Results 1,461-1,480 of 8,768 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Okay. I apologise if it has been addressed in detail. I was just struck by what Ms O'Neill said around losing time in this regard. Since this issue has apparently been addressed, I finish on a different point. One or two areas have been mentioned where we are losing time. These are areas where we could make a hard choice in this context in the next five years that would perhaps be better...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I apologise. I am just going to say that I had asked about the next five years and Ms O'Neill gave a couple of good examples of areas that could be focused on. I was going to ask as well about whether there is an area where we need to stop doing things in the next five years. There is the low-hanging fruit or the thing that delivers most, which is one question, but the other question,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In that regard, the point on alignment with SDGs is a very good one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am aware that we are out of time but Dr. Hough was indicating a desire to contribute. Maybe the witnesses could submit written responses in respect of points they did not get to address.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am going to focus on a couple of aspects. The Tánaiste mentioned that the position of many EU countries in respect of a ceasefire has moved on significantly since October. I acknowledge that he has been making strong and constructive statements in regard to working for peace and pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. Unfortunately, the Irish Embassy in Israel seems to be signing up in May...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I understand the date, not the content.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Just to mention that we still have not seen that Attorney General advice. It would be useful at this point as we have had successive advice that we have not seen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: There have been no inspections.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: They have also had a tenfold increase in their arms exports.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: And cluster munitions.

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join in congratulating the Minister of State on her new role and I look forward to engaging with her on the many dimensions of her new role. Usually when I speak about the European Union on Europe Day or at European events, I speak about its extraordinary benefits and how important it was for Ireland to be part of the Union. I speak about the progressive laws and progress that we have...

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I commend Senator Clonan on tabling this legislation. I am proud to be one of the co-sponsors of it, along with my Civil Engagement Group colleagues, namely, Senators Ruane, Black and Flynn. I am glad to be able to support its passage and am hopeful the Government also will allow and support its passage and progression through this House. It is an important opportunity to send a signal in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will continue on amendments Nos. 57 to 60, inclusive. Amendment No. 69 has now been included in that grouping if I am correct because it is technical. I had outlined many of my main concerns, which were with section 11 and the rather excessive powers given to the Minister to "give a direction in writing to the Agency" on "any matter ... referred to in this Act" or any other Act and,...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Much of the language in the Bill does not reflect standard practice. The language in section 11, which affects the approach we have to take in section 15, is not standard. I have examined a lot of legislation coming through these Houses and have very rarely seen such discretionary power given to a Minister to give directions to an agency. There is not that breadth of discretionary power in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Perfect. I thought it was but I have the old grouping to hand. I just wanted clarification. With respect, the Minister of State's explanation does not really satisfy me. I am not suggesting the agency should be free-form and not respond to anything, but we need to be really clear about what it is being asked to do.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On Report Stage, I might propose a measure to ensure transparency where the Minister is giving directions and where there are policies that the board has to comply with, such that we would be able to know which policies. Of course, I am in favour of strong governance measures, but policies do not necessarily equate to those measures. In fact, sometimes policies go against good governance,...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 58: In page 14, lines 34 and 35, to delete "(whether contained in guidelines, codes or other documents, or any combination of them)".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 59: In page 14, lines 34 and 35, to delete "(whether contained in guidelines, codes or other documents, or any combination of them)" and substitute "(which are provided for by legislation or statutory instrument)".

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 60: In page 15, line 1, to delete "or a Minister of the Government".