Independent Senator Alice-Mary Higgins has today strongly criticised the decision by Government to force through planning legislation that will fast-track the construction of fossil fuel infrastructure and which is not compliant with European environmental law.
Campaign to Pass the Occupied Territories Bill launched as Taoiseach signals intention to revisit issue and requests updated Attorney General guidance
Civil Engagement Group Senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Frances Black and Eileen Flynn have today slammed the decision of the Government to guillotine Committee Stage consideration of its deeply flawed Planning and Development Bill 2023, which is riddled with significant and substantive defects.
In light of Ireland’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine, the Seanad Civil Engagement group is calling for tangible actions to curb the flow of arms being used in the relentless assault against the people of Gaza. On Wednesday 29 May, Senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Frances Black and Eileen Flynn will be bringing a Bill to the Seanad that seeks to ensure that munitions of war, weapons and dangerous goods are not being transferred to Israel through Ireland, either directly or indirectly.
As a former member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality and a longtime campaigner for change in this area, I am glad that we finally have a chance to amend our Constitution to recognise families in all their diversity and to recognise the role of care in society.
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.
A motion tabled by the Civil Engagement Group calling for immediate and urgent Government action on Gaza successfully passed the Seanad this evening unopposed.
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.
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.