Results 1-20 of 346 for speaker:Jim Higgins

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (3 Jul 2007)

Jim Higgins: I join other Members in congratulating the Minister on his double appointment, as Tánaiste and on being returned to the all important finance portfolio. What came across very forcibly to me during the course of the general election campaign — I canvassed in the north west area, comprising nine counties — was the number of houses that were vacant in new housing estates. The Central...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Jim Higgins: Aontaím go hiomlán leis an méid atá ráite ag chuile dhuine ós rud é go bhfuil tú ag éirí as oifig. Tá an moladh tuillte agat. Bhí tú i gcónaí neodrach agus neamhspleách. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat. I join previous speakers in paying tribute to the Cathaoirleach. He always ensured he upheld the dignity and decorum of this House. I did not know that during his term he did...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Jim Higgins: Perhaps the Cathaoirleach might consider giving a tutorial to the man who occupies a similar position in the Lower House.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Jim Higgins: PARC, Public Against Road Carnage, is an organisation that was set by Susan Gray, a young woman from Donegal who tragically lost her husband. The organisation has gathered 20,000 signatures on a petition seeking mandatory drink and drug testing where the Garda is called to the scene of an accident. When this matter was raised with the new Minister for Transport in the Dáil last week, he...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Jim Higgins: The Health and Safety Authority was established by legislation put through this and the other House. It is generally accepted that it is doing an excellent job in terms of supervising employers, helping to eliminate workplace accidents and so on. Two years ago the Health and Safety Authority decided that it would use its supervisory powers to inspect roadworks being carried out by local...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Jim Higgins: I would not be surprised if Mayo County Council was doing likewise, given that there is also a case that has arisen in County Mayo. The Health and Safety Authority's statutory right is being challenged by several local authorities throughout the country. A tragic accident occurred in County Donegal where resurfacing work on a road, which I can only describe as having been scandalously...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Jim Higgins: ——which is to ensure there is proper compliance with road safety standards and proper maintenance of roads.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

Jim Higgins: I agree with Senator Ormonde that this Chamber is a suitable venue to debate what is happening in Europe. Members of the European Parliament who are not Members of the Oireachtas are ex officio members of the Joint Committee on European affairs and can attend those meetings. The problem is the rostering of the meetings. It is generally agreed that there was a useful exchange before the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

Jim Higgins: There is a big difference between what is happening in Spain and what is happening in this country. This country has a foreign occupier but Spain does not; it is an internal problem and should be resolved at Spanish level.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

Jim Higgins: Members raised the attempt to block the Taoiseach addressing the European Parliament. I dissociate myself from that. I had no hand, act or part in it.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

Jim Higgins: Irish Members of the European Parliament pride ourselves on collectively wearing the green jersey as much as possible in Europe and seek to leave our political divisions at home. If somebody of that stature wants a right of audience, we should——

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

Jim Higgins: It has been raised. Finally, I agree with Senator Norris that this country has a habit of signing up, willy-nilly, to accords, protocols and agreements. Ireland, along with 34 other rich nations, signed up to the Kyoto Protocol but we walked away from our commitments regarding the 5% reduction on the 1990 emission levels. This must be addressed and I agree wholeheartedly with the excellent...

Seanad: Marine Accidents. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for selecting this matter for the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, to the House and congratulate him on his new appointment. The fishing vessels lost at sea scheme was introduced by the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Fahey. The scheme was launched in June 2001. The closing date for receipt of applications...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: The Leader can give it out but she cannot take it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: That is the Leader inside out. She is brilliant at giving it out but she cannot take it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: I have no problem with that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: I join with the other speakers in supporting the call for a long debate on what happened on Saturday. I commend Senator Maurice Hayes, in particular. When people were going in different directions because of the short timespan, he wrote an excellent article on his analysis of what happened and where we should be going. He will make a valuable input to the debate in this House. On the issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: Two weeks ago in the other House, the Fine Gael leader, Deputy Kenny, raised with the Taoiseach the possibility of an agreement between all parties to my relinquishing my Seanad seat in order to give it to a representative of the Irish emigrant community. These are a forgotten people, the Irish diaspora, to whom we pay an amount of lip service.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: The Taoiseach's reply was civilised and generous. Last week, the same issue was raised by the Fine Gael leader in this House, Deputy Brian Hayes. In contrast, the reaction from the Leader of the House was far from generous. She was very ungracious and feline in what she said. She spoke about me getting a wadge of money and not being here. First, I am here when I can be. When I am here, I have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Mar 2006)

Jim Higgins: Fourth, when I have something to say, I will do so, as I will do on the Adjournment this evening.