Results 801-820 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which lived up, or rather down, to my expectation of it. I am glad to hear that similar provisions may be made in other legislation. However, there is a tendency on the part of the Government to put off making provisions, particularly those guaranteeing minimum standards, and suggest that they be put into other legislation. I am thinking of...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (6 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I do not normally rise to defend a Minister of State but I see the merit of the subsection and it is not unduly restrictive. It is a question of the licensing of bus services for the consumer, so the interests of the consumer must be foremost in the legislation. The subsection will not restrict an operator who wishes to enter the market, as it asks him or her to put forward a good business...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Yesterday I wanted to say a word of thanks to my colleague, Senator Norris, for his kind words about me on the Order of Business. I am very grateful to him and I look forward to working with him and Senator Ross in representing our constituents in Dublin University. I also wanted to congratulate Senator Norris on his recent acclamation as Gay Icon of the Year by the National Lesbian and Gay...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: -----if I may be permitted to do that, as I am speaking about a Member of this House. I echo the words of Senator Alex White in that it does seem absurd in the extreme if we cannot comment on any individual outside the House. Clearly, we do it all the time as a matter of routine and this must continue. I also welcome the outcome of the Lisbon treaty referendum which I hope will usher in new...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: It is clear we need a debate on expenses. This Order of Business has effectively turned into a debate on expenses and allowances and I echo the calls of others on both sides of the House to the Leader for that debate. I share the concern expressed by others at the way in which all Members have been tarred with the same brush as a result of the revelations in The Sunday Tribune in particular...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: -----information on abuse. We need to be clear about this. Of course, the majority are not abusing the system of expenses but, where there are unjustifiable claims, overspending and lavish travel, there is real and justified public anger. I disagree with Senator Leyden who said this was just a distraction. We must consider the matter in the context of the real world, in which people are...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Clearly, it is highly important to have provision for the consideration of integration of transport in land use planning in any regional planning guidelines. As Senator Cannon has noted, all Members support that concept. However, there also is room within the development of such guidelines for provision for greater consultation with members of the public and in particular for provision for...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senator Ryan's amendment. Senator Ryan made reference to the bad old times and none of us wants to see a return to that time, nor would this amendment lead to a return to that. I refer to times when there was clearly an under supply of taxis, particularly in Dublin but also around the country. No one can defend that but this does not aim to return to this. Now we have the...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: -----but there is a clear benefit to consumers in that case, not only in terms of offering choice, but offering choice in price.

Seanad: School Capitation Grants (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Norris who, as always, puts his case with great eloquence. I echo his words and share his disquiet about speaking on behalf of this sector in the first place because I have a fundamental disagreement with the basis of our education system and the sectarian basis on which it is divided. I have criticised very strongly and will continue to do so the fact that children may be...

Seanad: School Capitation Grants (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I am proud to say it was also Senator Norris's mother's school. As Senator Norris said, in many Protestant schools there is a wider diversity of class backgrounds than in their Catholic fee paying counterparts. For that reason too, there is a case to be made for treating them differently from Catholic schools.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader, as I have done on many times, for a debate on prisons in light of the disturbing news that the Irish prison population has exceeded 4,000 for the first time ever. According to the Irish Penal Reform Trust, this exceeds safe custody limits. Indeed, one need not be told that by the trust. I urge any Senator who has not already do so to go into Mountjoy Prison, as I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I join others in welcoming the news of the release of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki. Good news is very welcome at such a bleak time and congratulations are due to all involved, and I pay particular tribute to the strength of character displayed by Sharon Commins since her release after 107 days in captivity. In response to some of what has been said in the debate on the status of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: The schedule of business for the House this week confirms that. We did not sit yesterday for a reason unexplained by the Leader and which many of us opposed on Thursday. Today's business does not include the relevant and topical subjects we should debate. To have statements on postal codes and a marine mapping programme calls into question the relevance of the Seanad and I would also like...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Again, on a point of order-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

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

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of information, in that case.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I am repeating the exact words----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Regan made a direct criticism of something I said.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I want to respond and to be given the opportunity to do so.