Results 7,341-7,360 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State and I commend Senator Barrett on taking the initiative by introducing this Private Members' Bill. This debate is part of a bigger process whereby we are discussing Seanad reform on an ongoing basis. It is very worthwhile to have technically well-drafted and comprehensive Bills before us when considering that issue. I do not support the principle behind this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Is it publicly accessible?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I did not use that word.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: To follow up on that with Mr. Olson, an extraordinary point that is made in his fuller submission to the committee is that although the 2005 Act provided for the establishment of both GSOC and the Garda Inspectorate, there is no statutory basis for collaboration between the two organisations. There is no information sharing provision, for example. It relies very much on informal processes....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have a final question on something Dr. O'Flaherty said about whistleblowers, not just confined to members of An Garda Síochána in Garda stations but to others, like himself, who would have had professional access and would have perhaps observed abuses happening. Is he or anybody, including the AGSI, aware of an internal whistleblowers charter? I wrote to the former Garda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the witnesses for giving us the benefit of their experience and expertise on these issues. The issue I wish to raise applies to several groups as it arose during our hearings this morning. It concerns the complex relationship between different bodies with various oversight roles. Mr. McGillicuddy expressed the view from the Bar Council that the reviews are somewhat fragmented and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: That is just-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We all have Dr. O’Flaherty’s written statement. It would be helpful if perhaps we heard an overview from him on the sort of abuses he has experienced directly and the ways in which they could be tackled through legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: To clarify, individual complaints can give rise to findings or conclusions by GSOC that there have been systemic issues of neglect of supervision or poor supervision and that can apply at more junior ranks as well as at senior level. Currently, given the questioning we have had over the morning, does GSOC have a problem in dealing with those systemic issues because of the existence of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I had to attend a vote in the Seanad Chamber, so I apologise if I have missed something that has already been covered. I have three questions for GSOC. Right at the start, Deputy Collins asked about co-operation with the Garda. I think Mr. O'Brien said he was getting better co-operation now from the Garda in terms of investigations and the transmission of information, but there are still...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise if this has been asked already, but my second question relates to the constitution of GSOC as established in the 2005 legislation. At that time, many of us were critical of the commission's tripartite nature, although I mean no offence to any individuals. Nuala O'Loan was the first police ombudsman in Northern Ireland and that was seen as an effective model with all the power...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight: Discussion (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I do not know if any other organisations have views. I know that views were expressed at the time. My next question relates to something that Mr. Mark Kelly was speaking about when I came back concerning the powers of GSOC to investigate particular matters. I will not go into the allegations that were at issue in the Guerin report, as those will be the subject of a commission of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Following on from yesterday's Order of Business, at which I spoke on the Guerin report and sought a debate on it in this House, I wish to report to the House that the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality is going to attend before the justice committee on, I think, next Tuesday, 20 May. Indeed, we are in the process this morning of conducting hearings on oversight...

Seanad: Abduction of Nigerian Children: Motion (13 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Costello to the House and thank him for taking this important debate. I second the motion, which has been put forward with cross-party support. I am really glad we have been able to achieve that support as it shows the strength of feeling across Ireland on this horrible abduction. As Senator Mullins has said the motion deals with the abduction of more...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Katherine Zappone is not a Government Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I would like a debate on the Guerin report, which has been published since we last sat on Thursday and which many of us have had an opportunity to read in recent days. It sets out a litany of errors, negligence and incompetence, which were exposed by the allegations of Sergeant Maurice McCabe, as reviewed by senior counsel, Sean Guerin. Chapter 19 makes particularly concerning reading, as...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am not saying that for sure. All I am saying is that I think it would be interesting to have the debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We will await the wording. As a lawyer, I could not sign up to anything, the wording for which I have not seen. Senator Hayden referred to the resignation of the former Minister for Justice and Equality. The Senator also welcomed the joint campaign being launched today by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Women's Aid called "This is not happily every after". It highlights the extent of...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is a matter for the Chairs of the committees to decide what comes within their remit but statutory issues may have to be looked at.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We all take on board the points raised by the Senator. I am not sure that this House is the appropriate forum but I can ask the Leader if we can facilitate a debate. I suspect it might be a matter that will go to the relevant committee. Senator Keane extended best wishes to Senator Norris. She also paid tribute to the former Minister for Justice and Equality and his staff. She pointed out...