Results 8,241-8,260 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is unfair on couples, parents and families to be obliged to take litigation. Many of us have been saying for a number of years that legislation is required in respect of IVF, assisted human reproduction and surrogacy. There is an excellent report on assisted human reproduction which was commissioned by a previous Government and the recommendations of which really should be implemented....

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: That is quite alright. It was a pleasure. Senator Comiskey also welcomed the paper on suicide prevention produced by Senator MacSharry. He went on to refer to road safety issues. It is worth nothing that the number of road deaths has fallen year on year since 2006. Every road death is a tragedy, however. Senator Kelly also referred to road deaths. This is a matter we could debate in...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I am not talking about the name of Trinity College. I do not concur with Senator Norris's views on that.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: As long as it is not the troika.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: This matter might be raised again with the Minister for Education and Skills on Thursday when he comes into the House to speak with us about the Education and Training Boards Bill. He has made clear his commitment to reforming the teacher training sector. There has been unnecessary duplication, as he has pointed out, in teacher training and the education of our teachers. He proposes to...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: We will have a debate with him in this House on Thursday where we can raise these issues. Senator D'Arcy commended Senator MacSharry's document and also paid tribute to Bishop Gerard Clifford. Senator Cullinane raised the issue of IBRC employees, 800 of whom are awaiting a decision. We all hope they will be treated fairly. Senator Cullinane also asked for a debate with the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator MacSharry spoke about the launch yesterday of Fianna Fáil's document on suicide prevention. I commend Senator MacSharry and his colleagues on all their research and other work over seven months to put it together. I join the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in welcoming the document warmly. Members on both sides of the House have commended it, expressed their support for...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding section 17A of the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act 2001, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 - Second Stage, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and conclude not later than 5.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Emer Costello, MEP (28 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I warmly welcome Ms Costello to the House. We have soldiered together on many campaigns in parts of Dublin, most recently in Sandymount on the European treaty referendum where we did a very good canvass. I pay a personal tribute to her dedication, hard work, commitment to political change, commitment to the Labour Party and her work to represent the people of Dublin at European Union level....

Seanad: Business of Seanad (28 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (28 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I also welcome the rise in employment figures that were announced yesterday. They are reported on the front page of The Irish Times today. This provides a hopeful sign that the numbers at work have risen over the last six months. This marks the first time since the start of the recession that we have seen jobs growth over two consecutive quarters. It is welcome to see such jobs growth...

Seanad: Magdalen Laundries Report: Statements (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I warmly welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to the House. As everyone else has stated, I pay tribute to her for her great work in campaigning for so long on behalf of the survivors of the Magdalen laundries. Historic speeches were made in the Dáil last week, and when the Tánaiste spoke he singled her out as having played an enormous role in ensuring that at last we...

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Lies.

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I will not take that time as I am conscious that others wish to speak. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley. I am happy to join with my colleagues on this side to rebut the Fianna Fáil motion, which as others have said, is inappropriate and a repetition of what has been set out very recently.

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is a waste of Private Members' time. That is a matter for them.

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Our motion touched on this very issue but it brought in a range of other issues around community life, including the Purple Flag.

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Harte, as did other Senators, set out a very strong defence of Government policy on justice. Senator Bradford, very helpfully, pointed out that the attitude of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to the Seanad has been extremely positive. He has initiated a large number of Bills in this Chamber, probably more than most other Ministers. Let me say that his record...

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I will now deal with the issue of the Garda which the Opposition has been focusing on. The figures provided by the Minister of State speak for themselves. It is scaremongering to suggest that reducing the Garda network to 564 stations is a cause for fear and anxiety. The figures for Northern Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere show that it is unnecessary to have the number of Garda stations we...

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I would ask the Opposition to look at the actual number of crimes reported each year in some of the Garda stations----

Seanad: Confidence in Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence: Motion (27 Feb 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Some of the stations have not been opened for a number of years and some only for a short period. Clearly to free up Garda time and to allow for an extra 61,000 Garda patrol hours is a better and more efficient use of policing time. It is worth reminding the Opposition of advances in technology and policing practice that will allow for more efficient use of policing rather than have gardaí...