Results 4,881-4,900 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----the Leader programme so it could be the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan. Senator Mooney also called for a debate on special needs assistants, SNAs, with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and I am happy to seek such a debate. As many colleagues have said, it was very welcome to hear the Minister for Education and Skills announce this week the allocation...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: The Leader will be aware of it. It has been raised. The Senator also raised the issue of the rural practice allowance and payments to general practitioners. Again, since it is a specific matter, it might best be raised through a matter on the Commencement debate and a question to the Minister. Senator Noone raised the welcome new policy proposals on provision for self-employed persons and...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House. Senator Norris has spoken most eloquently and I share his views. I absolutely oppose these amendments. The effect of the five amendments taken together, which contain serious contradictions, would seriously undermine the careful framework set out in sections 5 and 25 concerning donor-assisted human reproduction and, in particular, the issue of...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I believe the provisions in the Bill as drafted strike an appropriate balance. I accept, as others have said, it is a sensitive area. It is very difficult and complex to ensure we strike an appropriate balance between the right of donor-conceived children to know their identity and other interests, including ensuring that it will be possible for couples or individuals who are suffering from...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Let us be respectful in this debate.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, we seem to be discussing Second Stage issues repeatedly rather than looking at the amendments.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: As the Minister stated, it is difficult to contemplate a scenario in which a refusal would be made by the Minister. If one reads the section in its entirety, the context is clear. The Minister shall release the information under subsection (4) and it is only where representations have been made to the Minister by the relevant donor setting out why the safety of the relevant donor, the...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senators Barrett, Power and others in saying that this referendum Bill is about one issue, that of marriage equality. For the last hour, on this one amendment, we have been debating quite a number of extraneous issues and getting sidetracked, as Senator Barrett has said. I urge colleagues to focus on the core issue of marriage equality. I wholeheartedly support the Bill...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I have sat here for over an hour and we are supposed to be debating amendment No. 7. The issue of a completely separate legal case is being raised time and again. There is already equal status legislation. We are debating a Bill to amend the Constitution, and a specific amendment to that Bill.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We cannot comment on a case that is going on.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

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

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is a legitimate question in a totally different context. It is not a legitimate question in this debate on a referendum Bill.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I think the Senator is also speaking to amendments Nos. 64 and 65 as well as amendment No. 63.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to speak strongly in favour of the inclusion of this very important section. I am glad we had the opportunity to speak on it on Committee Stage. I know many of us addressed it on Second Stage as well. It is very significant that we are making this provision for the insertion of a new Part in the 1964 Act dealing so specifically with the best interests of the child and setting out...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, will the Senator, please, stick to the content of the amendments rather than diverting in this way?

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I am still struggling to see how this tangent is relevant to the amendments.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Will the Leader arrange a debate on the issue of domestic violence following the launch of the report this morning by SAFE Ireland on lawlessness in the home? I was honoured to be invited to launch the report for SAFE Ireland at the Royal Irish Academy. Powerful testimony was given by a survivor of domestic violence and others who had worked on the report.There were some important findings...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (30 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: As Senator van Turnhout says, we all agree in principle with the need to ensure registration of statutory declarations but I want to commend the Minister on her very clearly stated intention on Second and Committee Stages to seek to develop the pilot project to establish the voluntary repository and then decide whether to proceed to establish a national repository. This is a big undertaking....

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: First, I welcome the passage through this House late last night of the Children and Family Relationships Bill after a long debate. It is welcome to see this major and most progressive law reform go through. As all Members are aware, it will change the law in a number of important respects but in a child-centred manner, while recognising the reality of the diversity of family life in Ireland...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It might as well be.