Alice-Mary Higgins
{{short description|Irish politician (born 1975)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Senator
| image = Alice-Mary Higgins, Feb 2025 - 54319357113 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Higgins in 2025
| office = Senator
| term_start = 8 June 2016
| term_end =
| constituency = National University
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Galway, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Independent
| otherparty = Civil Engagement group
| spouse =
| children = 1
| parents = {{Ubl|Michael D. Higgins|Sabina Higgins}}
| alma_mater = {{Ubl|University College Dublin|Trinity College Dublin|The New School}}
| website = {{URL|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Alice-Mary-Higgins.S.2016-04-25/|title=Alice-Mary Higgins|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=10 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410210231/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Alice-Mary-Higgins.S.2016-04-25/|url-status=live}} 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.
Personal life
She is the daughter of Michael D. Higgins, a former Labour Party politician and current President of Ireland.
Higgins studied English and philosophy at University College Dublin,{{cite news |last=McTeirnan |first=Anthea |date=24 February 2016 |title=President's daughter to stand for Seanad |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/president-s-daughter-to-stand-for-seanad-1.2545906 |newspaper=The Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=28 April 2016 |archive-date=14 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414054632/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/president-s-daughter-to-stand-for-seanad-1.2545906 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.alicemaryhiggins.ie/about-me/ |title=About Me |author= |website=AliceMaryHiggins.ie |access-date=28 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503054330/http://www.alicemaryhiggins.ie/about-me/ |archive-date=3 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}
In June 2023, she gave birth to her first child, a boy.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2023/09/30/miriam-lords-week-tumbleweed-replaces-tubridy-at-the-oireachtas-media-committee/|title=Absence of flip-flops and Renault cars means the media committee can't pull the crowds anymore|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=30 September 2023|access-date=17 October 2023}}{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2023/04/29/miriam-lords-week-amid-happy-news-aplenty-another-moment-of-soppiness-from-the-chair/ | title=Patter of tiny feet expected at the Áras amid happy news aplenty | newspaper=The Irish Times|date=29 April 2023}}
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.{{cite news|last1=O'Halloran|first1=Marie|last2=Collins|first2=Stephen|date=27 April 2016|title=Former justice minister Michael McDowell wins Seanad seat|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/former-justice-minister-michael-mcdowell-wins-seanad-seat-1.2626468|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=28 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428100314/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/former-justice-minister-michael-mcdowell-wins-seanad-seat-1.2626468|url-status=live}}
She was an independent candidate for the Dublin constituency at the 2019 European Parliament election but was not elected.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2019/0408/1041357-senator-alice-mary-higgins-to-run-for-europe/|title=Senator Alice-Mary Higgins to contest European elections|work=RTÉ News|date=8 April 2019|access-date=10 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410174017/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2019/0408/1041357-senator-alice-mary-higgins-to-run-for-europe/|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|title=About EPF|url=https://www.epfweb.org/node/46|access-date=27 October 2020|website=www.epfweb.org|language=nl|archive-date=6 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906122554/https://www.epfweb.org/node/46|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite news|title=Government Seanad defeat as FF abstain in Higgins trade motion|newspaper=The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/government-seanad-defeat-as-ff-abstain-in-higgins-trade-motion-1.2818340}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Senator Alice-Mary Higgins|url=https://www.alicemaryhiggins.ie/about/senator-alice-mary-higgins|access-date=27 October 2020|website=www.alicemaryhiggins.ie|language=en|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524233853/https://www.alicemaryhiggins.ie/about/senator-alice-mary-higgins|url-status=live}}
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."{{Cite web|title=Miriam Lord's Political Awards 2020: the winners and losers|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/miriam-lord-s-political-awards-2020-the-winners-and-losers-1.4444651|access-date=3 September 2021|website=irishtimes.com|language=en|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109201728/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/miriam-lord-s-political-awards-2020-the-winners-and-losers-1.4444651|url-status=live}}
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.
In 2021, Higgins introduced a motion to support the TRIPS Waiver on the COVID-19 vaccine, which was passed in the Seanad.{{Cite web|last=Cunningham|first=Paul|date=15 December 2021|title=Seanad passes motion over Covid-19 vaccine waiver|website=RTÉ.ie |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2021/1215/1267013-covid-vaccine-waiver-trips/|language=en}}
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.” {{Cite web|title=The tough get going as the 33rd Dáilympics wraps up|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/miriam-lord-the-tough-get-going-as-the-33rd-dailympics-wraps-up-1.4629051 |website=irishtimes.com |date=24 July 2021|access-date=21 April 2024}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2023-05-16/27/ |title=Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023: Second Stage |website=oireachtas.ie |date=16 May 2023|access-date=21 April 2024}}
She was re-elected at the 2025 Seanad election.{{cite web|url=https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=11183|title=Alice-Mary Higgins|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=28 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Members of the 25th Seanad}}
{{Members of the 26th Seanad}}
{{Members of the 27th Seanad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgins, Alice-Mary}}
Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
Category:Alumni of University College Dublin
Category:Children of presidents of Ireland
Category:Members of the 25th Seanad
Category:Politicians from County Galway
Category:Members of Seanad Éireann for the National University of Ireland
Category:Independent members of Seanad Éireann
Category:The New School alumni
Category:Members of the 26th Seanad