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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Emer Higgins: To comment on that, a thing I worked on with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, over the past year or so was the introduction of a grant towards the price of wigs for people who suffer from alopecia or who have lost their hair due to cancer. If we are able to provide €500 towards the cost of something like that, why are we not providing €500 towards the cost...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Carbon and Energy within the Construction Industry: Discussion (5 Apr 2022)

Emer Higgins: ...homes and offices that are better for the environment. We have increased competition from a business perspective and improved security of energy supply. That is the Ireland in which I want to live. They have captured so well what we all aspire to, and what so much of the retrofitting grants and all of the different schemes that we are all working towards aspire to achieve. I was...

Women's Health Action Plan: Statements (31 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome the publication of the women’s health action plan. Its publication speaks to the tide change that is happening in the area of women’s health. It is something I very much support. Women’s health goes far beyond just family planning. I am glad to see this action plan recognising the many facets and areas of women’s health that need and deserve...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Independent and Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection - Safeguarding: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations. I have one overall question for them but will first outline what I have gleaned from today's proceedings. From what Sage Advocacy shared with us, it is clear there is international best practice. It is clear that without reinventing the wheel, we could take on some of what is being done in, for example, Toronto and Scotland. It is...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: ...fine. I thank the ombudsman for her statement and for sharing her insights with us. One of my roles within Fine Gael is that I am the spokesperson on finance technology. That is because I worked in the area before I became a Deputy. I will focus my contribution and questions on cryptocurrencies. We all know about the prevalence of phishing scams, fraudulent phone calls and malicious...

Government Response to Situation in Ukraine: Statements (30 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome the more than 14,000 Ukrainian people who have already arrived into Ireland. A couple of weeks ago they could not possibly have imagined packing up their lives and moving to the far side of this Continent. I hope that their time here, whether long- or short-lived, brings them the safety and support they so badly need and deserve. Ukrainians arriving at Dublin Airport are being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Standard of Living and Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (24 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister and her Department for everything it did to support people during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially people with disabilities and their families. There were particular efforts with the PUP to steer people through that really difficult time. I also thank the Minister for her really encouraging contribution today. She is clearly really passionate and committed to...

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate this Bill today. It has been a long time coming for an awful lot of families. I will begin by acknowledging the service that Ukrainian surrogates have provided for many Irish families. An estimated 400 Ukrainian women have given birth to Irish surrogate children, with 46 Irish surrogate babies born in Ukraine in the past year alone. At...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I am taking this question and Question No. 8 on behalf of Deputy Phelan. I would like to ask the Minister about the amount made available this year for the working family payment scheme, which, as we know, supports parents who are at work, and the additional funding that will be allocated as part of cost-of-living measures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank everyone for their presentations and insights. It is very encouraging to see the focus on cost rentals and unlocking vacant housing and getting them back into stock and supply. I have a non-funding-related question. Earlier, Mr. Jordan said he is involved in an advisory capacity in the shared equity scheme. I would be interested to hear his perspective on that. What does that...

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I wish everybody in the Oireachtas a happy International Women's Day. I will use my time to highlight some of the areas in which we need to continue to make real progress for women. In recent years, we have delivered significant improvements in our country's approach to women's healthcare. The repeal of the eighth amendment, for example, was a momentous achievement for all of those who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: ...gain so much. In terms of the URDF, I welcome the investment in my own area. Tandy's Lane Park opened in the summer and it is a direct result of the URDF funding stream. Airlie Park in Adamstown is under construction at the moment. We are all eagerly awaiting it being opened, hopefully later this year. As referenced in the opening statements, Clonburris has also received quite a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban and Rural Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for their responses to my earlier contribution. I ask Ms Graham to outline the reforms she referred to earlier with regard to the Derelict Sites Act, which needs to be modernised and reformed. It sounds like she is doing a body of work in investigating what changes could be made to make it a more useful tool, which could become the catalyst for some change in this...

Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Second Stage (2 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister and his Department for all their work on this legislation. I pay tribute to all of those who may be watching proceedings today, who have fought so hard to shine a light on Ireland's deeply dark past. I have no doubt these proceedings are difficult for many to watch and listen to for a range of reasons and I respect them for their continued courage. Tribute must also be...

Support for the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: Motion (1 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I want to start by expressing my support and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Their sovereignty and territorial integrity has been so illegally and callously attacked. As a country which has historically suffered many threats to our own sovereignty, our hearts in Ireland are breaking for the people in Ukraine and, indeed, for all those living through war while praying for peace. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the witnesses for their passionate contributions. The all-Ireland pollinator plan and the national biodiversity action plans are key strategies to help us protect and enhance biodiversity across Ireland. I gather from the presentations that the witnesses’ concerns relate to nationwide plans not being necessarily supported by the roll-out of nationwide policies to underpin...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Online Disinformation and Media Literacy: Ms Frances Haugen (23 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank Ms Haugen for being with us. It is fantastic to have her and I thank her for all of the work she is doing in this space. Her bravery and insight have had ripple effects across the globe. Today is our chance here in Ireland, not just as a society or as legislators, but as a strategic location for the EU headquarters of many of the platforms in question, to use her industry...

National Retrofitting Scheme: Statements (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this scheme. Contrary to its name, retrofitting is a modern and progressive move for us, as a Government, to be making. In light of constraints relating to energy and electricity, along with a growing need to address the climate emergency, this scheme is so welcome. Nationally, we are seeing a culture change with regard to energy efficiency and our...

Committee on Public Petitions: Annual Reports of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman: Press Ombudsman (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: I thank the ombudsman for his time and his comprehensive opening statement. I was particularly interested to hear about the service his office provides in terms of addressing individual complaints, and his comments in regard to the ability of social media to, as he put it, tarnish debates. I am keen to understand his perspective on the online safety and media regulation Bill and, in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Feb 2022)

Emer Higgins: This is what my question is about. It is about the development of housing and how it integrates with the general scheme. I would like to hear the perspective of each of the witnesses on this. I welcome the threat of significant sanction where our heritage and monuments may be undermined. With all of the housebuilding going on throughout the country, how will developers know when they have...