Alice-Mary Higgins

Last updated

Senator
Alice-Mary Higgins
Alice-Mary Higgins.jpg
Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 June 2016
Alma mater
Website alicemaryhiggins.ie

Alice-Mary Higgins (born 10 April 1975) is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Senator for the National University since April 2016. [1] She became the leader of the Civil Engagement group in the 25th Seanad. She was the campaigns and policy officer at the National Women's Council of Ireland, and a board member of the European Women's Lobby.

Contents

Personal life

She is the daughter of Michael D. Higgins, a former Labour Party politician and current President of Ireland. [2]

Higgins studied English and philosophy at University College Dublin, [2] and took an MPhil in theatre and cultural studies at Trinity College Dublin, and a Fulbright MA in sociology at The New School in New York City. [3]

In June 2023, she gave birth to her first child, a boy. [4] [5]

Career

Higgins stood for election to Seanad Éireann on the National University panel in April 2016 and was elected to the third and final seat on the 28th count. [6]

She was an independent candidate for the Dublin constituency at the 2019 European Parliament election but was not elected. [7]

Higgins currently serves as a member of the executive committee of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, campaigning for gender equality, reproductive rights and equal access to healthcare for women. [8]

In 2016, Higgins introduced a motion to the Seanad calling on the Irish Government not to sign up to provisional application of the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), citing the investor court system elements of the treaty's potential impacts on public services, the environment and policy decisions. [9]

Higgins currently serves on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters. [10]

In December 2020, journalist Miriam Lord named Higgins 'Senator of the Year' "for her tireless approach, collegial outlook, level of research, grasp of detail, participation in debates and undimmed enthusiasm for the job." [11]

In the 25th Seanad Higgins served on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action and the Join Oireachtas Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection. [10]

In 2021, Higgins introduced a motion to support the TRIPS Waiver on the COVID-19 vaccine, which was passed in the Seanad. [12]

Higgins tabled over 100 amendments to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 to strengthen emissions targets and place stronger requirements for climate justice and just transition in the Bill. Journalist Miriam Lord said Higgins’ work on the Bill “won universal praise” and that she “saw the global picture, knew her subject inside out, was detailed and logical and spent hours in the chamber.” [13]

In 2023, Higgins introduced the Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill, which would give Coillte and Bord na Mona - two of the largest landowners in Ireland - mandates for nature and climate action. The legislation would also require the bodies to enact just transition policies. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oireachtas</span> Parliament of the Republic of Ireland

The Oireachtas, sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the bicameral parliament of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of the president of Ireland and the two houses of the Oireachtas, a house of representatives called Dáil Éireann and a senate called Seanad Éireann.

Feargal Quinn was an Irish businessman, politician and television personality. He founded the Superquinn supermarket chain and served as a Senator for the National University constituency from 1993 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rónán Mullen</span> Irish politician (born 1970)

Rónán Thomas Mullen is an Irish senator and former delegate to the Council of Europe. He is the leader of the Human Dignity Alliance, an anti-abortion political party formed in 2018. He was elected by the National University Seanad constituency in July 2007 and re-elected in 2011, 2016 and 2020. He has topped the poll in every NUI Seanad election since 2011. Mullen is a frequent media commentator on social and political topics. The first National University of Ireland senator appointed to the Council of Europe, he received international coverage for his role in defeating the controversial McCafferty Report which sought to limit the right to conscientious objection for medical staff in the case of abortions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael W. D'Arcy</span> Irish former politician (born 1970)

Michael William D'Arcy is the chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Management. He is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who was elected to the Seanad for the Agricultural Panel in April 2020. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 2016 to 2020, and previously between 2007 and 2011. He served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 2017 to 2020. He previously served as a Senator for the Administrative Panel from 2011 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Collins (politician)</span> Irish politician (born 1961)

Joan Collins is an Irish Right to Change politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South-Central constituency since the 2011 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seanad Éireann</span> Upper house of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament)

Seanad Éireann is the senate of the Oireachtas, which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Doherty</span> Irish politician (born 1971)

Regina Doherty is an Irish Fine Gael politician who is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Dublin constituency since the 2024 European Parliament election. She was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Meath East constituency from 2011 to 2020. She was the Leader of Fine Gael in the Seanad from 2020 to 2024, serving as leader of the Seanad from 2020 to 2022 and Deputy leader of the Seanad from 2022 to 2024. She served as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection from 2017 to 2020 and Government Chief Whip from 2016 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Barrett (economist)</span> Irish economist and former senator (born 1944)

