Results 1,781-1,800 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Overseas Development Aid. (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: A former Irish Army colleague of Deputy Timmins, John Ging, plays a crucial role in UNWRA. While it is very important, ideally UNWRA should not be necessary if the Palestinian situation had been solved. The Irishman who does such good work there says that he is facing continual blocks on the most essential medical aid, essential aid for child nutrition and plastic bags. The Israeli...

Overseas Development Aid. (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The Eurobarometer report of less than two years ago showed that 80% of the citizens polled did not know what the world millennium development goals were, which is a cause of great concern. The Commission's publication of three years ago examined what was aid and what was not. In the Irish case, some of the money allocated ended up as aid but in the case of many member states money had been...

Overseas Development Aid. (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: They might as well do it when they can.

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Is it not the case that deepening the agreement and facilitating its extension without having insisted on a monitoring mechanism to report within a defined period of time on breaches of human rights conventions represented a capitulation to continuing Israeli aggression in Gaza?

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: In addressing amendment No. 17 to this issue, my colleague, Deputy Wall, was concerned about the original text on page 11, lines 23 and subsequent. He was particularly concerned about the loose language used in determining whether a gift is of public benefit. Subsection 3(5) states: "A charitable gift for the purpose of the advancement of religion shall have effect, and the terms upon which...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: No, we are irreconcilable on this issue. We might as well proceed and dispose of the matter. Amendment put.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I move amendment No. 17: In page 11, line 26, after "concerned" to insert the following: ", provided that for the purposes of this section, 'religion' shall not include any organisation or cult which in the opinion of the Authority is primarily economic in nature or employs oppressive psychological manipulation of its adherents". Amendments Nos. 16 to 18, inclusive, were discussed together...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Amendments Nos. 16 and 18 seek to address the issue which amendment No. 17 addressed. I remain convinced that amendment No. 17 was the better formulation and I ask the Minister of State, when bringing this legislation to the Seanad, to consider the arguments made. I do not want to call a vote for no reason as amendment No. 16 has been carried and amendment No. 18 is related. Amendment No....

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The amendment is agreed.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "(a) A body which is part of the executive branch of Government,". The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that core public bodies are excluded bodies under the Bill and, therefore, do not constitute charities. The Minister of State undertook to examine this matter on Committee Stage.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Yes.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The purpose of the amendment was to achieve clarification, certainly not to have any malign effect by way of exclusion of the bodies. The amendment is not being pressed.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: With the greatest respect, I suggest the Minister of State's amendment does not clarify any matter but rather makes it far more difficult. I intend very much to facilitate the Minister of State and the Government in some of these amendments which are technical and, like Deputy Ring and others, we are anxious to improve the Bill. However, this is one of those fundamental issues. The...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: This is a fundamental issue. There is a parallel in the history of legislation. In 19th century Britain, for example, some people were interested in charitably dealing with the victims of child labour, including children being sent up chimneys. However, the campaigns that were important were those that outlawed child labour rather than the ones that were delimited in terms of some kind of...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the clarification of the distinction between "public policy" and "Government policy" and as such I am happy to accept the amendments.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 9, line 31, after "activities," to insert "whether in the State or elsewhere,". I am happy to be assisted in regard to the reach of this amendment in the name of my colleague, Deputy Jack Wall. The amendment seeks to extend consideration beyond the State. I am interested to hear the Minister's response in regard to this matter which was raised on Committee...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I am not disposed to opposing the amendments but I agree with one aspect of Deputy Ring's statement in particular. As soon as possible after this legislation has passed through both Houses and is signed into law, it would be in the public interest to have a statement of clarification on the meaning of charitable status. Deputy Ring is entirely right that there are ways in which it has been...

Official Engagements. (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Absolutely.

Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The Tánaiste did not get as far as ideology.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason he did not consider removing State support for private, fee-paying schools in budget 2009; if his failure to do so is in line with his recent comments on third level education and making 33,000 millionaire families pay appropriate fees; his views on the principle of universal access to free education; and if he will make...