Senator Alice-Mary Higgins questions Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald on latest Garda Síochána scandal

On Wednesday the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald came to the Seanad to answer questions on the ongoing Garda scandal. I highlighted that "along with the over reporting of road incidents, I would also be very concerned about under reporting of Racist incidents and Domestic Violence. There have been very serious concerns raised about underreporting in these areas".

Sure enough, it has emerged today that there has indeed been large scale under reporting of Domestic Violence.

I also asked the Minister if she would issue a directive under section 25 of the Garda Siochana Act to formally demand 'preservation of all papers and equipment" that might be relevant to an investigation. Shockingly, she previously declined to issue such a directive in relation to the McCabe investigation.

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On International Data Protection Day 2021, Senator Higgins calls for new Data Awareness and Digital Empowerment Fund

On International Data Protection Day 2021, Independent Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has called for establishment of a new Data Awareness and Digital Empowerment Fund, to include money ringfenced from GDPR fines.

Senator Higgins said:  “The strengthening in Data Protection we have seen in recent years is as much about transparency and control as it is about privacy. Laws such as GDPR give individuals greater access to their own personal data and a say in how it is used.  At its best this goes beyond protection to empowerment.

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins Advocates for Seanad Reform

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.