Results 7,001-7,020 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: -----that seeks to redress the sustained neglect over many years of building in the social housing sector, which has led us to the crisis we now are in. I thank the Leader for organising the debate. I also commend the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on her movement on the issue of junior cycle reform and her indication that she would be willing to engage further...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader and Senator Craughwell for initiating the debate on homelessness, which we will have for two hours tomorrow evening with the Minister, Deputy Kelly. It is extremely important given the tragic death in the past 24 hours of a homeless man on the streets of Dublin. It happened very close to Leinster House. We should all extend sympathy to the man's family. It is shameful...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the appointment of Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan as Garda Commissioner, following her recommendation by the Public Appointments Service as the only suitable candidate. It is important to note that there was an open and transparent recruitment and appointment process. As well as welcoming her appointment it is also important that we would all support her in the ongoing important...

Seanad: Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the Proposal for a Banking Inquiry: Motion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am pleased to speak in support of the motion on behalf of Labour Party Senators. The Leader, Senator Cummins, outlined the decision making process of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the meetings we had from 9 October 2014 onwards to evaluate the relevant proposal and the decisions we made. Senator Darragh O'Brien pointed to the constraints that applied in trying to devise and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for interjecting. This issue, known as the trickle-up fallacy, was examined in a report compiled by the joint committee some years ago. It refers to things happening naturally and without intervention.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien in welcoming today's debate on the motions concerning the banking inquiry. As he said, we have had a series of lengthy meetings at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to debate the shape and format of the motions. I very much welcome the fact that we are now at this stage and are having this debate which, as the Leader said, is open-ended. It will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I read the Judicial Appointments Review Committee's report and was struck by what Dr. Cahillane has referred to as self-perpetuation by the Judiciary. That seems to be the danger of many of the recommendations the review committee has made. Dr. Kenny also picked up on the report's suggestion of increasing the requirement for professional practice. It seems this is just picking more of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have a final question for all of our experts regarding the difference between the superior courts and the District and Circuit Courts. Should we have different appointment processes for different levels of court? Is political patronage more of an issue at lower or higher court?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the three speakers. It was after hearing the three of them give presentations at the Law and Government conference in DCU that I felt we should invite them to come before the committee to explore this issue. It is in the context of the review of judicial appointments, which I hope this committee will feed into, because the witnesses have offered worthwhile insights. On the issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We will take statements on water services later, as requested by many colleagues. In the debate, undoubtedly, we will tease out the issues around the package of reform measures announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, last week which still have a very strong conservation element. As meters are installed, the issue of conservation will...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is difficult to follow that. It is a relief on this side of the House to hear someone from the other side commend some aspect of our water supply. I agree with Senator White on the water fluoridation issue. There have been many debates on it in the House with some heated exchanges. I thank her for putting so many of the factual aspects of fluoridation on the record. I welcome...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome the visitors seated in the Visitors Gallery. I acknowledge and commend the work of Dr. Fergus Ryan who is in the Visitors Gallery because he had a large part to play in the drafting of the Bill. I commend Senators Power, van Turnhout and Healy Eames for their work in preparing the Bill and presenting it to us this evening. They have given us...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I also welcome the fact that we will see an announcement this afternoon by the Government on revisions to the charging proposals for Irish Water. We do not know the full package but we have seen a good deal of information about them in recent days in the newspapers. The revisions are a sign of responsiveness by the Government to the concerns expressed by people through peaceful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Public Order Offences from Alcohol Misuse Perspective: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Ms Jones for clarifying that point, it has been helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Public Order Offences from Alcohol Misuse Perspective: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have one more question. I should declare an interest, having acted in case law on the selling of alcohol to under-age persons. I am conscious that in her presentations Ms Jones displayed a letter about the conflict between responsible retail and consumer's rights. In her view, what is the best way to resolve that issue? I have worked in this area and I know the difficulties that arise,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Public Order Offences from Alcohol Misuse Perspective: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for the fact that I will be obliged to leave in a moment in order to go to the Seanad. I thank our guests for their presentations. Is there a conflict between the two groups in respect of section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008? I am seeking to obtain clarity on the respective positions of the two organisations represented by our guests in the context of brining the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I hope colleagues across the House will join me in condemning the violence and acts of criminality which arose during certain protests over the weekend and since. These were appalling acts, particularly when perpetrated by a particular elected representative, in terms of the detention of the Tánaiste in her car and the barracking and harassment of the Taoiseach and ordinary members of...

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 18 November 2014.

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: There is no corruption in the Labour Party.

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister and the opportunity to debate commemoration planning, particularly in the week in which we marked Remembrance Day and the day after the launch of the commemoration programme in the GPO last night. I was sorry I was unable to attend it, but I was representing the justice committee at a conference. However, my party's Seanad spokesperson, Senator O'Keeffe, attended, as...