Results 281-300 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins

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

Jim Higgins: How can it be that we will be dealing with Report Stage of this legislation while the committee—

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

Jim Higgins: It is totally wrong.

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

Jim Higgins: Is Senator Henry's valid point on the Information Commissioner's suggestion on the definition of the words "person", "body corporate" and so on being accepted by the Minister of State or will he table his own amendment on Report Stage?

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

Jim Higgins: What is "econometric"?

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

Jim Higgins: The amendment is in my name also and jumps out at one straight away. This provision seems to impede people's right to know who had what jurisdiction or function within the operation of the Freedom of Information Act. The principal Act states: 4.–(1) A head may delegate in writing to a member of the staff of the public body concerned any of the functions of the head under this Act (other...

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

Jim Higgins: It is fine for the people who will dispense the information, but those seeking information about themselves will face huge consequences. The individual will be more restricted in the personal files he or she will be able to access. He will only be allowed to access files, subject to 11 exemptions, that contain information about him. Records that do not contain personal information, as defined...

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

Jim Higgins: It looked like one of the extraordinary omissions in the 1997 Act that no mechanism for the withdrawal of a request was in place. As we all know, much horse trading went on. One would receive a telephone call from the Department saying that information would be given to a person more quickly if he or she would withdraw the request. Certain Departments have been extremely facilitating in this...

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

Jim Higgins: That is the practical problem that could arise.

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

Jim Higgins: There might be three people seeking the information as well as the situation outlined by Senator Paddy Burke. It is a practical problem and we need to know what would happen in such a situation. What type of determination would be made? Would the information be made available or would the request be subject to withdrawal across the board?

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

Jim Higgins: It is not the information but the existence of the information.

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: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I support my colleagues on this side of the House in their total opposition to the manner in which the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill has been handled. This is a dark day for democracy because the Bill is sinister, subversive and dangerous. The modus operandi in introducing the Bill three days after publication is wrong. It is an insult to the House. If the Members on the other side...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thank the Leader for her concession in proposing that spokespersons should have 30 minutes on Second Stage. Senators on all sides have much to contribute and the proposed 15 minute time allocation is inadequate, especially in the context of the way the debate is to be taken. I, therefore, propose amendment No. 2: that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Order of Business be...

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—