Results 8,801-8,820 of 11,477 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Certain comments have been made by one individual who is not the decision maker in respect of this matter. The decision makers are in the Cabinet.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The decision makers in respect of water charges are in the Cabinet.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: If I could finish, the decision makers in respect of this matter are all in the Cabinet. It is important that they should make a decision based on the experience elsewhere. Ireland is the only country in the OECD which does not charge citizens for water. I presume that other countries have overcome the difficulties relating to putting meters in place in apartments. Professor Richard Tol...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: -----rather than being obliged to pay an average charge. I am sure there is a way around the difficulties in this regard. Water charges are not about to be introduced imminently and there is time to achieve a solution that will be both sensible and sustainable. The Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union)...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I commented approvingly on yesterday's Order of Business on David Begg's very sensible-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: David Begg made a very sensible contribution.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: If Senator Norris would allow me to speak, I believe he will be interested in what I am about to ask the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am requesting a debate on the forthcoming merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission. The working group's report was published late last week and it contains some sensible and worthy suggestions, including that the new entity - the Irish human rights and quality commission - be independent and adequately resourced in order to allow it to carry out its task.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I request a debate on the merger on the basis of the report to which I refer.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I am grateful to the Leader, Senator Cummins, for setting out the reasons for the changes to the schedule of business for this week. All Members will agree it is unfortunate those changes needed to be made and the House will now not sit on Thursday. I am sure everyone accepts that, in view of the need to allow time for amendments to be tabled to the Social...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am glad we will not be debating the Bill in its entirety on one day. Arranging for it to be debated on Friday and Monday next will ensure there will be more time between Stages, which is preferable. I also welcome today's debate on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012. I again agree with...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: There is no use of the word "austerity" in the treaty. I look forward to the debate. It is timely we are having the debate today-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The alternative is far more instability. That is the reality.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I have not heard one person who is advocating a "No" vote explain to me what the better outcome would be if there was a "No" vote. Nobody has explained to me what he or she suggests would be a better outcome. It is timely we are looking at the result of the first round of the French presidential election, and I very much hope to see Monsieur Hollande win, but it is a very real concern-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: -----to see nearly one in five French voters voting number one for the National Front. That is a real wake-up call to all of us. I acknowledge this is an unusual idea but I ask the Leader that we might have a debate in 12 months time on the progress in the year since the passing of the Bill to prohibit female genital mutilation, FGM, which legislation was initiated in this House. I note...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator can read the treaty.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, Monsieur Hollande is not saying that any more.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, and wish him well on his appointment. We look forward to him bringing his customary enthusiasm and expertise to this important portfolio. I also welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We had our first discussion on the stability treaty on 14 March with no Minister present. I found that debate extremely useful in...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of information, perhaps when the IMF, the European Union and the ECB came to bail us out, we were on the edge of a cliff.

Seanad: Sale of State Assets: Statements, Questions and Answers (19 Apr 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive and very clear outline of the current Government position on the sale of State assets. He has set out very fairly the nature of the programme for the sale of assets and he has given the House certain reassurances that are particularly important to those of us who would clearly prefer not to see us selling State assets. However, as he said, we are...