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Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo Senator O'Toole's words because I, too, watched the news at 9 p.m. and the one in ten figure stood out starkly for me, as it is doing for people all around the country tonight. Clearly, there is a lack of confidence in what the Government is doing to tackle the enormous economic downturn and problem we are facing. There is a will among people to share the burden. All of us want to...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the criticisms made by Senators Cummins and O'Toole of the public service levy. The real problem at present is the uncertainty surrounding it, the fact that Ministers stated it will be tweaked and yet we have not seen any sign of that tweaking. Previously, there was tweaking done on the medical cards scheme for the over 70s and a U-turn on that. There was a U-turn, or tweaking,...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo calls from other Senators for a debate on banking. I stated that the country is crying out for a national recovery plan, but it is also crying out for accountability from the top bankers. There have been calls across both sides of this House for better regulation, but we have a regulation system and recent legislation to deal with all this. For example, we created the Office of...

Seanad: Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Statements (5 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing time with me. I echo his words about the need for equity, about the problem with the burden of blame being heaped on the public sector and the unfair scapegoating of public service workers. In the public service, we all accept the need to pay our share. I support the principle of the pension levy, but I disagree with the inequitable way in which it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls by Senator O'Toole and others for a debate today on the Government's economic package. I take issue with those on the other side of the House who suggest we are not being constructive. We need to take issue constructively with the elements of the package that has been proposed by the Government. We have heard the mantra from Senator Boyle, the Minister, Deputy Harney, and...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the House for permission to share half of my time with Senator Doherty. I welcome the opportunity to put my thoughts on the record about this Bill. I echo the words of others on this side of the House to the effect that it is a real shame there is not more time to debate such detailed legislation, which we have only seen in a rushed manner. We are debating in the absence of a great...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I echo calls from Senators on both sides of the House for a cross-party motion on Pamela Izevbekhai. I attended the meeting in the audio visual room yesterday when she spoke so powerfully and eloquently about her dreadful experiences in Nigeria and her fears for the safety of her daughters, Naomi and Jemima, who are here in Ireland with her. There is enormous compassion and sympathy for her...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: In the spirit of consensus, I echo the words of other Senators in welcoming the Minister of State's helpful amendments. I also echo Senator Buttimer's words, as it is important to note that there may be political appointments of councillors. I hope it does not become an exercise in cronyism or jobs for the Fianna Fáil boys, not just members of Fianna Fáil. I hope for a balanced set of...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I second the amendment. I echo the words of Senator Norris. This is an issue of great importance for voluntary directors of charities. I have also received communications from the Respond Housing Association, which has been very supportive of this amendment. It is supportive of the Bill as whole, as we all are, and believes that it is important to regulate the charities sector. However,...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: To echo what other Senators said, I would welcome clarification from the Minister of State as to what precisely he plans to do with regard to the homeless implementation plan. While this may be my misunderstanding, I understood him earlier to say he would put the implementation plan for the homelessness strategy on a statutory footing at a later stage this year. I understood that as meaning...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senator Doherty's amendment and I echo the words of Senator Norris on this matter. It is crucial a more comprehensive definition of homelessness is provided. I said this on Second Stage and I repeated it earlier. I am grateful to the make room campaign led by the four national voluntary organisations working in the area of homelessness and housing, namely, Threshold, Focus...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls made for a debate on the economy and the position of the banks. We should have this debate rather than the debate proposed for Private Members' time on Wednesday on tourism. Important though that subject is, the economy should be a more pressing issue of concern for us at present. I note Senator O'Toole's point that there may be a cycle of fear whereby people are afraid to...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time. I welcome the opportunity to debate this motion on the impact of these severe cutbacks on children with disabilities. I echo the views of Senator Norris that these cuts will hurt the old, the sick and the handicapped, but the focus tonight is on their impact on children. I have come from a demonstration outside this House, which other Members...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: ...White's call for a debate on child care but I would also like to ask the Leader for a debate on third level education in the context of the report of the great achievements of our universities. I echo Senator Hannigan's comments congratulating our universities on their achievement, in particular Trinity College Dublin on becoming the first Irish university to enter the top 50 third level...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is a relief that something has been done. However, I echo the concerns of others on this side of the House with regard to the lack of any apparent quid pro quo for the taxpayer in this bailout. We need to know the guarantees the State, the public and the taxpayer have regarding the enormous potential risk we are taking on. It seems that for too long we have privatised profit and now we...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to echo what Senators Alex White and Eugene Regan have said. It is unfortunate we had to gallop through the legislation at such speed. It will be important for us to have more time to debate the issues relating to alcohol abuse, late night culture and so on in the autumn. I look forward to making a more substantial contribution then and to being listened to and having my...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Ivana Bacik: The last contribution sounded like a request to the Leader for a debate on interruptions, which would perhaps be unusual. I echo the words of other Senators in calling for clarity on the cutbacks proposed by the Government. It is adding insult to injury to suggest serious cutbacks will be made while the House will be in recess for the summer and not tell Members the exact nature of those...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the remarks of Senator Norris. Regarding the amendment groupings just distributed, I have proposed amendment No. 9. I have been told it is proposed to be grouped with amendment No. 8 and amendment No. 8a, which I have not yet received.

Seanad: HSE Child Welfare and Protection Services: Statements (21 May 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I also echo the words of the others in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and congratulating him on his new appointment. I very much welcome the words in his speech to the effect that he would make it a priority to provide services to some of the most vulnerable young members of our society. We all agree that the protection of vulnerable children should be a key priority of the...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the concerns expressed by Senator Fitzgerald about the lack of time we have had to review and scrutinise the provisions of the Bill. There has been undue haste with the way in which it has been brought before us, in particular, because there is such a raft of amendments that the Bill purports to make, not just in the sections but also in the Schedules, and particularly in Schedule 1....