Galwegian senator Alice-Mary Higgins has poured cold water on persistent rumours she is planning to run as an independent Dáil candidate for Galway West in a general election widely expected this autumn.
The environmental and social policy expert, elected to the National University of Ireland (NUI ) panel, was speaking after the Government cut short senate deliberations on its new 2023 Planning and Development Bill, which she described as “riddled with significant and substantive defects that will add to the housing crisis in Galway and nationally”.
Senator Higgins, daughter of President Michael D Higgins who represented Galway West for more than 25 years as a Labour Party TD, said she was aware of candidacy rumours, but categorically denied any current interest in the Dáil.
“No. I am fixed on standing again for the NUI panel at the next Seanad election. I am the leader of a senate grouping, and I think we are doing some really good policy work at the moment so – again - I’m not thinking about the Dail,” she said, although when pressed, the mother of a one-year-old baby did add “for now” to her original answer.
Senator Higgins stood in the 2019 European Parliament elections for the Dublin constituency, but was not elected. She did not stand for Europe last May.
Higgins is currently leader of the Civil Engagement Group. This is a technical group within Seanad Éireann comprising senators Lynn Ruane (whip ), Frances Black, and Eileen Flynn. Former members are Colette Kelleher, Grace O’Sullivan and John Dolan.
The grouping issued a statement this week slamming the government’s decision to allow only 21 hours to debate 664 tabled amendments to the bill.
“People say the planning system is delaying the building of houses in places like Galway where we know permissions have been given, but they are not being used because of [land] speculation,” Higgins said. “This new bill will just add new layers to the planning system, reduce the input of local councillors, weaken participation of local people who have good ideas about the places where they live, and slow the whole thing down because of legal challenges.”
Of particular concern is the bill’s compliance with the international Aarhus Convention which promotes public participation in the planning process, and therefore leaves the legislation open to challenges in Irish and European courts.
“Asking the Seanad to pass legislation which has been found to be non-compliant with international law... is wrong, and the Government has been extremely disingenuous during this entire process,” says Higgins. “[Ministerial] claims that the Bill is Aarhus compliant have been found to be untrue, and the Government displayed an appalling unwillingness to meaningfully engage on or fix this issue.”
“We need a planning system which works and which allows communities to actually have a say in local development. Instead what is proposed is a further centralisation of power and a move to push the public out of the planning process.”
