almost 200 innocent hostages taken in Israel continue to be held against their will. The people of Palestine have lived under occupation for decades upon decades. I visited Palestine and I have seen that myself in areas like Hebron, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Kulandia. I have seen how Israeli soldiers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: Earlier this week, I attended a public meeting organised by the Taoiseach's constituency colleague, Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie, who is with us today in the Chamber. It related to the Silver Bridge, which links Waterstown Park in Palmerstown to the Strawberry Beds in Lucan. The bridge is currently being repaired and restored through a €1.5 million investment but it is not being...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (18 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 111. To ask the Minister for Finance whether an employer can provide part of an employee's annual bonus as a voucher under the small benefit exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45647/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 137. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason businesses with penal rates of €63,700 and €55,200 are excluded from the SME support scheme; how the Government intends to support major employment contributors, such as those in the hospitality sector, particularly in the face of the current cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Parental Leave (18 Oct 2023)

Emer Higgins: 206. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide a definitive date by which a baby must be born in order for parents to avail of the additional two weeks of parental leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45655/23]