Results 121-140 of 654 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Emer Higgins

Final Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy: Motion [Private Members] (27 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: I remind people that the time shown on the countdown clock is for everybody. We have Deputies Funchion, Martin Browne, Farrell and Costello to go.

Final Report of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy: Motion [Private Members] (27 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: It is great to have three Ministers present for this important debate. I served as the Vice Chair of the joint committee. I thank our Chair, Deputy Whitmore, all our members, witnesses, the clerks and officials and the legal experts who guided us through the process. We were given just three months to look at this issue, and that was because of the urgency of it. The question we are left...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: Supermarket food costs are continuing to rise at an alarming rate. The rate of inflation is, thankfully, easing, but families are not seeing that in their shopping trolleys. In fact, the cost of food is continuing to rise. An average food shop costs 6.8% more than it did a year ago. I am not just talking about luxury products, but also basics like milk, eggs, butter, meat, cereal, tea,...

Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Statements (26 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: I am delighted to be speaking today to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. For a whole generation of young people in Ireland, the Troubles is a period of Ireland's history. It is a time to be remembered, studied and to learn from but it is a time of our past. Thanks to the historic agreement, there is now a whole new generation who have only ever known peace. That is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: 60. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when local groups in Dublin Mid-West will be able to apply for funding under the outdoor recreation infrastructure fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19237/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Fine Gael has put forward a proposal for the introduction of a new 30% tax rate. A 30% tax rate would benefit more that 1 million working people in Ireland and in particular the squeezed middle. Now is the time to put more money back into people's pockets to counteract inflation, to counteract the huge increases in grocery prices, to assist people with rent and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: I raise an issue that I have raised previously, namely, the lack of public health nursing services for my constituents, especially those in Newcastle, Rathcoole and Lucan. Since I first highlighted this issue, babies and toddlers have missed developmental check-ups. Some have missed two. We talk all the time about early intervention, yet the HSE is providing no interventions whatsoever. I...

Safe Staffing Levels in Hospitals: Statements (23 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: I am glad to contribute to this debate. As a Dublin Deputy, staffing levels in the hospitals in our capital are a massive concern to me and my constituents. This is because they are far from safe. I know of one hospital whose accident and emergency department has almost 50 nursing vacancies and where, when there should be 18 nurses working on any given day, there is often half that number....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the waiting lists for children's disability services in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 7. Nationally, the Taoiseach will be aware of the huge waiting times for assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children. In my area of CHO 7, the problem is particularly acute. We have some of the longest waiting lists in the country. We have had the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: Stunned, shocked, appalled, frustrated and let down; this is how parents and teachers in my constituency are feeling after projects relating to their local schools were put on pause because of a row between the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Building costs have increased dramatically and the Department’s budget needs...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for her four-minute reply to my simple question asking when this matter will be resolved. The answer appears to be that it will be very soon. This does not provide much clarity for the schools involved. The reality is that no matter when it is resolved, this is going to continue to be disruptive. It is particularly disruptive in the context of shovel-ready projects....

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: I am sharing time with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. I wish everybody in the Chamber a very happy International Women's Day. Today is a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of discrimination and drive gender parity. I pay tribute to my female colleagues in this Chamber and all the females who have gone before us. It is encouraging to see the number of women...

Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Mar 2023)

Emer Higgins: I congratulate the Minister of State. I know she has been engaging with the sector and I have had some positive feedback from members of my credit unions on the work she is doing on the ground. I know that will be the tempo the Minister of State has set in the Department. I wish her well in her new role. There is great opportunity and untapped potential within our credit unions. We...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of schools in my area that are still waiting on extensions and new buildings. Earlier this month I visited St. Ronan's National School. Its existing prefabs are absolutely shocking and need to be replaced. My own secondary school, Holy Family Community School, went to tender for a new building but is waiting for the Department to sanction the...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I welcome this Bill and its four main objectives of strengthening the oversight of An Garda Síochána, enhancing its governance, improving our national security infrastructure, and making the safety of communities a whole-of-government responsibility, which is particularly important. It is timely that we are having this discussion given the context of the scenes of antisocial...

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Citizens' assemblies play a crucial role in driving social and policy change across Ireland. Over the past few years, we have seen how effective they are at starting a national discourse on the issues impacting people and because of that, Ireland is widely regarded as a world leader when it comes to deliberative democracy. The recommendations of previous citizens' assemblies have influenced...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: The programme for Government contains a commitment to review our electoral laws and protect our democracy from external influences like political donations from non-citizens outside the State. At the weekend, there was another revelation regarding Sinn Féin's finances. We heard further contradictions about its electoral spending and more questions were raised about its statutory...

Co-ordination of International Protection Services: Statements (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Migration has always been part of our national story, both inward and outward. Sometimes, that is people moving in search of adventure or employment and, at other times, it is people moving here to learn, to work and to live. Often, it is people coming to our shores in search of international protection. Whatever the reason may be, what we need is an immigration system that is fair and...

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I welcome that we are progressing this Bill in line with the recommendations of the 2015 White Paper on Defence. It will bring legislation from the 1930s and 1940s into the modern practice. The Civil Defence provides an invaluable service in supporting front-line emergency services and also local communities. I echo the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, last year when he...