Results 1-20 of 3,441 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on her appointment as committee Chair, all of the new TDs who have been appointed to this committee, and those who bring much experience with them, which I hope we can work and learn together from. I am pleased to bring the Statute Law Revision Bill, SLRB, 2024 to the committee. The Bill was introduced in the Seanad on 23 October 2024. It passed Report...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, lines 25 and 26, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, to delete lines 10 to 15.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 9, lines 16 to 19, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 9, lines 20 to 23, to delete “Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment” and substitute “Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, line 30, to delete “Department of” and substitute “Minister for”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, line 5, to delete “Department of” and substitute “Minister for”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 7: In page 11, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: " 6. February 6, 1685 [P.O.I. Vol. 1 p. 453] Proclamation authorising Ulster King of Arms to prevent improper use of arms, style of esquire or gentleman, etc. ".

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Statute Law Revision Bill 2024: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of my officials in the Department and the members of the Law Reform Commission who worked on this. I thank members of the committee for their co-operation today. It is great to get this Bill through so speedily.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputies for their comments. The new Government data centre will provide secure but also green operations that will future-proof the reliable delivery of essential digital services. The intention is to operate a hybrid model utilising a Government data centre that combines Government and commercial cloud technology in an optimised way. That is part of the Government's wider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: Yes, and that is something Government is examining in detail. We need to make sure we invest in our digital infrastructure but that we do so in a way that balances our environmental commitments and obligations. We are working very hard to strike the right balance.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (29 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: The Government data centre initiative is led by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO, a division within my Department. It is an action item in the Government’s public service ICT strategy and aims to deliver and centrally support ICT as a shared service rather than have common technical solutions in each public sector body. The Government data centre project...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (22 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I did not know it was for an entire week. Thank God it is Thursday. I welcome the opportunity to address Seanad Éireann and to share with Senators my vision and my ambition for public procurement. Public procurement is a key priority of our Department and is vital to ensuring we deliver better public services for all of those living here in Ireland. I thank Senator Kyne for the...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (22 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate. It is great to see such interest in this area. It is great to see so many ideas being put to the floor. I will address the comments. I off huge thanks to Senators Byrne, Davitt, Craughwell, Noonan, Murphy, O'Reilly and Higgins for their interest in this and their welcome comments. I have categorised the feedback I received on three...

Gaza: Statements (21 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: Every time we speak in this Chamber about Palestine the situation is worse, but it is still important to speak about it in this Chamber, in our national Parliament, because that is a privilege people whose voices are being silenced do not have. Some 14,000 babies in Gaza are at risk of dying if humanitarian aid continues to be blocked. These are innocent, helpless lives, yet there is still...

Europe Day: Statements (7 May 2025)

Emer Higgins: Every year on 9 May we celebrate Europe Day. It is an occasion which is more than just history. It is a celebration of peace, partnership and progress. The European Union, whose membership has supported a remarkable economic and social transformation in Ireland, is, at its heart, a peace project. It was founded on the simple but powerful idea that countries can achieve more by working...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputy for that kind invitation. I attended the Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford last year and it was fantastic. As the Ceann Comhairle will be aware, it was fantastic to see the town buzzing and to see so much activity and spin-off trading. I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important issue. Since the Covid pandemic, tourism has shown its resilience time and again and it has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank Deputy Lawlor for raising this important matter. My very first job after I graduated was working for Fáilte Ireland so I have been following these statistics with great interest. I am taking this matter on behalf of the relevant Minister. The latest CSO figures for overseas visitor numbers were published last Friday, as Deputy Lawlor said. These figures were specifically...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (3 Apr 2025)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister for Transport has asked me to take it on his behalf. The Minister has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in respect of the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Road Acts and in line with the national development plan, NDP,...