Results 1,461-1,480 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: The Labour Party is also opposed to the amendment. It is clear that civil partnership is not marriage. The Labour Party has been critical of the Bill because it is of the view that it does not create a status that is close enough to equality or marriage. However, we support the concept of civil partnership as an advance. It is only now that the many people who were involved in loving and...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I thought I was very restrained.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I thought we were not going to personalise it.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I thought we had all agreed not to start name calling.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I thought we had agreed not to name call and insult. The other side was displaying a great deal of wounded sensitivity around that.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am delighted to support these amendments, three of which were tabled by Senator Norris with the support of the Labour Party and one of which we tabled, amendment No. 64 which in essence has the same aim as amendment No. 63. All four amendments have in common the main and critical aim of seeking to write into the Bill the rights of children which are noticeably lacking now. The single...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, this debate should not be used to attack persons who are not present. I understood there was a rule on that matter.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: He is straying far from the amendment.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I must raise an objection.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator is making a serious attack on persons who are not present.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to clarify a number of points on these four amendments, in particular amendments Nos. 63 and 64. I will stick to points on those amendments and not stray into other territory by mounting attacks on anyone at all. In essence these amendments are child-centred. They are about trying to ensure the rights of existing children - some of whom are now adults - who were brought up by gay...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to make three brief points in response to the Minister. First, we are disappointed that he is not going to accept any of these four amendments or indeed any of the others on children. If that is not going to happen, the promise of a composite response with regard to the rights of children is welcome. Can the Minister give some indication of when that is likely to happen? He says...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: They could not be greater than the status of married people but they could be equivalent. Legal recognition could be given to a cohabiting couple, including a same-sex couple, to a level equivalent with marriage. I do not see how our amendments go anywhere beyond that. They are not even equivalent to marriage. I do not see how there could be a constitutional difficulty with those.

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I move amendment No. 3: In page 14, before section 3, to insert the following new section: 3.—For the purposes of this Act, a reference to the presence of any person in the State or co-habitation in the State shall include presence or co-habitation while abroad in the service of the State.". As this amendment was tabled on Report Stage in the Dáil, I will not press it here. It is to...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I support these two amendments which are related in their purpose. We have already put to the Minister the need to ensure the rights of children are protected in this legislation. I know he has said he will not accept the amendments at this stage. I am glad to hear him say, however, that he will adopt a composite response to the needs of children, as part of a more comprehensive review of...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: It may have been. I am not sure who it was. The amendment covers many issues. It would be worthwhile for the Minister to examine it in a broader context because it would give rights to a child beyond a civil partnership. It would amend the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 to ensure the acquisition of guardianship by a step-parent, regardless of whether that person is "a person who is...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I do not want to prolong the debate either but I cannot hear of these attacks on the Law Reform Commission. It is an objective body and its review is welcome. I am disappointed that amendments to this legislation on the rights of children will not be accepted, but I hope we will see comprehensive legislation on the rights of children very soon. As Senator Norris said, one can cite all sorts...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Ivana Bacik: With respect, I did not interrupt the Senator. It is true and that is the evidence that has been put before the High Court here and it is the evidence internationally. We are looking also at independent research commissioned by Marriage Equality which has not yet been published but which the ombudsman referred to as ongoing research on the experience of children born into gay relationships...