Sean Declan Conrad Barrett is an Irish economist and former senator. He was a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics of Trinity College Dublin, and a Fellow of the college. In April 2011, he was elected to the Dublin University constituency of Seanad Éireann but narrowly lost his seat in 2016. In 2018 he was elected a Pro-Chancellor of the University of Dublin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorraine Higgins</span> Irish barrister and former politician (born 1979)

Lorraine Higgins is an Irish barrister, and a former Labour Party politician who represented the party in the 24th Seanad after being nominated by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny. From Galway, she is a graduate of NUI Galway and, later, the King's Inns. During her time there she was Labour Party Seanad spokesperson on Reform and Foreign Affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jillian van Turnhout</span> Irish activist and former politician (born 1968)

Jillian van Turnhout is an Irish children's rights advocate and served as an independent member of Seanad Éireann from 2011 to 2016.

The Electoral Commission is an election commission with responsibility for the oversight of all elections in Ireland, including electoral operations, constituency reviews and electoral integrity. It was established in 2023. Prior to its establishment, some of these functions had been carried out by various government departments, local government officials, statutory agencies and components of the Oireachtas and in the case of Boundaries by a judge led commission, while other functions are novel to the new Commission.

The 25th Seanad was in office from 2016 to 2020. An election to Seanad Éireann, the senate of the Oireachtas, followed the 2016 general election to the 32nd Dáil on 26 February. There are 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels by serving politicians, for which polling closed on 25 April; 6 were elected in two university constituencies, for which polling closed on 26 April; and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach on 27 May 2016. It remained in office until the close of poll for the 26th Seanad in March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Ruane</span> Irish politician (born 1984)

Lynn Ruane is an Irish politician who has served as an independent Senator for the Dublin University constituency in Seanad Éireann since April 2016. She was the President of the Trinity College Dublin Students' Union from 2015 to 2016.

The Civil Engagement group is a technical group in Seanad Éireann composed of senators with a background in civic engagement organisations.

The Citizens' Assembly is a citizens' assembly established in Ireland in 2016 to consider several political questions including the Constitution of Ireland. Questions considered include: abortion, fixed term parliaments, referendums, population ageing, and climate change. Over 18 months a report is produced on each topic. The government is required to respond officially to the reports in the Oireachtas (parliament); as of 9 April 2019 responses have been given on three of the five topics.

Miriam Hederman O'Brien was an Irish barrister and academic, who held the posts of Chancellor of the University of Limerick and Director of the University of Limerick Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pauline O'Reilly</span> Irish politician (born 1974/1975)

Pauline O'Reilly is an Irish Green Party politician who has served as a Senator for the Labour Panel since June 2020, and chair of the Green Party since December 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Keogan</span> Irish politician (born 1967)

Sharon Keogan is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel since June 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eileen Flynn (politician)</span> Irish activist and politician (born 1989/1990)

Eileen Flynn is an Irish independent politician who has served as a Senator since June 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.

References

  1. ↑ "Alice-Mary Higgins". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 McTeirnan, Anthea (24 February 2016). "President's daughter to stand for Seanad". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "About Me". AliceMaryHiggins.ie. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Absence of flip-flops and Renault cars means the media committee can't pull the crowds anymore". The Irish Times. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Patter of tiny feet expected at the Áras amid happy news aplenty". The Irish Times . 29 April 2023.
  6. ↑ O'Halloran, Marie; Collins, Stephen (27 April 2016). "Former justice minister Michael McDowell wins Seanad seat". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Senator Alice-Mary Higgins to contest European elections". RTÉ News . 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "About EPF". www.epfweb.org (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Government Seanad defeat as FF abstain in Higgins trade motion". The Irish Times .
  10. 1 2 "Senator Alice-Mary Higgins". www.alicemaryhiggins.ie. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Miriam Lord's Political Awards 2020: the winners and losers". irishtimes.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  12. ↑ Cunningham, Paul (15 December 2021). "Seanad passes motion over Covid-19 vaccine waiver". RTÉ.ie .
  13. ↑ "The tough get going as the 33rd Dáilympics wraps up". irishtimes.com. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: Second Stage". oireachtas.ie. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.