Results 321-340 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: I appeal for a debate on an issue touched upon by Senator Brendan Ryan, and it should not be taken as part of the debate on spatial planning. I refer to the dire warning issued yesterday by the managing director of Eirgrid, Ciaran O'Brien, that unless a new power station is built by 2005 there will be serious outages and blackouts and an electricity deficiency of 20%. There are no plans to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: It is currently going through the Dáil.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (27 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: I commend the Independent Senators on bringing this worthy and timely motion before the House. I disagree, however, with my good friend and colleague, Senator Henry, in relation to our performance as a nation, that is, at Government level. I fully agree with her on the performance of Ireland Aid in relation to the non-governmental organisations but from the point of view of our performance as...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: I support Senators Finucane and Leyden. It would be a disaster if we did not get our Christmas cards out.

Seanad: Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements. (21 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: In spite of what the Minister said, the contents of the Book of Estimates have little, if anything, to do with the slowdown in world economic growth. Last May the Minister and his Government colleagues perpetrated the biggest con job on the electorate since 1977. In that year the Minister's Fianna Fáil predecessors and their infamous manifesto wrecked an economy, which then took 15 years to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: Another damming indictment of the performance of Dublin Airport was published this morning. A survey shows one third of the flights arriving or departing from it are late. That is an appalling performance for the airport of our capital city. This comes at a time when the airport has been given many extra facilities. I commend the Leader and the Minister for Transport for the provision of an...

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: I wish to share time with Senator Ulick Burke. I join other speakers in welcoming the Minister to the House and compliment him on the manner in which he has literally hit the ground running in terms of his portfolio. It was never more urgent that we sort out the problems that have been today articulated so eloquently in this House in regard to Iarnród Éireann. I disagree with the Leader of...

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: There is a huge amount of goodwill out there but there is a reluctance because Iarnród Éireann simply has not delivered. It is an inept and incompetent company, an abysmal failure. It is incredible that we are debating this motion. It is ten years into the life of the Celtic tiger and we have seen unprecedented growth in the volume of commercial and domestic traffic. Juggernauts traverse...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (7 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this item for discussion on the Adjournment. I join previous speakers in welcoming the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, and congratulate him on his return to office after a brief aberration. It is good to see him back again. Scoil Croí Íosa, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo is probably the best...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

Jim Higgins: I second the amendment moved by the leader of the Fine Gael group, Senator Brian Hayes, on rail freight.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: This week somebody who confessed to the murder of two elderly ladies in Grangegorman refused to turn up at the inquest into their deaths, having already been convicted of killing two people in County Roscommon. It transpires that the fine for non-attendance at the coroner's court is a mere €5. It is obvious, therefore, that the Coroners Act is grossly outdated and there is an urgent need to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: Recently, RTÉ did an excellent series for its news programmes on the ravages of famine in Somalia. The chief reporter, Charlie Bird, went right to the heartland of the areas affected and the prognosis is that things will get worse. I would like a debate on our overseas development aid, particularly in the context of the fact that the Taoiseach has been going to international conferences and...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament. (10 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: While I appreciate that Mr. Cox may be rather tired of commendations on his address to the House, it was one of the most eloquent and enlightening I have heard. I also had the pleasure, with some colleagues from this House, of hearing his address to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg two weeks ago. Táim ana bhródúil ar fad as a uactaránacht. Senators McDowell and O'Meara referred to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: At our first sitting I requested a special debate on the economy. The situation was extremely bad at the time and has worsened considerably in the meantime. There is now a considerable shortfall in corporation and income tax revenue. The Minister for Finance has managed, magically, to turn a substantial surplus into a projected deficit of €750 million.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: I ask for a special debate on that matter.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: We would like that to be taken in Government time.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: That is what is in the motion on the Order Paper.

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: And so say all of us.

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: We are off to a good start. While I have not been present in the Chamber for all the debate, I have listened to most of it. It is obvious there is a collective determination that at long last we will do our business collectively and in a consensual way, as Senator Hayes said, and that we will see Seanad reform take place during the lifetime of this Seanad, hopefully at an early stage. The...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Jim Higgins: Yes.