Results 7,481-7,500 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator is right to urge caution in the commentary on the very difficult and traumatic cases of the two Roma children. We all welcome the fact that they were returned to their families and that in the end there were no grounds for the concern that was raised by the Garda. However, the two cases have raised very serious questions. It was good to be in the Chamber last night when the...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to have this debate. I commend Senator van Turnhout and her colleagues in the Taoiseach’s nominee group because it is an important debate to have. I further thank the Minister and the Government for not tabling an amendment. As Senator Power said, it is appropriate that we...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: These are constructive proposals that any task force should consider. It might also be worth considering, in accordance with Article 19 of the Constitution, reservation of one panel for election by councillors to preserve existing links with local government. We should also see provision made for gender balance on the panels. Third, we might look at the timing of the Seanad election....

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. We are very glad to have him here, particularly in a spirit of peace and, dare I say, reconciliation following the very welcome outcome of the referendum. The outcome gives us more than a chance to reform. It was clear from the debate that there is now an imperative for us to reform not only Seanad structures but also, as colleagues have said,...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: No wonder there is such cynicism in politics when Fianna Fáil accuses the Government of presiding over a broken health service, when it was a Fianna Fáil Government that presided over the formation of the HSE and the establishment of its bureaucratic structure which is proving extremely difficult to dismantle - a structure which has had a very negative effect on our health care...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: One of the strengths on which we in this House have always prided ourselves is that we conduct debate in a respectful and courteous manner. In fairness to Senator Darragh O'Brien, he has listened courteously as I tried to respond fairly to the questions he asked. I cannot say the same for all of his colleagues. I ask Members to treat whoever is standing in the Leader's position with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Clune referred to the childhood obesity campaign and called for a debate on the issue. Such a debate certainly would be worth having. Senator Catherine Noone raised the same issue and suggested it might be a matter for the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. I agree that it would be a useful follow-up to the previous debate and the report we produced on lifestyle and cancer...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with the Senator's comments in support of efforts by the Garda Síochána to combat child trafficking. Senator Jim D'Arcy called for a debate on the one-parent family credit changes and referred to a potential unintended consequence thereof in the form of discrimination against a particular group. I agree with the Senator's comments, particularly in the context of the recent...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Conway made the same point more generally with reference to bankers. As we know, trials are pending against certain individuals involved in the former Anglo Irish Bank, but I certainly agree that the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement must be facilitated with any resources necessary to ensure prosecutions are brought for the type...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Let us examine some objective facts. The population of the State has increased by 8%, the proportion of persons aged 65 and over is increasing by over 20%, there has been a €3.3 billion reduction in the HSE's budget since 2008 and a cut of 10%, or 11,000, in the number of health service staff and a 3%-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I suggest that Senator MacSharry listen to the figures I am providing.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator MacSharry may not want to listen-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator MacSharry may not wish to listen to the facts but Senator Darragh O'Brien asked me some questions and I am trying to provide a fair response. I suggest that Senator MacSharry consider the figures. This year alone there has been a 3% increase-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Without wishing to speak for Senator Colm Burke, I believe he was suggesting that persons who wished to put questions to the Minister for Health might have posed them during the three-hour meeting of the joint committee which took place last week. I am trying to provide answers to the questions posed earlier. Among the facts provided by the Minister for Health to the Lower House is that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Like many others, I have welcomed the extension of free primary care to children under six.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I do not know but I can check the position for the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is interesting-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: -----that those on the other side spent a great deal of time asking questions about health and that they now do not want to listen to the answers I am trying to provide.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I have given a very clear answer-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien asked a range of specific questions. In response to his first question on pyrite legislation, I agree it is welcome it is being introduced in the Seanad. I am delighted and we should all put pressure on Ministers to do this as much as possible. It is very good to have comprehensive debate here before the legislation goes to the Dáil. I am told it will be before...