Results 1-20 of 4,818 for and speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024: Second Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...the House. I am glad that he is here in person to engage with this topic. I thank all those who have given their support to the Bill, including the many civil society organisations throughout Ireland. I thank my colleagues in the Civil Engagement group. In particular, I highlight Sárán Fogarty who led the drafting of the Bill. Most important, I thank the thousands of members...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024: Second Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am disappointed in the Minister's response. I thought he was going to say that while the legislation will not progress, the Government will start doing inspections tomorrow and will start massively reducing the number of exemptions granted.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024: Second Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...no inspections under the watch of this Government or this Minister, but they did happen previously. That power is already there but it is not being exercised. It is completely inaccurate, wrong and misleading to suggest we need a whole complicated legal process in which the Minister could begin to think about looking at some of the vehicles passing through. The inspections are already...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024: Second Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: This Bill is a necessary step. The UN Human Rights Council has called explicitly on all countries to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel in order to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations of abuses of human rights. That is what the law and our international obligations are saying. Our own...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 8, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(3) The Agency may, in consultation with a Minister of the Government having functions in relation to a sector of the economy, develop proposals for investment in that sector in order to support economic activity and employment.”. This amendment seeks to amend section 7 by providing...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: The legislation is strong and clear and should be implemented in a strong and clear way, not in a way that may be iterative, inadequate, at arm's length or without oversight. Then I come to the fact that, sadly, the Cluster Munitions And Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008 did not seem to have been considered at all with regard to the recent ammunition production Act that went through the European...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...s watch that the failure to apply this legislation properly has happened. This is not something for the EU. The question of the wider policy on the ASAP is an EU question, but the question of Ireland's involvement with, agreement to, participation in and contribution towards this programme is a national one. It is a question for the Government. I am concerned that there is a clear...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 8, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(3) In developing the investment strategy for the FI Fund, the Agency shall ensure that such a strategy prevents the investment of public monies into undertakings operating within occupied territories.”. This amendment seeks to amend section 7 in respect of the investment strategy for...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...not believe we should have to put these provisions in the law, apparently we actually have to include them to make it explicit. We heard from those who manage the assets of the State in the NTMA and other bodies that they need political or legislative direction in terms of doing the right thing, which they should be doing anyway. It would be incredibly regrettable. It is one thing that...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: We know this is Private Members' legislation and that, by its nature, it is going to be slow. It is quite early in the process, whereas this legislation is moving ahead apace, so it is important we get it right. The idea is that we would wait until after that legislation has been on its full journey before determining whether we want to have measures in terms of divestment. That is Private...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: .... He mentioned that a future Government might have a different strategy. That is why we need to be really clear. It is simply not enough for a current Minister to be considering mechanisms and criteria – I would love to hear more about these and perhaps it would be useful to expand on them on Report Stage – or to be applying criteria on divestment from illegally occupied...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: ...not happen again. I am extremely open to a mechanism suggested by the Government. It does not have to be the mechanism we propose in amendment No. 28. I can think of a number of other mechanisms and approaches that could be used. Certainly, some mechanism should be put in place to give assurance to the public before this legislation finishes its journey, I hope, through the House and...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I will withdraw it and reserve the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 12, line 30, to delete "commercial" and substitute "financially, socially and environmentally sustainable". Section 15(1) states: The Agency shall hold or invest the assets of the ICN Fund on a commercial basis for the benefit of the ICN Fund, so as to seek to secure the optimal total financial return, as to both capital and income. This amendment...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: My amendment states: “financially, socially and environmentally sustainable”. Perhaps if I had said “financially, environmentally and socially beneficial” or “the maximum financial, social and environmental return”, it may have contacted the sense of expansiveness the Minister of State is hoping for with the fund. I genuinely believe it is poor...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 8: In page 13, line 4, to delete “held or”. I will withdraw my amendment and reserve the right to resubmit it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 9: In page 13, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(3) In developing the investment strategy for the ICN Fund, the Agency shall act in a manner consistent with obligations under— (a) the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008, and (b) the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018.”.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 10: In page 13, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(3) In developing the investment strategy for the ICN Fund, the Agency shall ensure that such a strategy prevents the investment of public monies into undertakings operating within occupied territories.”.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 11: In page 13, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(4) The Agency shall, in determining and reviewing the ICN Fund investment strategy, consult with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action.”. Amendment No. 11 seeks to...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Committee Stage (29 May 2024)

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move amendment No. 12: In page 15, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “(6) For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister may not make a proposal for the purpose specified in section 14(2)(a) in respect of the ICN Fund where such funds would be utilised to provide financial relief to companies with an annual turnover of over €1 million.”. The amendment...