Results 10,961-10,980 of 11,509 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Why should millionaires' children go to national schools alongside the children of those on social welfare? It is because there is a principle of social equity and fairness. I would like a debate on that. We need to see social services such as health and education provided free of charge at the point of access and paid for much more fairly through the taxation system. The Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——that if he targets only the well-off he will not make enough money to fill the gap. I wish to thank the Cathaoirleach. I addressed a letter to him having asked the Leader's permission to invite the former Green Party Senator from Colombia, Ingrid Betancourt, to address the House now that she has been released from FARC captivity. I thought it would be a very important gesture to have...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senator O'Toole about the proposed strike or day of action on Monday. We are all in agreement that it is unnecessary. Even though I speak as a committed trade unionist, many of us are very unhappy about the way it looks and many in the public sector are understandably reluctant to be seen to be withdrawing labour at a time when so many of their friends, relatives and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls for further debate on Seanad reform following the successful debate last night that was prompted by Senator O'Toole's motion. It would be useful for Members to debate Fine Gael's proposals on Seanad reform. I also made some modest proposals for internal reforms to Seanad procedures to make its sittings somewhat more accessible and more relevant. The Leader should take on...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Cathaoirleach. He speaks of the immense potential, and it is no more than this——

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——that such research has with regard to trying to seek cures for currently incurable diseases and conditions.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I am delighted to second this important motion on Seanad reform and to support Senator O'Toole. It is an excellent motion. Like Senator O'Toole, I have supported calls for Seanad reform even before my election to the Seanad for the first time in 2007. When we had a debate on Seanad reform, prompted, I believe, by a Government motion in November 2007, I spoke in support of that shortly...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: It might be useful. It would also make it easier to have a topical debate. Yesterday, as we all know, the Order of Business became a discussion about the dreadful events in Northern Ireland at the weekend, which is as it should have been. Yet, we still had to remain within this rather artificial framework of the Order of Business. It would be a great improvement to the perception of the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: My final point is that at this difficult economic time, the proposal of former Senator O'Rourke to extend the numbers in the Seanad to 65 might not be a runner. Overall, however, we need to overhaul our internal system internally and externally. I commend the motion to the House without the amendment.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I will move that amendment.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I do not, actually, but since they are not present, I do not want the amendment to fall. I was hoping to support it.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I will speak on the subject of the section.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thought it was possible to move an amendment when the person proposing was not present. I have taken advantage of that in the past when I have not been present and others have moved amendments on my behalf.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: They clearly were, and they should not have done it. That will be a suitable rap on the knuckles. I wish to support the principle expressed in the amendments proposed for section 46 which concerns the power to summon witnesses. The section provides that the authority may examine on oath the witnesses attending before it. It should provide also that it could examine on affirmation rather...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: That answers the question.

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I move amendment No. 42: In page 41, subsection (2)(b)(i)(I), line 26, to delete "moral" and substitute "other". This is the critical section in Part 7 which relates to adoption orders in exceptional cases and the role of the High Court. Section 54 provides for the orders of the High Court authorising the adoption authority to make adoption orders for children whose parents fail in their...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister of State for his response. In a way, I do not have as much of an objection to the test in the context of parents who are not married to each other or where, for example, a birth mother gives up a child for adoption. It is right that the test should be extremely rigorous in order for the adoption authority to be able to dispense with the consent. Clearly that is...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I believe he somewhat misunderstood the point Senators Alex White and Healy Eames and I made in terms of race, ethnicity, nationality and so on. There is very advanced literature on, and practice in, Britain, in particular, about the criteria to be taken into account in the placement of children with appropriate adoptive parents and all the...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I do not want to prolong the debate unnecessarily. I am glad the Minister of State has acknowledged there should be some amendment to the section. I agree that to include "if any" in the first line addresses the point I raised, which is that the section assumes everyone is of a particular religion. However, it does not really address the fundamental issue I have with the provision, which...