Results 1-20 of 7,491 for speaker:Alice-Mary Higgins

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to 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...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: That is not accurate.

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: Yes, to be clear, provision is already made for inspections. It is absolute nonsense to suggest that the next six months need to be taken up with trying to develop a legal mechanism that might allow us, in effect, to do spot checks. The legislation already allows inspections to be done. Inspections have previously happened. There have been no inspections since 2020, which means no...

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: Will the Cathaoirleach repeat the group we are dealing with?

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not.

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: I thank the Minister of State for his engagement. The point is that it has been under this Government'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...

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: That is fine. To be clear, while I do 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...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I am sorry; I must have skipped something.

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: First, I will continue with my response. I thank the Chair.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I would like to continue.

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: Sure. With regard to references to our past debates, I am bringing a new urgency. I have been talking about the occupied territories Bill for many years, but right now I believe this is urgent. It is urgent to ensure we do not have the kind of investment in question. What the Minister of State said raises two further areas of concern. He mentioned that a future Government might have...

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

Alice-Mary Higgins: I do not accept the two arguments relating to future discretion. It is simply not enough to say that the NTMA has offered clear guidance because the decisions made by the NTMA - which it was very comfortable with until it was eventually directed or encouraged otherwise by a Minister - allowed for the State to invest money in illegally occupied territories. We cannot say it will not happen...

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...