Results 121-140 of 240 for likes to work speaker:Emer Higgins

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Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed) (13 Oct 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome our distinguished guests. I thank the Minister for his response. The core funding scheme, Together for Better, which, as the Minister stated, started last month, is a significant move in the right direction. I believe it is the first important step in revolutionising the childcare sector and how we treat and value childcare providers. I am really pleased to hear that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cost of Living Issues (13 Oct 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister for her explanation on reviews. As I said, a constituent of mine has been in touch on this. She is working two seasonal part-time jobs and she is a lone parent. In situations such as hers and in all situations, we absolutely have to have control measures and means-testing. However, I hope that our means test will not be mean enough to discourage people from going out,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (11 Oct 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. I thank the teams who are at the coalface of the crisis. They are doing great work. We know more has to be done as quickly as humanly possible. I thank the witnesses because I know many people put a lot of time, effort and expertise into this area. I have four questions for both of the witnesses and then one for each council. I would...

Housing for All Update: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

Emer Higgins: As many speakers have noted, it is a year since Housing for All was published. We all recognise there are still significant challenges to overcome. However, it is important to recognise, too, that progress is happening. House completions, commencements and planning approvals are up. An additional 200 staff are being hired by local authorities to deliver on their housing targets. More...

Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Sep 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am delighted to see this Bill progressing. It will take vital steps to define categories of harmful and age-inappropriate online content. It will empower the media commission to create binding online safety codes and provide a mechanism for complaints of harmful online conduct. These are all important steps in the correct direction and the Bill is Ireland's opportunity to change things...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Education and the UNCRPD: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2022)

Emer Higgins: ...I know an awful lot of resources have been achieved through that extra money including new special education teachers, extra SNAs, extra classes, school places and indeed new schools. I was delighted to welcome the Minister just last week to my own constituency for the opening of Stewarts special school's new building. I agree with the Minister that there should be no barriers for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Chairman and the officials for being with us again to discuss this fifth element of the review. Strategic environmental assessments, SEAs, EIAs and the assessment on habitats have never been a more important component of the planning process as we all work to deliver action on climate change and to protect and enhance the natural habitats and biodiverse landscapes that exist...

Irish Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Jul 2022)

Emer Higgins: ...outlining the Government's position on and support for the Bill and the ethos behind it. I thank my Fine Gael colleagues who spoke in support of the Bill in the Chamber, in particular, Deputies Bruton, Richmond, Carroll MacNeill and McHugh. Deputy Carroll MacNeill is right when she says that it is fantastic to see our male colleagues in the Chamber tonight shining a spotlight on this...

Irish Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Jul 2022)

Emer Higgins: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank colleagues from across the House for their expressions of support for this Bill, and all members of the Cabinet for agreeing this week to support it. I thank the Ministerfor Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Minister of State, Deputy English, for being present. I thank solicitor and...

Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Jul 2022)

Emer Higgins: Before I was elected, there was a protest outside a restaurant a few hundred metres away from Leinster House. On a dark evening, workers came together to demand fairness and transparency when it came to their hard-earned tips. Since then, the hospitality industry has been through the wringer, enduring lockdown closures, shorter opening hours, and adapting to make even the unimaginable work...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Saving the Services of the Owenacurra Centre in Cork: Discussion. (7 Jul 2022)

Emer Higgins: I support what the Chairman has said about bringing in the HSE, and also what Senator Buttimer said about bringing in the Mental Health Commission. That is a good suggestion. My heart goes out to Dr. Kelleher. It is clear that she is passionate about this and loves her aunt dearly and wants her to be cared for. That is what we all want. We want her aunt and all the other residents to...

Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Second Stage (30 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: This debate, which will no doubt be well-watched by the families and individuals at the centre of the legislation, is critical. I hope the Bill brings an end to their wait for much-needed support. Last week our Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage held a special eight-hour session where we heard from industry experts, including the SCSI; the Institution of Engineers...

LGBTQI+ and Equality: Statements (23 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: I commend the previous speaker, who is on my housing committee and with whom I work closely, on a very open and frank contribution here today. I am delighted to be speaking on this important topic today. I will start by wishing a happy Pride month to everybody and especially to all those who are preparing to celebrate this weekend. I always love attending the Pride parade in Dublin and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Chairman. I thank all of our witnesses present here today. As I did not get the opportunity to speak in the previous round although I was here, I wish also to thank all of our witnesses who were with us here this morning for sharing their own experiences. I will start by thanking Mr. Forde and all of the members of the expert group who had a very difficult task in dealing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of our guests for being here with us today. Apologies, as the Chair said, I was in the Dáil. Before I was in there, I got the opportunity to hear all of the opening statements. They were interesting and, in many ways, insightful. I have been an active contributor on the Joint Committee on Disability Matters and, as I always say there, every time we meet witnesses and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Surrogacy in Ireland and in Irish and International Law: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jun 2022)

Emer Higgins: Thank you Chair and I thank all four of our guests for being here today. When Ms Embury started her contribution I was thinking it would have been great to have her in for the legal session earlier. The more she spoke, however, I understood why she is speaking at this session because she has so many insights around surrogates, their personality types and the supports that they need. It is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: ...discussion. I would have loved if we had a session on the issue during our committee deliberations given the many varying views and differing scientific perspectives. I draw members' attention to a book published by Brendan Heneghan in 2018, Secrets of the Ballot Box: How the Irish Voting System Really Works. It is based on research of electoral patterns in Ireland from 1981 to 2016,...

Irish Apprenticeship System: Statements (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins; the Minister, Deputy Harris; and the Department are doing excellent work to construct a better future for our young people and notably providing a pathway to education or further learning for everyone. That is welcome. I welcome the apprenticeship action plan, which will ensure we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Potential Double Standards in Protections for Surrogate Mothers in Domestic Arrangements: Discussion (26 May 2022)

Emer Higgins: I will be brief as time is of the essence in this session. I thank Professor Madden and Dr. Tobin for coming to the meeting to share their expertise with us. Dr. Tobin said we have the tough task of making our deliberations within a tight period of time. We can only do that because of experts like him, so I thank him. I was interested to hear both witnesses talk about the need for...