Results 6,541-6,560 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien and his colleagues are clutching at straws when they seek to trivialise this. When the Government took office just over four years ago, it was unthinkable that we would see this level of fiscal space, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has put it.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: He and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, have today announced a fiscal space of between €1.2 and €1.5 billion for the 2016 budget, which will take place in October 2015. The Ministers have made it clear that these resources will be allocated on an equal basis between additional spending and reducing the tax burden on low and middle-income earners. The enormous...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----in leaving this country in an economic mess from which it is now-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----on the road to recovery. We should all welcome that.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We should all welcome the very positive news in today's spring statement.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Finally, I commend all the youth organisations that came together yesterday to launch a campaign in support of the marriage equality referendum. I see many non-political children's rights and youth organisations coming together to form an umbrella group in support of the referendum. That is very welcome.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (28 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is appropriate today to commemorate the war dead of the appalling battle of Gallipoli, as Senator Mooney said, and to mark the anniversary. I join him in commemorating the many thousands who died so tragically and senselessly in that battle. In light of the calls we have been making during the week for a debate in this House on a drugs strategy, I very much welcome the announcement that...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I was delighted to attend just now the launch of the Yes Equality bus which will be making a nationwide tour over the coming four weeks. It will be calling for a Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum on 22 May. We have debated this issue already in this House, of course, but I ask colleagues to keep an eye out for the bus when it visits their local area and to tweet if they see it....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I am sorry.

Seanad: Harmful and Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015: First Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I am sure all colleagues will wish to join me in offering sincere condolences to the families of all the many people who were so tragically drowned in the past few days in the seas off the north coast of Africa, particularly off the coast of Libya, and the very distressing reports that it seems 950 people were drowned off one boat in which 250 women and 50 children had been locked in the hold...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader for a debate on Seanad reform in light of the publication of the report on Seanad reform in recent days. I know other colleagues looked for that debate yesterday and I am hopeful we could have it soon given that this report is the culmination of a very extensive consultation process. Many of us, including the Labour group of Senators, made submissions to the Seanad reform...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I commend RTE, Dublin City Council and all those involved in organising the excellent RTE Road to the Rising event held last week on Easter Monday. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 people turned out in the city centre of Dublin to take part in this commemoration of the social and historical context to the period leading up to the Rising. It was a most innovative idea to...

Seanad: One-Parent Family Supports: Motion (15 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister and commend Senators Zappone, van Turnhout and the others who have proposed the motion and given us the opportunity to debate this important issue. I commend the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, on the reform measures she has introduced. I second the amendment to the motion, if that is necessary. Senator Moloney, who has a long track...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 2014 (Effective Date for Certain Bodies) Order 2015: Motion (2 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin. I will speak in support of the motions as our spokesperson, Senator Susan O'Keeffe, is unable to be present because of the banking inquiry-----

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 2014 (Effective Date for Certain Bodies) Order 2015: Motion (2 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is and I am delighted to stand in for her. I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome the passage of the motions on the Freedom of Information Act and the revised regime the Minister steered through the Houses which came into force on 14 October last year. It involves radical, comprehensive and sweeping reform of the freedom of information provisions. In particular, the creation...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 2014 (Effective Date for Certain Bodies) Order 2015: Motion (2 Apr 2015)

Ivana Bacik: That is hugely important. All of us who have criticised the refugee and asylum system for many years are very pleased to see these bodies being included for the first time. I accept the practical reason given by the Minister for saying the effective date is 14 October 2014 for the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, but it is also important to note, as the...