Results 1,861-1,880 of 11,444 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome this amendment. I commend the Minister and his officials for including this provision in the Bill, as the Minister indicated in his Second Stage speech he would. It is important that victims of FGM would have an opportunity, if they so wish, to speak to the court in regard to the impact the offence has had upon them. It has very important and significant for victims of sexual and...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the passing of this Bill and the support it has received from all sides of the House. That is commendable and shows the importance attached to the Bill. I thank the Minister and the previous Minister for their work and I particularly thank the Minister's officials from the Department of Health who have worked very hard on the Bill since the first version of it was introduced as a...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome the opportunity to debate this important motion which was put forward by the Independent nominee group. I thank the group for providing us with the opportunity to debate these proposals at this early stage in the new term of the 24th Seanad. This opportunity is important because it gives us an opportunity to be radical, as Senator...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am glad to hear he is conducting a review of the provisions of the 2009 Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act. That is a useful announcement. I hope it will be a comprehensive review and that, in particular, it will look at the necessity of this provision in section 8. I begin by acknowledging, as the Minister and other speakers have, the real and...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: All of us join Senator O'Brien in expressing sympathy in regard to that latest appalling shooting. Last night there was a debate in this House on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 with the Minister for Justice and Equality, and Members aired their concerns about the effectiveness of current legislative measures. The Minister helpfully indicated that he would conduct a review of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator is delusional.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Leyden's party wrecked the economy.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Mullins will continue to be amused.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Like Senator O'Brien I ask that the Minister, Deputy Howlin, come into the House although it is almost as important that he be brought in to speak to us on the topic of political and constitutional reform. We are all delighted that the Private Members' business will resume today on the subject of Seanad procedures but there is an urgency about debating in this Chamber the bigger issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Yesterday, Senator Norris raised the case of the Magdalene laundries. Perhaps we can have a debate in this House on the initial report, which is to be made to Cabinet by the interdepartmental committee announced by the Government. Senator Norris and others have raised ongoing issues that have come to light in respect of the Magdalene laundries. I refer to the article by Mary Raftery in The...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: In fairness, we need a debate on this to ensure all children who require special needs assistants receive the service. The context of this must be understood. If we call on the Minister for Education and Skills to attend the Chamber for a debate on special needs assistants, we should also have him discuss the severe cuts to the visiting teacher service for Travellers and the resource...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: That is not really the case.

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her new role - I may have already done so in person, but I now do so formally. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the topic of the EU's role in enterprise, innovation and job creation. It is a timely topic, particularly for somebody with a connection to Trinity College - the Minister of State also has a connection....

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I join colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I thank him both for his commitment to the House and for his thoughtful and considered response to the issues raised in the motion. The Labour Party is delighted that he responded to the content of the motion and to the broader issues it raises of how we deal with the huge social and economic problem of mortgage holders in...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: As many Senators have stated, it is a question of trying to find a variety of different schemes that will address the different needs. Senator Crown put forward an idea, that again would only apply to certain distressed home owners, about the use of pension funds. Senator Hayden pointed out that many of those in difficulty and with negative equity may not have access to the type of...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: In response to Senator Keane, last night's debate initiated by Senator Hayden and Labour Party Senators on the topic of distressed homeowners was an example of the Seanad at its best. Constructive alternatives were explored and the Opposition engaged constructively in a genuinely non-partisan debate on potential solutions to assist distressed homeowners in mortgage difficulties. It was an...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I support calls by Senators Kelly and Harte for a debate on the reconfiguration of local hospitals and for the Minister for Health to appear before the House. It is an important debate Members should be having on the balance that must be struck between the creation of centres of excellence and the need to ensure access to local services in different areas. I am struck by what Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I will not stand for Senator Leyden, whose Government brought this country into the hands of the IMF, accusing the Labour Party of this. It is an outrageous accusation.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I join in congratulating Senator Cullinane on the happy arrival of his son. In respect of the timing for the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, all of us are agreed that it is not ideal for any Bill to pass through the House in one day. I said as much when I was on the other side of the Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jun 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I accept that.