Results 61-80 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I have called for a debate and hope that we will get one now.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: Sinn Féin can shout outside the Chamber all they want.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I am trying to get a real solution for people.

Seanad: Yeats 2015: Statements (9 Jun 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I am delighted to speak in the House today ahead of Yeats Day 2015. As has been mentioned by several of my colleagues, this earmarks the 150th anniversary of W.B. Yeats's birth, a man who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest poets the English language has ever known. What a gift his poetry and legacy have been to the people of Ireland, capturing the myths and beauty of our...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise an issue with regard to the terms and conditions of the new beef genomics scheme created by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The issue is unique in nature because a huge majority of farmers in County Galway do not wish to participate in it. Under the scheme farmers will be given money, but they do not want it because they fear the terms and conditions of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I raised the matter because the scheme will close quite soon and, therefore, it is important to extend the deadline. It is also important that the Minister come in here to discuss the matter. We have a situation in which farmers will be penalised in the short term but the State will be penalised in the long term if farmers pursue a legal action through the courts. I want a debate arranged...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Second Stage (28 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his very detailed and informative submission, which went through the various provisions of the Act. It is very good to hear other speakers refer to their relevance in current times. I thank Senators Norris and Byrne for that. I welcome the opportunity to lead the debate on behalf of the Labour Party in the Seanad and to contribute to this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (26 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha in Tuam is seeking clarity on the matter of its proposed new school building. As far back as 2012 the school community was assured that a new school building would be delivered, as promised, in 2015. However, I am advised that there is no sign of this happening. Instead, according to the most recent updates from the Department, the project has not yet passed the site...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (26 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I appreciate the Minister of State's response but in my view it is a non-response. It has not shed any light on the question I raised. There is an urgent need to expedite the building of the school and the site acquisition in the first place. I ask that the Department would deal assiduously with the issues that have been raised. It is very important for the Department to consider a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I am calling for a debate on carers and the key role they play in our communities, providing vital support to the vulnerable in our society. This support is perhaps the most valuable of all work, giving dignity, security and comfort to those in need. Regrettably, over several budgets, their income has been reduced, which has placed many carers and their clients in difficult situations and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Cyberbullying Issues (7 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I raise this matter on the Commencement of the House today to call for the creation of a single body to lead the charge against cyberbullying, work on awareness and establish an educational campaign on the issue. Currently, eight Government bodies are involved in tackling the issue of cyberbullying, including the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Justice and Equality, the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Cyberbullying Issues (7 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. I accept that cyberbullying issues will always straddle various Departments. However, I am suggesting having one dedicated task force. While enacting law in the area is one thing, it is essential to have awareness and education. I recently spoke to a number of teenagers at an event. They did not have a clue as to whether they were cyberbullying and...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I am calling for a debate on zero-hours contracts because I believe it is an important issue affecting vast numbers of people. There has been a substantial growth in these kinds of contracts in Ireland in recent years. It is difficult to quantify exactly how many people are affected because people on these contracts do not even know they are on them. The contracts themselves cover a range...

Seanad: Europe Day and European Commission Work Programme: Statements (7 May 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I am delighted to get this first opportunity to address the Minister of State since he was appointed to ministerial office. I am also glad of the opportunity to discuss this matter. I have a special affiliation with Europe having run as a candidate in last year's European Parliament elections. I would like to begin by highlighting that Europe Day, on 9 May, will mark 65 years since the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (29 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise an issue regarding the funding policy pursued by the Department when it comes to the amalgamation of DEIS schools with non-DEIS schools. I recently visited a secondary school in my constituency in County Galway, which was originally a regular school but which amalgamated with a DEIS school. As soon as this new entity was established, and despite the fact that all these new...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (29 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his response. I welcome it and think that something proactive is being undertaken by the Department. It is important that special consideration is given to what I see as unfair situations with regard to DEIS and non-DEIS schools that have amalgamated and the withdrawal of particular funding streams that would have a significant impact on the lives of children from...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: This is an urgent matter. Scoil Éanna, Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway is in crisis. The people of Bullaun are desperate for, and have been promised, a new school. It is astonishing to me that, given the severity of their situation, pupils and teachers are forced to endure this entirely unsuitable and highly dangerous situation nine years after being promised a new building. Scoil...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his response in which he mentioned demographics. This school has gone from having 39 pupils in 2000 to 187 pupils 2014 which is a sizeable increase. The building in which pupils are being taught and in which teachers are forced to teach is wholly unsuitable. However, I welcome the fact the project will be progressed into the architectural planning process...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 13 be taken before No. 1 today.

Seanad: Harmful and Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015: First Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to protect against and mitigate harm caused to individuals by all or any digital communications and to provide such individuals with a means of redress for any such offending behaviours directed at them.