Senator Alice-Mary Higgins speaking on Image Based Sexual Abuse

This week in the Seanad I spoke about image based sexual abuse. I will strongly support speedy progress on legislation but also want to see it strengthened. It is vital that IBSA is identified not only as abuse & lack of consent, but that it’s identified as sexual abuse & a sexual offence.


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Senator Higgins welcomes members of the Irish-Sudanese community to Leinster House

Listening to the experiences and reports from those present, Senator Higgins spoke of how inspiring it was to see the deep commitment to peace among the protesters, “Recognising the courage and commitment of Sudanese citizens who took to the streets to call for peaceful transition to a civilian led government, Ireland should play an active role in supporting the peace negotiations currently being mediated by Ethiopia and the African Union.

Seanad amendment opens up long-overdue pathway to open adoption in Ireland

Many countries across the world have long seen open or semi-open adoption as an important option within any modern adoption system. However, Ireland has, to date, only ever allowed for closed adoption in which there are no formal or recognised ongoing connections between a new adoptive family, a birth parent and a child who is adopted.
Barnardos, the Care Leavers Network and many other advocacy groups and experts have long called for change in this area and it seems now that change may finally become possible.