Results 41-60 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: Yes.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: The manner in which the Opposition earlier indicated its total revulsion for the Bill exemplified the general public revulsion at the announcement of its publication, which came like a bolt from the blue last Friday. It had been signalled in advance that the Government intended to tamper with the Freedom of Information Act because it penetrated too deeply into what was happening behind closed...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I am surprised that ordinary elected Members of either of the Government parties would countenance supporting the measure before the House. Not alone are the rights of ordinary citizens, organisations and the media being trampled on and interfered with, but the rights of ordinary Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas are also being trammelled and trampled upon. If ever there was an...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: The Leader of the House has also indicated that Committee Stage is to be taken next week. I ask the Leader and her Government colleagues to insist on a moratorium of at least two to three weeks to enable Members on all sides to consult and enter into dialogue with interested parties in regard to tabling substantial amendments. I ask that no attempt whatsoever be made to introduce the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I would go further and ask whether the Bill is constitutional. Can one take away a right that has already been established in law by legislation when there is no compelling reason for doing so? It would be interesting to see if the provisions of this repealing legislation will be challenged by somebody outside the precincts of this House—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: —in order to check its constitutionality.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I would imagine in the case of Deputy Ring there will be many bodies willing to throw in their few euro to build up a fund to challenge this sinister legislation.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: One has to ask what the Government is up to. What is the reason for all the urgency and panic? What is the Government afraid of that it publishes draconian legislation at such short notice and proposes to bulldoze it through in such an unseemly fashion?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: What would be wrong with having these revealed? Is it not the most natural thing in the world that in any organisation, Government or otherwise, individuals will hold opinions that differ, often widely? Is it not in the public interest to enable people to see the different perspectives from which individual members of Cabinet come and to have such differences ultimately resolved in a process...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: Our problem is with the way the Leader has dealt with this Bill.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: We know.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: He would get a second wind in this House.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: Why was the Ombudsman excluded?

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I fully agree with Senators Ryan and Lydon that there is a need for a debate on Palestine. When Minister of State at the Department of Defence, I undertook two trips to south Lebanon where I witnessed at first hand the tremendous work of the Irish troops under the banner of the United Nations with UNIFIL. While I returned home with a great sense of pride, the visit left me with one of my most...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I agree fully but if ever a health board legislates for its annihilation or restructuring—

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I ask for a debate on the manner in which this and other health boards are getting their auditing and management structures so wrong.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I would inform the Minister of State that the commissioner's report, The Application and Operation of Certain Provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, is available and is quite riveting. As Senator O'Toole said, it is manifestly wrong in these circumstances to embark upon a debate on Committee Stage of a Bill which has such fundamental implications for people's right to access...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I fully appreciate that, but neither the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, nor a Senator representing the Progressive Democrats is present. Does that mean they are trying to back away from the implications of this Bill and, to use a Cheltenham expression, ride two horses simultaneously?

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: The House should adjourn because it is wrong to proceed in these circumstances. The Information Commissioner was not granted the courtesy of having an input by the so-called expert committee. I have scanned quickly through the Information Commissioner's report and it is extremely important. It provides a good overview of the legislation along with a critical analysis of its sections,...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: On a point of order, there is nothing to stop the House making another order. We have had supplementary orders in the Dáil and the Seanad and we have also amended Standing Orders. To do so now would be in everyone's interests as this is a unique situation. I asked the Minister of State if the report was available and he said no; he was advised by the public servants—