Results 6,721-6,740 of 11,864 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: European Council Decisions: Motions (1 Oct 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: First, on behalf of the Labour group, I thank the many colleagues from across the House who expressed their good wishes to Senator Harte on his retirement. I am aware of how much his family appreciated it, as did all members of the Labour group, but his family has specifically asked me to pass on their appreciation and to thank all Members again in this regard. Members will miss him in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the witnesses for the presentations. They have given us a great deal more clarity around the proposals we have seen. In particular, it is helpful to hear the specific difference between resettlement of those who come from refugee camps in Lebanon and neighbouring countries to the war zones and whose refugee status is predetermined and relocation, which relates to the bulk of people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: That is very helpful. I should have said at the outset like Deputy Finian McGrath that all of us are horrified at the terrible plight in particular of refugees from Syria arriving in Italy and Greece and at the appalling journeys they have had to make and the dreadful personal tragedies we have seen. Arising from that, Mr. Kirrane has given us the idea that it will be months before we start...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We will be liaising with the Italian and Greek authorities on this and I wonder what will be done for the refugees while they are in Italy and Greece awaiting decisions on relocation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It seems a key point to keep people in Greece or Italy on the understanding that they may be relocated elsewhere rather than having to walk on through other countries like Serbia. My other question is for the commissioner, Mr. Costello. In terms of the capacity within his office to determine these claims quickly when people arrive, will additional staff be required? The commissioner said...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Migrant Crisis: Discussion (30 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the witnesses for the clarification they have given us. In general, people have greatly welcomed the announcement that 4,000 refugees will come here on the resettlement programmes. I am just wondering about family reunification. There is such immense goodwill and I know that under the Syrian humanitarian admission programme currently in operation, only one in three of those who...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome strongly today's announcement of a six-year capital investment plan that will extend from 2016 to 2021. I do not think there is any way to portray this as anything other than good news, no matter how the Opposition may try. A significant investment of €27 billion will be made over a six-year period. We are seeing really positive plans under a whole range of headings. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I would like to see us debate in an honest, objective and rational fashion the reality of crisis pregnancy for so many people in Ireland and the need to repeal the eighth amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to make a point of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I am a pro-choice activist and not an abortion supporter. I ask Senator Mullen to get that right. After so many years I think he would have learned by now.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I do not hide behind it.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Why is it happening?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It was not meant.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is regrettable that we are moving to a by-election in the Seanad. Many Members, including myself, expressed our deep regret about our colleague Jimmy Harte’s resignation. Yesterday, all of us wished him well in his retirement and for his speedy recovery. I am not going to descend to making any sort of cheap political points about the unfortunate fact that we will have a...

Seanad: Choice of Court (Hague Convention) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Before speaking to the Order of Business, I join with colleagues in expressing tribute to Senator Jimmy Harte on the announcement of his resignation. On behalf of my Labour Party colleagues, I echo the warm sentiments expressed about Jimmy by the Leader and Senator O'Brien. Jimmy is well-known and well-loved by all of us. He has had a long and distinguished political career. He was first...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: That was a slightly grudging good luck wish from Senator O'Brien. I condemn the dreadful suicide bomb attack in Turkey yesterday, apparently by a member of ISIS, in which 30 young socialist activists were killed while they were trying to plan the rebuilding of the city of Kobane which had previously been overrun by ISIS militants. Following the dreadful attack in Tunisia, it is yet another...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I wish everybody on both sides of the House a restful break. Even if we do not return yet as a reformed Seanad, I hope we will return as a reinvigorated Seanad.