Results 6,821-6,840 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (8 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I am standing in for my colleague, Senator Sherlock, who cannot be here. I promise that I will not mention the VAT rebate scheme, although the Labour Party was disappointed that the Government amended the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for appearing in person to address this Commencement matter. It calls for an update on the status of a school's application for the construction of a permanent building and a timeline for the commencement of construction. The school, details of which I have supplied, is the new Harold's Cross Educate Together Secondary School, ETSS, which...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (9 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for the update. It is good to hear some clarity on the date on which the planning application is expected to be lodged. I will certainly keep in touch with the Minister on this issue on behalf of the school, if requested to do so. I am very conscious that there will be significant demand for places in the school in the coming years. The authorities are particularly...

Seanad: Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her personal news. I am glad that I had the opportunity to congratulate her personally. I note that my former Labour Party colleague, Niamh Bhreathnach, writing in today's edition of The Irish Times, has pointed out the need for a debate on supports for women in public office. I was first elected when I was pregnant with my second...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, where she is always welcome. As Senator Conway said, she is now a very regular visitor. On behalf of the Labour Party group of Senators, I welcome the Bill. We will certainly support it. It is long overdue. As the Minister of State has said, the Central Mental Hospital is no longer fit for purpose and we support this move. We appreciate the...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister of State for her response on Second Stage, particularly to my question about the relocation of the Central Mental Hospital, albeit that the first half of 2021 is still unclear. From what she said - and I appreciate she is just being realistic - it seems it could be as late of June of next year. Given the urgency with which this Bill is being taken through, to which we...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator famously said that.

Seanad: Commencement of Irish Sign Language Act 2017: Statements (15 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is always a pleasure to have her with us in the Seanad. My colleagues, Senators Hoey and Wall, have spoken very eloquently for the Labour Party to say how much we welcome the commencement of this important Act and how pleased we are to see the Minister of State announce 23 December as the date for it. It is very positive news to receive this...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: As we hear concerning news about rising Covid-19 transmission rates in the North and here and as we digest the news that Mr. Emmanuel Macron has tested positive, I thought it would be nice to share the positive news that the Taoiseach has confirmed to my colleague, Deputy Alan Kelly, in the Dáil that vaccinations will start over the period 27 to 29 December. Colleagues will have heard...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I join others on behalf of the Labour Party group in wishing all colleagues across the House well for the Christmas break and the new year. In particular, I wish you well, a Chathaoirligh, and Martin, Bridget, Grace and all in the Cathaoirleach’s office, the Leader and all in her office, Orla Murray and others, who make the Seanad run so smoothly. I thank them all for their hard work...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Buttimer is a divil.

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I thank my Independent Group colleagues, particularly Senator Craughwell, for swapping their time with the Labour Party Senators. In light of the unusual origins of the Bill, it is appropriate that the Labour Party would have the opportunity to lead for the Opposition on the Bill and I am delighted to do so. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I ask him to pass on our words of...

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: It is now.

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: It was probably carrier pigeons.

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I do not propose to speak at length on any amendments but just want to make a point on this group. To follow on from what the Minister of State said at the end of Second Stage, he was right to emphasise that the Bill is not flawed and does not require amendment. That is the view of the Labour Party which initiated this Bill and in the view of my colleague, Deputy Brendan Howlin, who steered...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2021)

Ivana Bacik: I join with others in wishing a happy new year to all our colleagues. I also second the amendment on the period products (free provision) Bill proposed by my colleague, Senator Rebecca Moynihan. I commend Senator Moynihan on leading the way in advocating for period justice. I will be bringing forward my own Bill, the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2021, which we launched earlier...

Seanad: Period Products (Free Provision) Bill 2021: First Stage (19 Jan 2021)

Ivana Bacik: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (19 Jan 2021)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome this debate and the publication last week of the report into mother and baby homes. Its publication and the subsequent apology by the Taoiseach have marked a painful but cathartic week for the survivors of the homes, their families and, indeed, all of us. It has exposed again the dark history of confinement and incarceration of women and children that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (26 Jan 2021)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for coming in himself to take this important matter. I have raised this matter to seek clarity as to the status of early years services.As the Minister knows, early years services and childcare providers are concerned about the lack of clarity and certainty around their position. In recent days and weeks, I have been engaging extensively...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (26 Jan 2021)

Ivana Bacik: While the Minister did not address the broader issue, I thank him for the comprehensive response on the specific issues I raised with regard to childcare. I am advised that some services are still having difficulty in meeting operational costs and there was concern that they would be unable to recoup funding where they were unable to open due to staffing issues. I am glad the Minister has...