Results 7,521-7,540 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Last week, as Deputy Leader, I dealt with a number of issues around the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the response of the Government to the GSOC controversy and, on Thursday, the dossier that was provided by Sergeant Maurice McCabe. I said at that point that we should have a debate on policing generally and I would like to renew the call for such a debate. I know they have...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: -----will be appointed to conduct a scoping inquiry into the dossier and the allegations of the whistleblower. Let us not forget that a similar scoping inquiry by Shane Murphy SC led to the setting up of the Morris tribunal. It is entirely appropriate that that sort of independent review is carried out now without ruling out the possibility of a commission of investigation under 2004 Act in...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I recommend that colleagues who did not see last night's "Prime Time" programme on this issue watch it, because it really clarified a number of issues, and Maurice McCabe was very impressive in providing the transcript, which the "Prime Time" team showed. Serious allegations have been made and I am really glad to hear reports from Cabinet that an independent review will be conducted as a...

Seanad: An Coimisinéir Teanga a Cheapadh: Tairiscint (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: An Coimisinéir Teanga a Cheapadh: Tairiscint (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus cuirim fáilte roimh cheapachán an tUasal Rónán Ó Domhnaill as the new Coimisinéir Teanga. Gabhaim leithscéal mar nach bhfuil mé ábalta to speak in Irish as my Irish is not strong enough. I am standing in for our spokesperson, Senator Moran, who cannot be here, unfortunately. I think she is on...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: As I said, I think we should have a debate on the report of the joint committee, because those issues are addressed more fully in that report. If we table a motion on that and have a debate on it, we can tease out those issues. An Post certainly has been successful in tendering for State business in the recent past, and I hope it will be successful in the near future as well. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The buck does stop. As I said, I do not believe the Garda Síochána should be accountable so directly to the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: That is absolutely right. We will look at how to improve the legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Naming Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell in her new role reminds me of the naming by Sinn Féin of Maurice Manning as Leader of the Seanad, which was equally amusing. Senator Burke also spoke about the domestic violence issue and pointed out some examples, which were highlighted yesterday by NGOs who gave evidence to us on such violence, the delays in family court hearings and so on. He...

Seanad: Regulation on the European Police College: Referral to Joint Committee (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I advise colleagues that the Minister for Finance has confirmed his availability for 4 March for the statements that have been promised. We had hoped he would be able to come in next week but it will be the first day of the following week. I will respond first to Senator O'Brien. I am pleased to hear that Fianna Fáil will be supporting the appointment of an An Coimisinéir Teanga,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I believe he could have handled the policing issue better. I have said as much in other fora as well. In particular, I believe he could have handled the GSOC controversy better. It is unfortunate that we had a drip-feed of information concerning what went on within GSOC. I do not believe that was purely the Minister's fault but it was unfortunate. It is welcome that we will now have an...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Attorney General advised on this. I would be glad to have a debate on the issue generally in the House, including the terms of reference and the independent review. I am unsure whether we are better off doing it when we have seen the independent review report or now. That is a matter I will take up with the Leader's office. I wish to correct the record because some colleagues are a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: That is the type of reform we need to consider. I am pleased the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality has been asked to advise on changes to the Garda Síochána Act. We discussed the matter yesterday afternoon at our meeting. We will be looking with urgency at necessary reforms to the provisions relating to the GSOC. There was cross-party agreement on the need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We were all pleased to see the cricket team success.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I congratulate the team. Some of the puns used by the Leas-Chathaoirelach and others put us on a sticky wicket but we will pass on from that. Senator Coghlan raised the Garda Síochána issue, which I have dealt with. My thanks to Senator Barrett for supplying me with some of the material he was speaking about concerning the revelations on Newstalk this morning relating to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding regulation on the temporary relocation of CEPOL, the European police college, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013 - Second Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude not later than 1.45 p.m., with the contributions of group...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Domestic and Sexual Violence: Discussion (19 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: My first question follows on from Senator Zappone's and it is about Tusla. It is very welcome to see one body taking on overall responsibility for service delivery and trying to do it in accordance with a plan. Given what Ms Byrne said about the division between Cosc and Tusla, is it envisaged that at some point Cosc and Tusla will merge and that the body overseeing service delivery and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Domestic and Sexual Violence: Discussion (19 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Given what people have said about nobody having joined-up thinking and looking at the impact of immigration law, housing law and criminal law, it would seem sensible to have one body. I thank Ms Byrne for that response. My second question is to Sonas and to Ms Wilson from the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service on the issue of housing and this critical issue of where the victims of abuse -...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Domestic and Sexual Violence: Discussion (19 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have a question on criminal law, which is a huge issue. A few speakers mentioned the UK 2004 Act, which I think brought in specialist domestic violence courts. Is there a particular model from the criminal law prosecution strategies there which we might adopt? I was very struck by Ms Martin's statement that the PSNI is collecting all of the data on domestic-violence-related offences....