Results 101-120 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Jim Higgins: With the permission of the House, could I share one minute with my colleague Senator Brian Hayes?

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thank everybody who contributed to the debate from all sides of the House. It was a very stimulating, high calibre debate, even though I did not agree with anything that was said from the other side of the House. That is a sine qua non. I am extremely disappointed with the contribution of the Minister for Finance. He challenged us to spell out what we meant by re-negotiation and we did so....

Seanad: Benchmarking: Motion. (8 Oct 2003)

Jim Higgins: Senator O'Toole mentioned the verification groups and we agreed with him. However, why not publish their results? Why should they be secret? Where is the evidence of the measurability of productivity and increased services? It should be published.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Transport appears to be the theme today, having been raised by Senators Ulick Burke and Norris. Senator Norris rightly referred to the slow progress of the Luas project and the wholesale disruption caused by it and raised questions on the metro. The contract for the operation of Luas has been awarded to a firm known as Connex. Commuters will have been dismayed to learn over the weekend that...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 1 to 4. I wish to thank Senators from all sides for the manner in which they supported the thrust of what I sought to achieve with my amendments on Committee Stage yesterday. Although I do not wish to be repetitive, we must briefly restate the arguments, which I genuinely believe are compelling and have already been put forcibly by all sides....

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I thought that after mulling over the matter, the Minister of State might have had a change of heart but this gives me a feeling of anticipation about subsequent amendments concerning the Clerk of the Seanad.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 9, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "(d)the Clerk of Seanad Éireann;". Yesterday all sides of the House were unanimous in their belief that the Clerk of the Seanad should be a member of the commission by right. We were appalled when we read the membership list because it is patently obvious that the Clerk of the Seanad should come directly...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Senator Dardis correctly said we are not concerned with semantics and the argument has been made regarding the status and autonomy of this Chamber. The key point is that acceptance of the amendment would improve the commission. I appreciate the arguments made by Senator O'Rourke and Senator Mansergh. It will be interesting to see if Senators on the other side of the House will behave like...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I asked my Department to authorise practical projects to alleviate flooding that could be implemented at short notice. One such project was undertaken at Belcar, County Galway, near the home of the former Minister of State and Senator, Mark Killilea, where roads had been flooded for 20 years. In fairness to the Office of Public Works, it quickly did the necessary work. Within three hours of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: While we do not expect the Progressive Democrats to assert its independence within the coalition Government on this issue, we expect the Minister of State to accept this sensible amendment. It will not impose a charge on the Exchequer as the necessary funding can be found within the budget allocation of €295 million. The arguments in favour are comprehensive, reputable and compelling....

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I do not have a problem with the amendment. However, I have put down amendments proposing that the deputy chairperson be the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. These amendments were not suggested to me by any person, lest anybody be under a misapprehension that they were. They are my own idea. Indeed, during the debate on Second Stage, I gave notice that I would put down amendments to give effect...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I am disappointed with the Minister of State's reaction because he does not want to be prescriptive but the Bill is prescriptive in making the Ceann Comhairle the chairperson. I cannot see why, from the point of view of recognising the status and role of this House, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad cannot be prescribed in the Bill. I agree wholeheartedly with Senator Mansergh in his reading of...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I suppose we have been pre-emptive.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Fine.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I have no problem whatsoever with amendment No. 4, which is good. However, regarding the amendment itself and the business of providing legal advice and so on, lines 15 and 16 concern seeking leave to intervene in existing legal proceedings. Assuming proceedings are already up and running, how does it square with the sub judice rule that, at a certain juncture, the Minister will seek to...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Perhaps I might ask the Minister the rationale behind this. We are setting up an independent commission comprising Members of both Houses which will be all-party or as representative as possible, presumably on a pro rata basis. Yet at the same time, from the point of view of authorising legal representation and advice at a certain stage, the decision must go back to the relevant House. On the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: It is over-restrictive and does not conform to what is supposed to be the spirit of the Bill, namely, that we are setting up a group of 11 honourable people, representatives of all sides and from both Chambers, who will decide on a whole range of issues and matters of policy, administrative or otherwise, set down in the Bill. Yet when it comes to authorising legal advice, that must be done by...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: Section 4 deals with a whole range of functions of the commission. One of the issues to which we alluded on Second Stage was the provision of secretarial facilities. The point was made very forcibly from both sides that in this day and age a situation where Senators have the service, on a shared basis, of one secretary is not good enough. We are entitled on our own merits to a 1:1 ratio. I am...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I meant for Deputies. I was not suggesting it for us.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (1 Jul 2003)

Jim Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 8, subsection (2), line 42, after "Commission" to insert "who shall be the Chairman of Seanad Éireann". As we have already argued this, I do not want to regurgitate the argument as the Minister of State does not seem disposed towards it. It seems practical, and would be a recognition of the unique role of the Chamber as a stand alone legislature, that the...