Results 6,341-6,360 of 11,719 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I echo what others have said. This is indeed a historic and welcome day. It is long overdue. At last we have seen this Government move on this issue, after years of inaction by successive Governments in the face of mounting criticisms from international sources and from successive inspectors of prisons. It is a proud day and one we can be thankful for. It marks a new step in our penal...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I was not one of the legal colleagues who spoke to Senator Sean D. Barrett about this amendment. I have always believed in principle, as have my colleagues who are legal academics, that it would be good to make provision for legal academics to become judges in this jurisdiction, as we have seen happen in other jurisdictions. In one jurisdiction with which I am very familiar, South Africa,...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Very healthy.

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Having heard the Minister of State's response, I am delighted the principle is agreed. All Members are in agreement that it is anomalous at present that District Court judges retire at 65 when other judges continue until they are 70 and that in practice, it is a yearly review procedure. I am glad to hear this is being addressed in other legislation. As Senator Barrett noted, there are...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Happy birthday.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator van Turnhout has spoken on this issue previously in the Seanad. There is a great deal of sense in her point about the terminology used. It may not be possible to do it in this Bill and I accept there are issues particularly around the international language used and particularly as the Bill is explicitly required to give effect to a directive on combatting sexual abuse and sexual...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I believe we are all agreed that this is a heinous crime and it is good to see it being defined and laid out in such detail in this important Bill about the sexual exploitation of children and of adults. However, I wish to inject a small note of reality into the debate. The amendment which has already passed without contest simply allows for a fine to be included alongside imprisonment. It...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: No, we are not. We are taking Committee Stage which will adjourn at 5.30 p.m. That is the order of the House.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: No, that was the Courts Bill. It is Committee Stage only of this Bill, which was to commence on conclusion of the Committee and Report Stages of the Courts Bill, which is being taken. We have concluded all Stages of the Courts Bill.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: On Committee Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Yes, the Committee Stage of this Bill.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Yes, it is Committee Stage only of this Bill-----

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----which is to adjourn at 5.30 p.m.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome amendment No. 26, which the Minister had flagged on Second Stage and which was requested by the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. I also welcome those in the Gallery who have been involved in moving forward this law reform, particularly the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Ruhama and the Turn Off the Red Light campaign. We debated the policy behind the provisions of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: This approach decriminalises those engaged in prostitution, recognising the exploitation involved. In this regard, I understand why amendment No. 30 has been included. I have some concern that it may lead to harassment on the street of those engaged in selling sexual services, those women and men engaged in prostitution. While I understand that, as the Minister of State said, it does not...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is, therefore, very important there is joined-up thinking and that the Garda is not, on the one hand, being given a directive that it should be moving on women or men involved in selling sex on the street and, on the other hand, trying to work with them to ensure the criminalisation of clients and pimps. We need to be careful about that. I very much welcome amendment No. 26. It is...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I can come back to that. I just wanted to save time by referring to that now.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator White might be interested to know that the justice committee received unanimous support for the proposal to adopt the policy approach of decriminalising the sale and criminalising the purchase of sexual services.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: No. It is my contribution on Senator White's amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2015)

Ivana Bacik: No. I asked to contribute in the same way any other colleague would.