Results 6,721-6,740 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and his appointment to this new role with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. That appointment is positive and the Minister of State brings immense commitment to the matter, given his personal experience as a teacher and principal in an area that had a significant drug problem and as a Labour Party colleague. I am glad that he has...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: From the Minister of State's speech and from our knowledge of the area, we would be very conscious that this is the case on the ground and that we have, as others have said, about 10,000 people on opiate substance programmes administered by the HSE. We recognise that addiction is a medical issue. I am glad to hear the Minister of State speak about the expansion of the needle exchange...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, Children (Amendment) Bill 2015, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., with contributions from group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: No. It is open-ended.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the issue of the health service and spoke about the number of patients on waiting lists, which is a matter of considerable concern to all of us. I would remind the Senator that during the boom years, under Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, there were appalling waiting lists and there was appalling mismanagement of the health system.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Indeed, the establishment of the HSE and the disastrous policy of co-location took place under a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----which included Fianna Fáil's current party leader as then Minister for Health and Children for some of that period.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is difficult to take-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I sat courteously and listened to political charges made by Senator Darragh O'Brien.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I also refer Senator Darragh O'Brien to the major reform of the health service being undertaken by this Government, including-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----the ending of the HSE, the end of the two-tier policy of medical care that we have seen for far too long-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----and the rolling out of the centres of excellence policy, which, to be fair, is a policy that has been tried and tested and which we will see rolled out further.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: With regard to Beaumont Hospital, I understand there is a particular issue with regard to the closure of a ward for refurbishment, which may have a bearing on the situation. The Senator also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that we ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, to come to the House. As the Senator will be aware, yesterday, the Leader, on foot of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien has taken the words out of my mouth. As it happens, I had spoken to colleagues on foot of what she said. It is a matter for the Taoiseach, if he meets Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, next week, to extend sympathies on behalf of the Irish State to the family. The Senator is quite correct in saying that would be entirely appropriate. I do not know if anyone here knows...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We need to be careful about putting two and two together and making five.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: There has been a lot of jumping to conclusions about this.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I also point out to Senators Wilson and Ó Domhnaill, who both raised the issue, that it is not the Government that is promoting marriage equality, rather that all major political parties, including Fianna Fáil, are supportive of it and are actively campaigning, including in my area, in support of the referendum on marriage equality. It is important to say that this is not something...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss this very positive Bill which has received a broad welcome across the House. It is very progressive legislation. It fulfils a Government commitment and also ensures that we will live up to the recommendations of numerous international reports referred to by Senators van Turnhout, Reilly and others as well as to the recommendations of the Irish...

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 26 May 2015.

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Joint Sub-Committee on Human Rights relative to Justice and Equality Matters: Business of Committee (14 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I second that.