Results 401-420 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, although I fundamentally oppose the changes it introduces. It represents a full-frontal attack on the principle of equality and on the principle of universal access to social services, in particular, health services. It is an immensely regressive measure. Listening to some of the speeches from those on the Government side, I think they share...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with the Senators who are seeking a debate on the economy. As I recall it, the Leader promised that the House would debate the economy on a regular basis.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: If I am not mistaken, he promised that we would have such a debate every month.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader to support the calls made by Senators on both sides of the House for a debate on the economy. I ask him to confirm that in the new year, he will hold a debate on the economy once a month. We need to discuss economic matters that regularly, at least. I join Senators Fitzgerald, Prendergast and others in calling for a debate on the HSE plan. All Members must be deeply...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: ——and speak up for the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society. We need a debate on this global issue. It seems to be more than a coincidence that the bodies being closed have been critical of various aspects of Government and State action. This House should ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to justify the decision to dismantle these organisations. Why is he...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I echo calls from Senators on both sides of the House for a cross-party motion on Pamela Izevbekhai. I attended the meeting in the audio visual room yesterday when she spoke so powerfully and eloquently about her dreadful experiences in Nigeria and her fears for the safety of her daughters, Naomi and Jemima, who are here in Ireland with her. There is enormous compassion and sympathy for her...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the House for permission to share half of my time with Senator Doherty. I welcome the opportunity to put my thoughts on the record about this Bill. I echo the words of others on this side of the House to the effect that it is a real shame there is not more time to debate such detailed legislation, which we have only seen in a rushed manner. We are debating in the absence of a great...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I also support the amendment. It is an excellent idea that this sort of measure would be adopted. We have all agreed, on both sides of the House given the speeches I have heard in the debate, that accountability is key and that those at the top of Anglo Irish Bank responsible for effectively poisoning the entire banking sector in the State should be held accountable. Issues of criminal law...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I did suggest there may have been a run on the bank. It is one of the matters about which there has been speculation——

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——and Members have received no clear information one way or the other. Consequently, I would like an answer.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to follow on from the Minister of State's comment that there was no run on the bank. However, in answer to the question as to why the bank should be nationalised, he stated: "Market confidence in the bank was further eroded and this was reflected in a limited weakening of Anglo Irish Bank's funding base in recent weeks and the increased risk of knock-on effects on its credit ratings."...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister of State should clarify exactly what the words, "a limited weakening of Anglo Irish Bank's funding base" mean. Although it is not clear, this is the clearest explanation that has been given as to the reason Members are being asked to nationalise a bank that they were told 25 days ago would not require nationalisation.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader for a debate on what can be done in the aftermath of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. In the general doom and gloom of the news over Christmas and the early part of this month, the worst news of all was undoubtedly of the carnage inflicted upon the people of Gaza by Israel.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I know others have raised the matter in this House. I ask that we take some time in this House in the next week or so to debate what can be done to ensure Israel is held accountable for the undoubted war crimes that it committed in inflicting such appalling onslaughts and attacks on the people of Gaza. We saw 1,300 Palestinians killed, with a third of them children, there were an enormous...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——it would be far more important if we did our patriotic duty as citizens of the world by not buying Israeli goods and services. Israel deserves to be treated as a pariah state.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I was among those who called for an end to diplomatic relations with Israel at the height of the appalling carnage that occurred. That was an appropriate call to make at the time. The Seanad could take a strong role — I am aware that there is cross-party support for this — in the context of trying to hold Israel accountable in respect of what was done. I also wish to request a debate on...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing time with me. I support some of the reforming elements of this legislation. It is welcome to hear the Minister say he intends to impose spending limits on local election candidates. That is an important change and will ensure greater democracy and equity in the running of local elections. I am concerned to hear, however, that this matter was not...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Of course it has.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls by Senator O'Toole and others for a debate today on the Government's economic package. I take issue with those on the other side of the House who suggest we are not being constructive. We need to take issue constructively with the elements of the package that has been proposed by the Government. We have heard the mantra from Senator Boyle, the Minister, Deputy Harney, and...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: We had this debate last year when the Government proposed a 1% levy, which they were to impose equally on all up to a certain level, and it had to revise that. It saw it was profoundly inequitable to charge the same percentage levy on the lowest paid. It must do the same U-turn on the pension levy. It would be most unfair to charge people on €15,000 and €20,000 a 3% levy to pay for...