Alice-Mary Higgins
Alice-Mary Higgins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senator | |
| Assumed office 8 June 2016 | |
| Constituency | National University |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alice-Mary Higgins 10 April 1975 Galway,Ireland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Civil Engagement group |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents | |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | alicemaryhiggins |
Alice-Mary Higgins(born 10 April 1975) is an IrishIndependentpolitician who has served as aSenatorfor theNational Universitysince April 2016.[1]She became the leader of theCivil Engagement groupin the25th Seanad.She was the campaigns and policy officer at theNational Women's Council of Ireland,and a board member of theEuropean Women's Lobby.
Personal life[edit]
She is the daughter ofMichael D. Higgins,a formerLabour Partypolitician and the ninth and currentPresident of Ireland.[2]
Higgins studied English and philosophy atUniversity College Dublin,[2]and took anMPhilin theatre and cultural studies atTrinity College Dublin,and aFulbrightMAin sociology atThe New SchoolinNew York City.[3]
In June 2023, she gave birth to her first child, a boy.[4][5]
Career[edit]
Higgins stood for election to Seanad Éireann on theNational Universitypanel in April 2016 and was elected to the third and final seat on the 28th count.[6]Higgins is the first woman elected to the NUI Panel in 35 years.[6]
She was an independent candidate for theDublinconstituency at the2019 European Parliament electionbut 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 theTRIPS Waiveron theCOVID-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]
References[edit]
- ^"Alice-Mary Higgins".Oireachtas Members Database.Archivedfrom the original on 10 April 2019.Retrieved10 April2019.
- ^abMcTeirnan, Anthea (24 February 2016)."President's daughter to stand for Seanad".The Irish Times.Dublin.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2016.Retrieved28 April2016.
- ^"About Me".AliceMaryHiggins.ie.Archived fromthe originalon 3 May 2016.Retrieved28 April2016.
- ^"Absence of flip-flops and Renault cars means the media committee can't pull the crowds anymore".The Irish Times.30 September 2023.Retrieved17 October2023.
- ^"Patter of tiny feet expected at the Áras amid happy news aplenty".The Irish Times.29 April 2023.
- ^abO'Halloran, Marie; Collins, Stephen (27 April 2016)."Former justice minister Michael McDowell wins Seanad seat".The Irish Times.Archivedfrom the original on 28 April 2016.Retrieved27 April2016.
- ^"Senator Alice-Mary Higgins to contest European elections".RTÉ News.8 April 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 10 April 2019.Retrieved10 April2019.
- ^"About EPF".epfweb.org(in Dutch).Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2021.Retrieved27 October2020.
- ^"Government Seanad defeat as FF abstain in Higgins trade motion".The Irish Times.
- ^ab"Senator Alice-Mary Higgins".alicemaryhiggins.ie.Archivedfrom the original on 24 May 2019.Retrieved27 October2020.
- ^"Miriam Lord's Political Awards 2020: the winners and losers".irishtimes.Archivedfrom the original on 9 January 2021.Retrieved3 September2021.
- ^Cunningham, Paul (15 December 2021)."Seanad passes motion over Covid-19 vaccine waiver".RTÉ.ie.
- ^"The tough get going as the 33rd Dáilympics wraps up".irishtimes.24 July 2021.Retrieved21 April2024.
- ^"Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: Second Stage".oireachtas.ie.16 May 2023.Retrieved21 April2024.
- 1975 births
- Living people
- Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
- Alumni of University College Dublin
- Children of presidents of Ireland
- Higgins family
- Members of the 25th Seanad
- Politicians from County Galway
- Members of Seanad Éireann for the National University of Ireland
- Independent members of Seanad Éireann
- The New School alumni
- Members of the 26th Seanad
- 21st-century women members of Seanad Éireann