Results 1,761-1,780 of 8,196 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Economic Issues: Engagement with Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland (25 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Sorry. I was saying that it is not the need in terms of a year-to-year need for borrowing but in terms of the opportunities - for example, the opportunities for borrowing for infrastructural expenditure or social housing and so forth. Has an opportunity to access money at a lower rate been missed? I presume that it was predictable that money would not stay available at such a low rate for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Deputy. I also thank the witnesses. I will pick up Deputy Shortall's point about section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The Deputy gave very good and recent examples of where section 10 does not seem to be considered by the Garda to be an adequate basis for action in situations where what clearly looks to be harassment of people, be they recent migrants...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It would also be very useful to clarify why, if section 10 is adequate, it has not been used for the past years because it has not been used in that context. I do not agree that section 23 in the new legislation will address that. My other issue relates to the concern by An Garda Síochána, which I think was valid, around the lack of clarity in the confiscation of phones or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I was going to say that it might be that it only needs to be provided in part of it. It is important that there is a proper balance in the confiscation of phones and so forth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: It is clear which specific behaviours it might be related to. Regarding the trade unions, the witness will be aware that I was, along with many others, one of the co-sponsors of the Private Members' Bill. One thing we had looked for was clarity in ensuring that trade union protests, as we have seen across the water recently, outside hospitals, would not be in danger of falling into or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the issue of signage, I was a little concerned about it. There are pluses and minuses to it. In one way it can send a signal. There are the maps. I refer to it creating an element of deniability. For GPs the idea of having to acquire signage outside what are, in some cases, their homes as well as their practices, may become an onerous thing. I can see a role for them in hospitals and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Department of Health (Resumed) (18 Jan 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: On the deniability, is there a danger of people saying, "I did not see the sign and therefore...", whereas the 100 m is pretty clear?

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I did not want to interrupt the very lovely speeches for another excellent candidate, Senator Buttimer, but a minor point of procedure to flag is that I had indicated first. I do not know if it is possible to reflect that in the order in which the motions were taken but it would be good if it was because it is good we get to have all the opportunities to vote that we can. I thank the Acting...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I congratulate all those who are rotating roles, namely, Senators Pauline O'Reilly, Garvey, Kyne and Gallagher, as well as the Leader and Deputy Leader. I acknowledge in particular the outgoing Leader, Senator Doherty, who spoke beautifully on the Order of Business yesterday about her experience of coming into the Seanad and what it means to her. During her period as Leader, we have faced...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I begin by paying tribute to Senator Joe O'Reilly. He has been a very good Leas-Chathaoirleach. As previous speakers stated, he is one of the most decent and good people I have known in politics. I regard him as a friend. As well as always bringing care, kindness and tolerance to his role as Leas-Chathaoirleach and to any part of his engagement with colleagues across the House, he has a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join in expressing condolences to the young peacekeeper who lost his life and the peacekeeper who was injured in the service of the UN and a more peaceful world. That is a very sad thing. He was undertaking very important work. It is wonderful to hear such pride in the Seanad and what it has been historically. This year's Seanad 100 events have given us a chance to look at what it has...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response to my amendments. I would have liked more elaboration on the Government’s amendments because the proposals that the Government is putting forward will have significant consequences. While my amendments to the amendments have been addressed, but when the Minister of State has the opportunity to come in again, he might elaborate on what...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: No, we are probably slightly more than that. Amendment No. 11 seeks to insert a new subsection after subsection (3). I have mentioned that in regard to Part XAB. Amendment No. 12 relates to the "mays" and "shalls" that we often come to in this House, but which can be so significant. There is a reference to the fact that the Minister may make regulations providing for "all of the following...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Specific questions were asked on specific amendments. It would be useful to have answers to decide whether to push them. I ask the Minister of State to address them.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Serious concerns about An Bord Pleanála have been flagged for a long time. We have heard a lot about the Government learning from things. I welcome the inclusion of a use it or lose it requirement in the section. We looked for such a requirement when SHDs were going through and we were not given it. We flagged concerns on SHDs back in 2016 and they were not listened to. That is why...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is very dangerous and that is the kind of situation that happens when people almost want to take advantage of people's other commitments and the fact they must schedule their time. Again, it leads to bad decisions. I am not looking to remove the provision of remote conferencing but I am saying that if there is a remote meeting, 72 hours' notice should be given. That is very...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, line 18, after "time" to insert ", where notice of such a meeting has been provided not less than 72 hours in advance,".

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(8A) Where a meeting takes place using remote video or telephone conferencing facilities or other means of communication provided for under subsection (8), the quorum for such a meeting shall be 5 members.".