Results 1,401-1,420 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: It is interesting to get that feedback. As I said, I worked on a couple of development plans, and I could not imagine having had to stay up until 2 a.m. looking into a computer screen and zooming in and out of maps. I know I would have found it unworkable, so it was interesting to hear Councillor Sheahan's experience.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 165. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on his Department’s progress in delivering a low-cost loan guarantee scheme to encourage homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades under the national retrofitting and home energy upgrade programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8416/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the delays professional public service drivers are experiencing in terms of getting out on the road due to the time lag between applying for a test and the test date, combined with the average time it takes to process a CPC card after a driver successfully completes the test. [8304/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will authorise the issuing of a temporary 31-day CPC card to drivers who successfully complete their professional driving test in order to get newly qualified bus drivers out on the road serving local communities quicker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8305/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered amending the student teacher Gaeltacht grant to provide full State funding of mandatory Gaeltacht placement for all student teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8819/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 460. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that a person who is living alone at home but is a qualified adult on their spouses' pension, who resides in a nursing home, does not qualify for the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8138/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 578. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars that are currently allocated per station in the L and K districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8638/23]

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...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: The Department of Social Protection figure seems quite high, at 579 cases. Are there any trends regarding that Department? The Ombudsman delved into local authority cases and health complaints. I would be keen to understand whether there are particular trends. My main question concerns special reports, that is, what happens after they are published and how that changes things in a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Given that there are nearly 600 complaints in this area, I will appreciate if the Ombudsman cannot answer my question or not know the relevant information offhand. Does his office receive any or many complaints from women around pensions? In my constituency, a wife is in receipt of a pension through her husband's pension. He is now in a nursing home and she does not qualify for the living...

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: Does the Ombudsman receive many complaints from people about the potential purchase of a property where there is a tenant in situsituation?

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: That is good to hear. It is also great to hear that there is a constant loop, and they are constantly making sure that gap is being closed. I want to thank Ms Hanrahan for that, because it is not just about improving services and access to them; it is about improving and changing people's lives. I thank Ms Hanrahan for all that she and her teams do in that respect.

Committee on Public Petitions: Office of the Ombudsman Annual Report 2021: Office of the Ombudsman (16 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Ombudsman and Ms Hanrahan for being with us today and all of their teams for everything they do. One thing which rings true every time I speak to anybody who has had dealings with the Ombudsman is the trust they have in him and his office and team. That is important. Unfortunately, trust sometimes breaks down with different elements of our public service and that is why people...

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...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: I would also like to rate the issue of changes to benefit-in-kind. In my constituency, there is a ridiculous situation whereby somebody who can work from home on a Friday is instead choosing to drive to Kilkenny simply to reduce their tax liability because they need the extra mileage. On a day when a car should be sitting in a driveway and generating no emissions, it is instead doing a 200...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (15 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 72. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 246 of 22 November 2022, if he will explain his statement that the Central Bank cannot dictate the pricing or provision of insurance products, given that it has recently banned the practice of price walking, thus intervening in the pricing of motor insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7712/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (14 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the booking fee that is charged to customers who pre-book a seat with Bus Éireann, regardless of whether the person has a free travel pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7297/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 335. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions that have been undertaken between the school building unit and South Dublin County Council to deliver the necessary access road to the permanent school site of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6710/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Insurance Coverage (14 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 367. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) is covered by State indemnity insurance since 2012 and, as such, has not required separate building insurance from that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7294/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (14 Feb 2023)

Emer Higgins: 368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the community contribution refund that is due to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7295/23]