Results 3,001-3,020 of 11,668 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister has struck the right balance in changing the thresholds. The streamlining of thresholds is long overdue. The Minister referred to the rather bizarre threshold of €126.97, which is a throwback to the £100 threshold. The common sense changes are long overdue. Senator Aideen Hayden stated we must ensure we do not impose unduly onerous and utterly pointless requirements on...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is good to hear that Fianna Fáil supports this measure, just as it was good to hear Sinn Féin express support for these amendments. Senator Mooney referred to democracy as a fragile flower and the Mahon report showed how close we in Ireland came to seriously destroying that fragile flower. In that context, when considering the findings of the Mahon report, it also is important to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We are finishing on a good note.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister must be blushing with all these tributes. The Bill is to be welcomed for two major achievements. First is its achievement in tackling corruption and ensuring greater transparency. The Standards in Public Office Commission has just released its tenth annual report, which pointed out that the last Eurobarometer poll showed that 86% of people here thought that corruption was...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Like my colleagues, I welcome everyone back after what, I hope, was a pleasant summer break. I look forward to a busy and productive term in the Seanad in the months ahead. We are aware that it will be busy, particularly in the lead-up to the budget. I welcome what the Leader said about organising pre-budget debates. Such debates will be extremely valuable. It is most unhelpful of...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is premature to start suggesting anything about the rate that will apply to the property tax, particularly when the Government has not yet made a decision on it. It is extremely important that we seek to move the burden of taxation away from income and onto property or to at least move some of it onto it. That is a principle which everyone in this House should be capable of supporting.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: On a more constructive note, I welcome the announcement of the referendum on children's rights. I particularly welcome the fact that the referendum will be held on 10 November, a Saturday. This is the first occasion in a long period on which a referendum will be held on a Saturday. This should enable greater participation by young people and students in particular. I also welcome the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: My colleague, Senator John Whelan, will lead off the debate on the motion, in respect of which I hope a consensus can be achieved.

Seanad: Charities Act 2009: Motion (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to share time with Senator Moloney.

Seanad: Charities Act 2009: Motion (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to the House. I know she is particularly conscious of the value to society of the charities and non-governmental organisation sectors. I commend my colleagues, Senators Whelan and Higgins, on whose initiative we have put forward this motion. I also welcome the stakeholders in the Visitors Gallery, Mr. Hans Zomer of Dóchas, the...

Seanad: Charities Act 2009: Motion (19 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: At 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 20 September 2012.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I thank those Senators who took part in last night's constructive Private Members' debate on the Labour Party's motion on the regulation of charities. I commend Senators John Whelan and Lorraine Higgins who led the Labour Party group in the debate. It is positive that a consensus was reached on the need for the Charities Act 2009 to be commenced fully. The Minister of State, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is radical reform.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister and the two Ministers of State at the Department of Health have to work together.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I did not interrupt the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Fine Gael and the Labour Party agreed to a very radical proposal in the programme for Government. That is what the Department of Health is overseeing. We need to support those involved in the development of a system of universal health care which will be a hugely progressive and positive development.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I can hear the naysayers who presided over a shambles for 14 years.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: When the Senator's party was in government, it presided over a shambles. We should not forget the public private partnerships.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I do.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I would like to ask the Leader about the pre-budget debates.