Results 7,101-7,120 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is important that we do not abuse parliamentary privilege by casting aspersions. Senator Daly welcomed the smoking in cars legislation. He also welcomed the new US ambassador and I am sure we would all join in that welcome. The Senator also referred to quite a number of other issues, including a meeting in Lissadell House - I know nothing about that - and Israel and the Middle East. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: As I said, I will look for a debate on Seanad reform as quite a number of Senators have sought one.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I will seek an answer as to when Committee Stage of the Seanad reform Bill is taking place, which was the specific question Senator Zappone asked.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Keeffe raised very specific questions in regard to the special investigations unit in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. She welcomed that it had been disbanded but said that questions remain. Again, that could either be raised directly with the Minister or as a matter on the Adjournment. We can seek to have the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to the House for a debate...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I begin by agreeing with Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments on the quorum.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, Forestry Bill 2013 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission: Commissioner Designate (8 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise to the Chair and Ms Logan for the fact that I arrived late and that I am obliged to leave again. I wish Ms Logan good luck in her new role and commend her on the great and excellent work she did as Ombudsman for Children. Many Members of the Oireachtas have made use of the reports she produced in her former role and we look forward to working with her in her new capacity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Proposal to Establish a European Public Prosecutor's Office: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Professor Barrett has given us very useful direction.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader for arranging the debate today on the participation by Irish Defence Forces personnel in the UNDOF mission on the Golan Heights. I am pleased that we will have the Minister in the House. I have just come from a meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, at which the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, briefed members on the participation of Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Proposal to Establish a European Public Prosecutor's Office: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise to Professor Barrett for being so late. I had hoped to be here because I am particularly interested in this. I thank Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for filling me in. It is important and I suspect that we would attend any such future meetings because we do have a very particular position on this issue and as Professor Barrett has said, it is important that we make our voices heard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Proposal to Establish a European Public Prosecutor's Office: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise if this question has already been asked, but in terms of the practical details around this committee's representation at such meetings, is there a way of getting advice on what we should prioritise attending? We do indeed get invitations to many different meetings and clearly we would particularly wish to be represented only where the meeting is going to produce some sort of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and express my support for the legislation in keeping with others. We have all noted that its purpose is to transpose into Irish law a Council framework decision from 2008 which amends the 2002 Council framework decision on combating terrorism. I note that the decision must be transposed by 1 December so we are not out of time on it, although I note...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Slow learners. Some people never learn; that is the truth about Fianna Fáil. I urge colleagues on both sides of the House to look at the website stateboards.iewhich, for the first time, is to provide a one-stop shop to ensure transparent appointments to State boards and which will detail candidate specifications, including relevant experience and other criteria. It is hugely important...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: However, it is hugely important and significant that we now have in place a proper and transparent system for appointing the members of State boards. If we are having this debate, we should look at the other reforms the Government has brought forward, for example, extending the Ombudsman's jurisdiction and powers and reforming the system of parliamentary inquiries, even in the wake of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Yes, I do. I had asked the question of the Leader, but some Members were shouting too loudly.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I asked the question of the Leader at the start, but I was drowned out.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I asked the Leader for a debate on the democratic reform process being brought forward, including some aspects that had already been introduced and, in particular, items such as the ethics Bill, which is yet to be brought before the House. We should have a debate on all of these reforms. It would be very useful to have the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin,...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Last week I requested a debate on delivering democratic reform in light of the revised models for appointments to State boards which were agreed by the Cabinet and have been the subject of widespread approval.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: They are belated. Following 14 years of Fianna Fáil in government, they certainly are belated.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I entirely agree that what has been brought forward is belated.