Senators introduce emergency legislation to ban arms transfers to Israel through Ireland
The Civil Engagement Group Senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Frances Black and Eileen Flynn have introduced emergency legislation – the Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024 – in the Seanad which would ban the transit of weapons through Ireland to Israel.
Seanad passes Civil Engagement Group motion calling for immediate action on Palestine
A motion tabled by the Civil Engagement Group calling for immediate and urgent Government action on Gaza successfully passed the Seanad this evening unopposed.
Register to vote before 26th February! This will be the last chance to join the voting register for the next Seanad elections. Can you help spread the word?
Unfortunately, not everyone is currently entitled to a vote in Seanad elections. This is something Senator Higgins has worked to change by co-sponsoring a Seanad Reform Bill which would give all citizens over 18 a Seanad vote.
CEG Motion on Palestine
That Seanad Éireann: deeply regrets and condemns:
- the killing of over 28,000 Palestinians in Gaza in recent weeks;
- that over 11,500 of those killed have been children, over 17,000 children have been left unaccompanied because Israeli attacks have killed their entire families;
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins raises barriers to graduate medicine with Minister
Civil Engagement Group Senators call on Government to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel
Members of the Seanad’s Civil Engagement Group have written a letter to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste asking the Government to join South Africa in charging Israel with genocide through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The group includes senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Frances Black and Eileen Flynn.
Newsletter August 2023
Dear Friends,
Welcome to my latest newsletter. Through my work in recent months, I have sought to place social and environmental care at the heart of political decision making.
I have introduced new legislation to replace the current narrow commercial mandates of both Coillte and Bord na Móna with a mandate for nature. I have pushed for progressive change which delivers a just and sustainable transition in areas including cultural and archaeological heritage, energy and economic policy and gender equality. I have continued to champion decent work and successfully brought a motion to the Seanad on precarious work in higher education.
Bill from Senator Alice-Mary Higgins would give Coillte and Bord na Móna a “Mandate for Nature”
The Bill from Independent Senator Alice-Mary Higgins and her colleagues in the Seanad Civil Engagement Group would amend the Turf Development Act 1946 and the Forestry Act 1988 to change the outdated mandates of Bord na Móna and Coillte and insert new language on climate action and biodiversity.
In the case of Bord na Móna, this would strengthen the protection and restoration of bogs and in the case of Coillte the development and protection of native woodlands.