Results 6,761-6,780 of 11,864 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Mary White should not lecture me on child care. I have engaged directly with the Tánaiste, as have my Labour Party colleagues, on the group of lone parents who may suffer adverse consequences as a result of the changes to seek to ensure these consequences will not be adverse in terms of lost income. We are engaging actively with her and her Department on the issue. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Many colleagues, including Senator Averil Power, have been active in seeking to change this provision and it is a proud day for the Seanad to see the Bill being accepted by the Government. I hope we will conclude Report Stage today. We all hope we will see a good and proper resolution of the issues for Greece at the European summit this coming Sunday. I hope we will see some bailout...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Yes. I do not believe there can be any objection to these Government amendments as they are technical in nature and they reflect the change in the nature of the Bill, which I very much welcome as the original proposer of this Private Members' Bill. This is a proud day for the Seanad to see what started life as a Labour Party Private Members' Bill, and what had been worked on by many...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: These are purely technical amendments to bring Irish law on discrimination into line with the relevant EU directives. There can be no objection to them. I should have welcomed earlier the people in the Visitors Gallery whom I hope have come to witness the final passage of the Bill through the Seanad.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Having consulted the proposers of these amendments, while everyone is in agreement with the general grouping, Senators Power and Zappone suggest that we might discuss amendment No. 14 first and then group the 11 amendments to amendment No. 13 in under six different headings. It will speed up matters and facilitate a more straightforward discussion because the issues arising are complex.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: That is right.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We can discuss them together but we want to address our remarks to amendment No. 14 first.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We have recommitted.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We are proposing a slightly difference sequence of amendments. We are not disagreeing with the grouping. This will become clear as we progress.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We are discussing amendments Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, to amendment No. 13.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: There are 11 amendments to amendment No. 13 which are being discussed with amendment No. 14.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: In welcoming the Minister of State, I should have acknowledged his long personal commitment in respect of this issue and the fact that he was an original sponsor of the Bill when we introduced it in 2013. In respect of amendment No. 14, I echo the words of Senators Zappone and Power. My personal preference without reference to any laws would be simply to delete section 37(1)(b) as well. As...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the comments of the Minister of State who helpfully provided context for this issue, on which I spoke on Second Stage. Unlike Senator Norris, I am an atheist and I believe it is outrageous that we continue to-----

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I am always grateful for Senator Norris's prayers. Many people have offered to pray for me in the past. On a serious note, it is outrageous that any teacher should have to be of a particular religion and that 95% of schools are under religious patronage. As a parent, I fought against this and was instrumental in the establishment of a new multidenominational school to try to break the...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Present company excepted.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I do not think any Member has suggested during this debate that the State would decide everything. I think we have moved quite significantly away from the Committee Stage debate on the amendments.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We are taking them together.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Power is discussing related ones as well.

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I support the making of amendment No. 5 having had a small hand in it with Senator Zappone. It would be useful to include a specific reference to the employee's or prospective employee's right to privacy to strengthen the already strong test and high bar that I have already referred to as the "one plus five" test. A specific reference to privacy in subsection (1C)(c) would be helpful and...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome very much the acceptance by the Minister of amendment No. 5, which is a very straightforward amendment which seeks to capture the spirit of all of our concerns. We must put to rest the concern that somebody's marital status might be a ground of discrimination following this. Even without the amendment on privacy, it is clear from the wording of subsection (1C) that the action of...