Results 5,141-5,160 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I thank colleagues across the House for their support last night for the Labour Party Private Members' Bill on education and commend my colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin, who initiated it. We took it through Committee Stage without opposition last night and I look forward to working with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, and colleagues to ensure it is passed....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: It was a Freudian slip, I had spoken of President Trump earlier.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Joe McHugh, to the House. I echo what Senator Ó Ríordáin said about our motivation as Labour Party Senators in introducing this Bill. It is in keeping with our ethical view and belief that education should be free and that schools should not have a need for voluntary contributions in the way described. We are very anxious to work with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (3 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Chair. I appreciate that. I thank the Tánaiste for his rapid overview of many areas. As he said, it is an enormous brief to cover without getting into the elephant in the room, which is Brexit. I spoke on Brexit in the Seanad on Tuesday during a debate with the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. Like Deputy Niall Collins, I will not go into Brexit...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Reunification Policy (1 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, to the House and thank him for dealing with this matter, which calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to provide information concerning persons in respect of whom he has given permission to come to Ireland from Syria as part of the Irish refugee protection programme humanitarian admission programme, IHAP, but whose access to travel...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Family Reunification Policy (1 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister of State for his response but I am disappointed that he does not suggest any alternative. In my latest correspondence with the travel document section of the immigration service, I raised the possibility of a laissez-passer document being issued through, for example, the Red Cross as suggested by the Minister of State and that is currently being explored. The response I...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and join others, including Senator Black, in commending her, the Tánaiste and the officials on the negotiations and on maintaining the strong position we have on the need for a backstop. I agree with Senator Black that a notable strength on the Irish side is that all in the Opposition have expressed our support for the Government position,...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: From their point of view it is a British border. We have been hearing so much that little phrase "the Irish Border" and it has really been bothering me because it is from people who insist it is actually a British Border. For them, it is a border with the United Kingdom. They never mention the British side. It is that old truism that if athletes from Northern Ireland do well they are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I join others in welcoming the announcement on the Stardust inquiry reopening. I am one of the people old enough to remember that awful tragedy and the appalling day when we heard the news. I was a teenager and it was horrific. I express my utter admiration for the families who have worked so hard for so long and have been so eloquent in their advocacy for the children they lost. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: On further point of order, I support Senator Ruane, as I was also present at the private meeting.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, to the House. I am delighted to express my support and the support of the Labour Party Senators for this Bill. I listened, not exactly with surprise, to the previous speaker. I was disappointed that so much of Senator Mullen's input was devoted to saying what a waste of time this all was. The waste of time was the introduction in 2009 by...

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: That was the waste of time, which Senator Norris and I opposed when we argued that its introduction was pointless. We further argued at that point for the removal of the constitutional offence. The referendum was necessary to tidy up what is the foundational legal document of the State. As I think Senator Mullen will agree, the text of the Constitution matters. Having gone through all of...

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: A constitution is no place - I speak as a criminal lawyer - to declare acts to be criminal offences. That is a matter for statute and for legislators. Those anachronisms should be deleted also. Again, text matters. They may not be in use nor prosecuted every day nor anything like that, but they should not be there in our Constitution, just as the references to women's place in the home...

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and am indebted to him. Blasphemy law is dangerous and others have spoken about this. The continued existence of not only a constitutional but a statutory offence since 2009 here has been used in other jurisdictions where we have seen people of minority faiths, especially those who are Christians, being oppressed, abused or suffering terrible physical danger...

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: We can all agree on that.

Seanad: Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019: Second Stage (25 Sep 2019)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister and support Senator Nash in proposing the amendment. I also support Senator Nash in seeking a statement on the overnight revelations about the 800 women who have seen delays in the disclosure of their results due to an IT fault. I listened to what Lorraine Walsh and Sharon said on the radio this morning and was struck by the fair comments that IT faults happen but the...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for giving a statement on the new revelations about a group of 800 women whose results have been delayed and for giving them reassurance. He stated that these were primarily repeat tests. Is there a small number which were not precautionary repeat tests? On the amendment, Senator Nash and I are seeking clarification. The Minister stated that he accepts that the scope...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.