Results 3,961-3,980 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I have great admiration for Senator White and she is generally a very fair commentator and has very fairly commended some aspects of the budget. I admire that and that is important. None of us said this was a soft budget. There are measures in it that we all regret deeply, particularly, as Senator White said, the cuts in the household benefits package. Personally, I find the cut in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I agree, however, with Senator White and support her call for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come in to the House to speak on the adoption crisis. As Senator White recalls, we have long had issues with this, not just with Russia but some years ago there were delays in the conclusion of an agreement between Ireland and Vietnam. Many families who were halfway through...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on The One Percent Difference national giving campaign, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude no later than 5.15 p.m., with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called upon to reply no later than 5.10 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien asked a range of specific questions. In response to his first question on pyrite legislation, I agree it is welcome it is being introduced in the Seanad. I am delighted and we should all put pressure on Ministers to do this as much as possible. It is very good to have comprehensive debate here before the legislation goes to the Dáil. I am told it will be before...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Opposition, which speaks of a fiction of figures prepared, to be aware of some of the factual and objective findings. This week I saw the findings of a study by the OECD on the progressive nature of the Irish tax system in which 19% of tax is paid by the top 1% of earners, 41% of tax is paid-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: -----by the top 5% and-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: -----77% is paid by the top 23%. The Irish tax system according to the OECD-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: These are findings of the OECD. Fianna Fáil may not like these facts.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is coming from the OECD. It may be reproduced in some documents but the OECD study has made this finding.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien also asked about the HSE and the figure for cuts in health. As he is aware, the health service savings target for next year is €666 million, which is set out in the 2014 Estimates. The HSE must prepare and adopt its 2014 national service plan for submission to the Minister for Health within 21 days of the publication by the Government of the Estimates for supplied...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Let us examine some objective facts. The population of the State has increased by 8%, the proportion of persons aged 65 and over is increasing by over 20%, there has been a €3.3 billion reduction in the HSE's budget since 2008 and a cut of 10%, or 11,000, in the number of health service staff and a 3%-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I suggest that Senator MacSharry listen to the figures I am providing.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator MacSharry may not want to listen-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator MacSharry may not wish to listen to the facts but Senator Darragh O'Brien asked me some questions and I am trying to provide a fair response. I suggest that Senator MacSharry consider the figures. This year alone there has been a 3% increase-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Without wishing to speak for Senator Colm Burke, I believe he was suggesting that persons who wished to put questions to the Minister for Health might have posed them during the three-hour meeting of the joint committee which took place last week. I am trying to provide answers to the questions posed earlier. Among the facts provided by the Minister for Health to the Lower House is that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Like many others, I have welcomed the extension of free primary care to children under six.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I do not know but I can check the position for the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is interesting-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: -----that those on the other side spent a great deal of time asking questions about health and that they now do not want to listen to the answers I am trying to provide.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I have given a very clear answer-----