Alice-Mary Higgins | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Higgins in 2025 | |
| Senator | |
| Assumed office 8 June 2016 | |
| Constituency | National University |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-04-10)10 April 1975 (age 49) 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 Irishindependent politician who has served as asenator for theNational University since April 2016.[1] She became the leader of theCivil Engagement group in 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.
She is the daughter ofMichael D. Higgins, a formerLabour Party politician and currentPresident of Ireland.[2]
Higgins studied English and philosophy atUniversity College Dublin,[2] and took anMPhil in theatre and cultural studies atTrinity College Dublin, and aFulbrightMA in sociology atThe New School inNew York City.[3]
In June 2023, she gave birth to her first child, a boy.[4][5]
Higgins stood for election to Seanad Éireann on theNational 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 theDublin constituency at the2019 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 theTRIPS Waiver on 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 enactjust transition policies.[14]
She was re-elected at the2025 Seanad election.[15]