Results 81-100 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

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

Lorraine Higgins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (15 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I am raising the approach of the National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, to gender among its academic ranks. The Minister of State may be aware that in December 2014, an NUIG academic, Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, won an Equality Tribunal case against the university for discrimination on the basis of gender in the 2009 round of promotions to senior lecturer. Dr. Sheehy Skeffington...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (15 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for his answer. It is important that we acknowledge the shortcomings of this task force, in particular issues regarding transparency, as I outlined earlier, the independence of the body and assurances to the academics regarding their confidentiality. It is imperative that the students and also members of academia have confidence in this task force. To move this matter...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (15 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the news yesterday that the Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O'Sullivan, speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, said that an investigation is under way into the intimidation and harassment on social media of members of the public and gardaí. This is brilliant news for many adults and children the length and breadth of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I call for a debate on the Tús and rural social schemes. There are moves afoot to amalgamate the schemes which, I respectfully suggest, are incompatible. The rural social scheme is for small farmers and helps to supplement the incomes of a few thousand, whereas the Tús scheme is a job activation measure. To corroborate my assertion, I have been advised that at least one community...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: Some 2,096 people, 81%, including 156 farmers, are in the constituency in which I live, Galway East; we must, therefore, be particularly cautious in implementing policies designed for implementation in the east but which do not fit in the west. On that basis, I call for a debate on the issue at the earliest convenience.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: Confucius agrees.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: And the west.

Seanad: Succession (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I commend Senator Quinn on his work and dedication in bringing this Bill forward. The current legal scenario, as we have seen in numerous cases, has the potential to compound the difficulties of family members mired in already tragic situations. That someone convicted of murder should possibly benefit from the joint tenancy shared with the person whose life was taken is terribly unjust....

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: Why is there a mortgage crisis?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise an issue to do with applying legislative time limits to decisions by An Bord Pleanála in order to expedite the planning process. Apple's investment in Athenry, County Galway, is a fantastic news story and it is one that I, as an Athenry native, am thrilled with. However, I am concerned that the current planning process could end up delaying the development due to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Unfinished Housing Developments (26 Feb 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to raise a matter that is affecting a large number of residents in housing estates in my constituency of Galway East and which is replicated across the country.It relates to people being left to wait in perpetuity for their housing estates to be taken in charge by local councils. The estates face a plethora of issues ranging from building companies...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Unfinished Housing Developments (26 Feb 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the fact that the Government will support local authorities in taking estates in charge. I hope this includes financial support. Leaving the responsibility to owners, developers and receivers when there are no funds in any of their accounts is not good enough. I also welcome the fact that a Bill to streamline the taking-in-charge process will be before the Houses. However, I...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is my first opportunity to address him since he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I commend him on all the work that he has done and on all the great announcements to provide help to those less fortunate in the world. Given how integral the year 2015 will be for international development, I...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (28 Jan 2015)

Lorraine Higgins: I join others in expressing sincere sympathy to the family and friends of the late John Carty who packed so much into life in his 63 years. He was widely admired and respected by his colleagues and constituents. I hope these tributes will give immense pride to his wife, Kathleen; his eight children and extended family who are gathered here in what he achieved in his life, as well as...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: It is up in the last three years.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: Fianna Fáil's past.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: The Senator should stick to the amendment.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: Is the Senator lobbying for her?