Results 321-340 of 7,254 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Large Energy Users Rebalancing Subvention: Discussion (23 Jan 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: That was my question. I simply asked why this issue was not considered in the previous review.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I am delighted to rise on behalf of all my colleagues in the Civil Engagement group to pay tribute to our colleague and friend, Senator David Norris. There has been some discussion of his extraordinary achievements, such as his landmark case on the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Something I think is really important was his battle to establish the Oireachtas...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Yes, exactly, with other representatives at the time. I was thinking about how to capture a sense of what an extraordinary honour it has been to serve in the Seanad alongside Senator Norris. I thought of the legacy and the extraordinary heritage work he has done, along with the work he has done in dragging and pushing Ireland to be a more just, equal and modern place that reflects more of...

Seanad: An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will pick up where Senator Sherlock left off. It is important to emphasise that there is no change to the definition of marriage in this proposal. It does nothing to change the definition of marriage. The language, that the State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage and to protect it against attack, will still be there. Regarding some of the language on...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will begin with one word that relates and will relate to this. I will comment on the question of family. I find quite extraordinary the idea that marriage is considered valuable only if other people's families are not recognised. That is what is being talked about here. Being very clear, there is no change to the definition of "marriage" in any of what has been proposed. It reminds me...

Seanad: An Bille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Jan 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I come to this Bill now because what I have said relates to one of the aspects of the article we are discussing. It should be borne in mind that the clauses in it applied only to the family, so if there were any positive social policy implications at all, they applied only to women who were married. There was nothing for one-parent families in any of the social policy measures we have had...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I join Senators in thanking Thomas Hickey for all he has done to make this institution run as it does. I wish him every happiness and enjoyment in his retirement. I know that Senator Black will thank everybody else who must be thanked and who make this institution possible. I am happy and honoured to continue to serve here and to be back. Last night, I was lying awake between about 3 a.m....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I thank the witnesses for all of their work in the assembly and for presenting today. To give a short answer to their question to us, we need to look at the detail of all of the recommendations because they are very solid. Two recommendations in the governance section have struck me, with regard to making sure there are regulations that business and industry must work in a green way, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: To answer David's question, he might be talking about one of the marine protected areas. There are very few in Ireland. However, one of the tasks Ireland has, and it is an international obligation, is that we have to meet many more marine protected area targets. As well as the biodiversity action plan, it is hoped there will also soon be legislation around marine protected areas and a...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: With respect, they are quite different things. It is one thing to say that a person is driving in a manner which is dangerous or likely to be dangerous because that is an action which is taking place. We are talking about a vehicle. Legislation is a reasonable place to have that point because if people are driving in a manner which may prove to be dangerous, such as driving all over the...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Again, I would say that where it has been used, we will not have an objection to that-----

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: Of course.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 47, line 27, after “bicycle” to insert “, or cargo bicycle,”. This suite of amendments simply seeks to include explicit reference in the Bill to pedal cargo bikes. There was some back and forth with the Minister on this issue during the Committee Stage debate. The placement of these four amendments varies slightly from that of...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We have the concern in terms of how it is interpreted. At this point, we will need to go with the Minister's interpretation. However, I note that perhaps it is important that very clear signals are sent to accompany the roll-out of cargo bikes and that they are covered, if not by the provisions we have suggested, then by the Minister's message that he believes and is confident that they are...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 47, line 29, after “bicycle” to insert “, or cargo bicycle,”.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 48, line 2, after “tricycle” to insert “, or cargo tricycle,”.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10: In page 48, line 4, after “tricycle” to insert “, or cargo tricycle,”.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 11: In page 58, lines 34 and 35, to delete “and other data-gathering devices”.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This is a large grouping and it is good to have clarity on which amendments are being taken together so I can cover them all. Amendments Nos. 11, 16 and 29 attempt to delete references which the Minister inserted on Committee Stage to “other data-gathering devices”. We made very clear arguments against the inclusion of this wording on Committee Stage. The wording is far too...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I acknowledge that there has been some movement from the Minister compared to Committee Stage. It is some assurance with regard to the processes we outlined and the ambiguity about whether there would be any clear regulations around the data obtained using cameras or other data gathering devices. As I understand it, the Minister is committing, through a later amendment, to making...