Results 9,601-9,620 of 11,489 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: The section refers to sections 7 and 8.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I support the comments made by Senators John Gilroy and Maurice Cummins. The Minister for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, has already acted on one of the issues to which Senator Byrne referred.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Committee Stage debates in the Seanad are very important. This is clearly a very important Bill which establishes a vital Department for the provision of the key reforms we need to deliver better governance in this State following the disastrous mess made by the last Government. However, we should not abuse Committee Stage. I look forward to discussing some of the amendments, particularly...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Far from it.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: In response to Senator Sean Barrett, it was not the Department of Finance alone which was responsible for bringing in the IMF. A lack of regulation of the banking sector and poor political decisions, for example, on planning and tax reliefs for property development played larger roles. However, the Senator is right on the need for a restructuring of the Department. We all accept there is...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: They are listed in section 8.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: If that is not in bad taste.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister on behalf of the Labour Party. As Senator O'Keeffe has said, we are delighted to see him in the House. We are delighted he has been given this portfolio. We are delighted that this Bill, which establishes the Department of public expenditure and reform, has cross-party support. As Senator Barrett said, we accept the need to reform the Department of Finance and to...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: To respond to Senator Darragh O'Brien, as I said on the Order of Business and Second Stage, I agree with him and his colleagues that it is less than ideal to have all Stages of a Bill go through the House in one day. I have raised this issue at meetings of my parliamentary party with a view to ensuring it does not recur. As the Minister said earlier, he, too, regrets that this is happening....

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I, too, should have welcomed the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and apologise to her for not doing so. I do not wish to prolong the debate on this issue which Members rehearsed fully on the Order of Business and Second Stage. The Minister for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, expressed his regret on Second Stage in this regard. The debate was originally...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I support calls by Senators Kelly and Harte for a debate on the reconfiguration of local hospitals and for the Minister for Health to appear before the House. It is an important debate Members should be having on the balance that must be struck between the creation of centres of excellence and the need to ensure access to local services in different areas. I am struck by what Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I will not stand for Senator Leyden, whose Government brought this country into the hands of the IMF, accusing the Labour Party of this. It is an outrageous accusation.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: In response to Senator Keane, last night's debate initiated by Senator Hayden and Labour Party Senators on the topic of distressed homeowners was an example of the Seanad at its best. Constructive alternatives were explored and the Opposition engaged constructively in a genuinely non-partisan debate on potential solutions to assist distressed homeowners in mortgage difficulties. It was an...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I join colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I thank him both for his commitment to the House and for his thoughtful and considered response to the issues raised in the motion. The Labour Party is delighted that he responded to the content of the motion and to the broader issues it raises of how we deal with the huge social and economic problem of mortgage holders in...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: As many Senators have stated, it is a question of trying to find a variety of different schemes that will address the different needs. Senator Crown put forward an idea, that again would only apply to certain distressed home owners, about the use of pension funds. Senator Hayden pointed out that many of those in difficulty and with negative equity may not have access to the type of...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her new role - I may have already done so in person, but I now do so formally. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the topic of the EU's role in enterprise, innovation and job creation. It is a timely topic, particularly for somebody with a connection to Trinity College - the Minister of State also has a connection....

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: That is not really the case.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Yesterday, Senator Norris raised the case of the Magdalene laundries. Perhaps we can have a debate in this House on the initial report, which is to be made to Cabinet by the interdepartmental committee announced by the Government. Senator Norris and others have raised ongoing issues that have come to light in respect of the Magdalene laundries. I refer to the article by Mary Raftery in The...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: In fairness, we need a debate on this to ensure all children who require special needs assistants receive the service. The context of this must be understood. If we call on the Minister for Education and Skills to attend the Chamber for a debate on special needs assistants, we should also have him discuss the severe cuts to the visiting teacher service for Travellers and the resource...