Results 2,901-2,920 of 11,668 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am always happy to debate Seanad reform, but this is not a debate on Seanad reform; it is a very specific debate on a motion put before us. It is unfortunate it came before us in the way it did. I do not see the urgency in having this debate today. I voted against having this debate today and I would much prefer to have had a really meaningful debate in the House with the Minister-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: -----present briefed on the issue. This would allow us to have a proper debate on reform of the Seanad. I have debated reform of the Seanad in a range of fora and I will do so again in UCD on 30 June at a conference celebrating 75 years of Bunreacht na hÉireann. My personal position is very clear. I favour reform rather than abolition of the Seanad and I would have preferred to see Seanad...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: That is a joke.

Seanad: School Patronage (20 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to the House and thank him for taking this matter. My question to the Minister for Education and Skills, which was timely given the announcement today of the Minister's action plan in response to the advisory group on the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, was specifically on the provision of additional multidenominational...

Seanad: School Patronage (20 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Can the Minister of State give me any more information in terms of the Portobello group? I am disappointed because there is nothing new in his response. The group is not looking for additional school accommodation. It is looking for a change in the type of school accommodation being provided in our area. That fits squarely within the need for transfer or divestment of patronage, and we...

Seanad: School Patronage (20 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I will do that. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I enjoin other colleagues from yesterday who called for a debate on children's rights in light of the report, which has generated a great deal of controversy and discussion, on the deaths of children in care who were known to the HSE. Some 196 children died in the course of a decade. Senators van Turnhout, O'Keeffe and others stated yesterday that it is imperative that we debate the report...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I was delighted to agree wholeheartedly with Senator Darragh O'Brien when he said he agreed with the Tánaiste on the Croke Park deal. The Tánaiste stated very clearly the Government's position on the deal, which is that it stands. Irrespective of whatever kite-flying may be engaged in by individuals, that is the Government's position, on which the Tánaiste has been very clear. We had a...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator should allow me to finish. There is clearly both good and bad news. It is not such good news for those seeking to buy a house. If we take this statistic as a sign of generally increasing confidence in the economy, we can take it is good news, despite deploring price rises for house buyers. It is worthwhile welcoming the fact that Nuance International has announced the creation...

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. I also welcome the Croatian ambassador. Senator David Norris is always a hard act to follow, particularly when he is predicting the death of capitalism. He is far more than a gadfly.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I foresaw that the Senator would be in mourning.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I like Senator David Norris's red tie which is in keeping with the spirit of socialism. Like everyone else, I welcome the forthcoming accession of Croatia to the European Union. Others have mentioned Croatian connections. My grandmother was Croatian, although she described herself as being from Austria-Hungary. When she was born, there was no such entity as Croatia.

Seanad: European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I have discussed this with the ambassador. As I said, I welcome the accession of Croatia. Even Mr. Haughey did not claim a foot in it. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the Bill. Until Senator David Norris spoke, there was a deafening consensus of support for it. Even he gave it qualified support. He certainly supported the accession of Croatia. There are many aspects to the Bill and...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the imminent publication of the personal insolvency Bill on which it would be a good idea to receive a briefing. If a briefing is provided for Senators, I ask that we are circulated a copy of the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the personal insolvency legislation. The report made a number of recommendations and includes a full transcript of our...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: If the Senator would allow me to finish, I agree with Senator Mullen's comment yesterday that abortion is a difficult and sensitive issue. It is not an appropriate subject for billboard campaigns. When complaints are made about the campaign to the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland, complainants are informed that the issue is outside its remit because the organisation behind the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Similarly, the National Consumer Agency and ComReg have indicated the matter is outside their remit. I ask for a debate on the role of the ASAI, the route for making complaints about advertising of this nature and advertising on social media. We must consider extending the remit of the ASAI to provide an accessible forum to which citizens may make complaints about advertisements of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, is the Senator suggesting this is a matter that is appropriate to be debated on billboards?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Is Senator Rónán Mullen suggesting citizens should not have a right of complaint?