Results 141-160 of 431 for speaker:Lorraine Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: National Asset Management Agency (22 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: Would Mr. McDonagh not agree, based on the limitations regarding commercial properties in Dublin city centre, that it would have made more sense to hold on to that property until such time as the market rose somewhat? We are now Europe's fastest growing economy and we are attracting international investment at an alarming rate, which is fantastic, yet NAMA decided to sell a property at a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: National Asset Management Agency (22 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: Will Mr. McDonagh ensure there is a facility in place to provide that this will not happen again and that the Irish taxpayer will not lose out in such terms, given the increase-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: Who brought in NAMA in the first place? Fianna Fáil brought in NAMA. Those are double standards, Senator Daly.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: That is why we need to engage in a debate with the Minister for Finance with regard to the transparency of loan sales relating to NAMA and on how that agency is conducting its deals.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: A 136% increase in the price obtained in respect of the resale of a particular site in Dublin is absolutely disgraceful.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: The Senator just agreed to. I wish to raise the scandalous profit that was made on a site sold by the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. It is 1-6 Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin city centre. It was sold by the agency for €7.5 million in June 2013 and was then resold last August for €17.75 million. This undoubtedly calls into question NAMA's strategy of rapidly...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: The Senator could put it in a parliamentary question.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I will meet the Senator after the session and explain the force of parliamentary questions and matters on the Adjournment debate if he wants to get answers. I welcome the Minister and thank her for taking this debate on the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014. The Bill is very important legislation which will greatly assist in combatting criminality within borders...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Suicide Prevention (7 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister and congratulate her on assuming her new portfolio. It is great to see her in this role. This is the first time I have addressed her since she took over at the Department of Education and Skills and I wish her the very best of luck. The Minister will be aware that the level of youth suicide in Ireland is the fifth highest in the European Union, with the figure for 15...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Suicide Prevention (7 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister for her response. I am delighted to learn about the actions being taken by the Department to promote positive mental health among post-primary students. It is welcome that the Minister has an open mind about the possibility of developing a new course to tackle the scourge of youth suicide. I might liaise with her Department in this regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise an issue that is quite prevalent during the recession in Ireland; that is, the dependency of some families on moneylenders. Recently in the UK, one moneylender firm was ordered by the regulator there to refund £220 million in debts to 330,000 customers who took out loans that they clearly could not afford to repay. While the scale may be somewhat lower in Ireland,...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to join in the chorus of compliments to the Minister and congratulate him on taking this important legislation through the Houses. I commend him, as the Bill will make significant changes to the way people access information. This has been a priority for him. I also commend him on being a reforming Minister, given the changes he has introduced to legislation under his Department's...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: -----for all they have done in researching and drafting this necessary legislation. Well done.

Seanad: Companies Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (30 Sep 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I join in the chorus of congratulations to the Minister of State on his new role. It is great to be at the forefront of introducing this seminal Bill. It is a great piece of law and I understand that 12 years were spent in researching, drafting and working on it. Well done to everybody in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and to the foresight of the Ministers who have gone...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I join in the chorus of support for this legislation. There is no doubt it is a momentous day and this measure will make a big difference in terms of trying to attract foreign direct investment into this country. This measure is essential because companies take into account factors such as our court structure when deciding to locate here and we have had a very good record in recent years of...

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I am sure Senator Mullen has gotten over it.

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is my first opportunity to address her as Minister for Justice and Equality and I commend her on the work she has done on the brief since she took over the portfolio and on bringing forward this very reforming Bill, which is very welcome, not only for consumers of legal services but for many legal professionals. The Bill is a key part of legislation...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: First and foremost I apologise for aiming to dress well today because Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has said that is the reason I decided to run for Europe. He would say that given that there is no hint of colour or style in his wardrobe and God knows he needs a little bit of help in that department. However, he can pay for such advice.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I wish to raise the serious issue of the lack of change in the culture of banking in this country. I am sure many of us in this room watched last night's "Prime Time" debate. It featured a young couple who were forced to sell their family home for €60,000 having been left with an unsustainable debt of €190,000 and they were made bankrupt which is most regrettable. I...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (12 Mar 2014)

Lorraine Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for his answer and acknowledge all of the efforts being made by this Government. The creation of 61,000 new jobs last year, so soon after taking office, is indicative of the success of its policies. However, we all know of small businesses in towns and villages all over Ireland that have closed down as a consequence of the recession. I am trying to draw a...