Since introducing her Seanad Reform bill on the first sitting day of the Seanad in 2016, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has consistently called for the implementation of Seanad Reform. She participated in the Seanad Reform Implementation Group which produced a report and recommendations in December 2018. In September 2019, she called on the Minister for Local Government and Electoral Reform to implement the recommendations in full.
The World Forum for Democracy took place at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg from 8th to 10th November 2017 and brought together high level politicians and experts in governance from around the world.
Senator Higgins was invited to speak on the topic of “Big Data: Campaigning or Manipulation?” along with other international experts in the field.
On Tuesday January 30th, the Civil Engagement Group brought the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill to the Seanad which sought to ban trade in goods and services from illegal settlements in occupied territories. While Minister Coveney expressed his commitment to the aims of the bill but he was unwilling to support it at this time. As a result, we agreed to adjourn the debate until July when we will push for a vote.