Senator Alice-Mary Higgins wins two important amendments to the Wildlife Bill

After debating the Wildlife Bill for 12 hours in the Seanad, Senator Higgins was happy to report last-minute wins in two areas. Senator Higgins succeeded in persuading the Minister to accept her amendment which requires a report to be produced on the condition, restoration and rewetting potential of ALL blanket bog National Heritage Areas before any order to remove protection of these bogs can be made. Which means no golf course or other ill-conceived developments in these National Heritage Areas for the foreseeable future. The Minister also accepted Senator Higgins' amendment to require a report on how turbury (peat cutting) rights operate – to include recommendations on a definition of ‘household use’ – important not only in terms of climate action but also a just transition.

Wildlife Bill Amendmentview gallery

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Senator Alice-Mary Higgins supports bill to lower voting age to 16

I spoke in favour of Senator Lynn Ruane and Senator Fintan Warfield's bill to lower the voting age to 16 for local and European Parliament elections. The evidence behind this bill is clear. It is not just that 16 year olds need the opportunity to meaningfully engage with their communities, it is also crucial that young people help to shape the future of their communities and Europe. It is very disappointing that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have blocked this bill for another nine months; meaning that it is likely that many young people will not have the opportunity to vote in the highly important European Parliament elections of 2019.

Newsletter January 2020

Dear Friends,

We are entering what many are calling ‘the Decade of Action’. We have ten years to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals – an ambitious global blueprint for a positive shared future. We also have just ten years to limit the impacts of climate change.

As a long-time climate justice advocate and recent member of the Oireachtas Climate Action Committee, I have been pressing for investment in retrofitting, sustainable transport and a just transition. I have opposed plans to import LNG or fracked gas and fought to protect our peatlands and hedgerows.