Results 1-20 of 7,229 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (8 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Comhghairdeachas, a Chathaoirligh. I offer warm congratulations to the Cathaoirleach on his election. I will say a few words on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group. I also congratulate the new Leader of the House, Senator Jerry Buttimer. We very much look forward to being part of the new dynamic. Both the Cathaoirleach and the Leader have expressed their interest in and commitment to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My remarks will be brief. On behalf of the civil engagement group, I echo the message of solidarity and concern regarding the tragic events that unfolded in Orlando. I attended the vigil that took place this week in the same location, next to Dublin City Hall, where Ireland last year celebrated the transformation in LGBT rights. It was a very sad occasion and sad to see such a solemn and...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (15 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I warmly congratulate Senator Coghlan on his election as Leas-Chathaoirleach, on behalf of the Civil Engagement group. We very much look forward to benefitting from his experience and deeply felt commitment to the Seanad and what it can be. We also appreciate his commitment to working in an impartial manner. I know he has experience in terms of facilitating various voices on Radio Kerry....

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I wish to share four minutes of my time with Senators Ruane and Kelleher.

Seanad: Poverty and Homelessness: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I very much welcome the motion and thank Senator Clifford for proposing it. There are some very positive measures we would welcome. We welcome that one of the first debates in the House highlights and focuses on such a vital, important and crucial issue. The motion and supplementary amendments that have been proposed by Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil offer very constructive and...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join with other speakers in congratulating the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Cathaoirleach on their appointments. In terms of today's Order of Business, there are two issues I would like to highlight. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will be in the Seanad today for a debate on sustainable full employment. I express the hope that we will also hear during that debate about...

Seanad: Death of Jo Cox, MP: Expressions of Sympathy (21 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to share one minute of my time with my colleague, Senator Kelleher.

Seanad: Death of Jo Cox, MP: Expressions of Sympathy (21 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join others in expressing my incredible sorrow and shock at the tragic death of Jo Cox following a brutal attack that sent shock waves around the world and extending my sympathy to her husband, Brendan; her two young children; her family and friends; and her constituents and colleagues who have lost a powerful advocate. She brought generosity of spirit, compassion and determination to...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yesterday the Select Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny met the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. It was interesting that there was a discussion on the commitment in the programme for Government to equality-proofing and gender-proofing of the budgetary process. In the commitment to new politics about which we have been hearing one of the key matters is reform of the...

Seanad: EU-UK Relations: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister for joining us today and facilitating this important debate. Many Senators spoke eloquently about the impact and economic costs of a British exit from the European Union. There is an irrefutable economic case for supporting a Remain vote in the referendum. Substantial costs would have to be borne if the British people were to choose Brexit, especially in Northern...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: In regard to the Order of Business, I welcome that we will have the opportunity today to discuss the Brexit referendum. It is important we discuss it in terms of our relationship with the UK and in terms of the future of Europe, looking beyond the question of negotiations to the kind of framing we would have for Europe, in particular how we might address the toxic language of racism and...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will speak for three minutes and give two minutes to my colleague. Many of us have shared some of the disappointment and shock - I am sure Members have received personal communications from friends and colleagues across the UK - with regard to the referendum decision. Nonetheless, we must acknowledge and respect the decision that was made by voters in the UK. However, I echo what...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Pardon?

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: May I just have one minute and then I will pass over?

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Apologies. Fundamentally, there are two key messages that Ireland needs to send out. The first is that relating to how we view immigration. The response must not be that immigration is a problem. The EU needs to send a signal from the top that immigration is something with which it, as a huge body, can deal in a calm and responsible way. When we held our referendum on citizenship , we...

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: -----which have been raised in the context of people's concerns about austerity. I apologise to my colleague. We only decided to share time at the last minute. I will leave it there.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to note that the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has published its annual report and laid it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It highlights issues we have discussed, such as the importance of strengthening equality and human rights in the post-Brexit context, the importance of addressing the scandal that is direct provision, something we will debate today and I...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and Senator Norris for tabling this important Bill. When I returned here from being an emigrant in America in 2004, it was to a context in which racism was rising. We had seen the introduction of the direct provision system as a very negative response to what was in the global sphere a negligible increase in the number of refugees and...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I also recognise that the depression rate among people within the asylum system is 90%. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, in its annual report, names it as an issue. The report includes a quote from somebody living in a centre. The person referred to it as "the dehumanising experience which eats away at my dignity". I would like to focus my main remarks on not only...

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Alice-Mary Higgins: If we are to negotiate with the UK around the common travel area, what we need is a system that is objectively fair and transparent and properly applied, which we can stand over.Not only do I reject the amendment, I also reject arguments to the effect that we should suspend fair systems within our asylum, refugee and immigration system in order to facilitate negotiation in respect of a common...