Results 6,621-6,640 of 11,407 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I want to mark today's date, the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. It is being marked in different ways across Europe today, but I thought it was worth marking it in this House, particularly at a time when we see anti-EU sentiment coming to the fore in many countries. It is important to remember the impetus that brought what are now the European Union...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: We must be mindful of the historical context for this, but I support the idea of a debate on the matter in advance of any decision being made. I also ask the Leader for a debate on developments in the EU, in light of the Syriza victory in Greece and the quantitative easing package that was announced last week and which I welcomed in this House on Thursday. The victory of Syriza may point to...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State and welcome the fact that we are debating this issue again. We debated it in September and again on 23 October in light of the Private Members' Bill. It is very helpful to have regular updates from the Minister of State on the issue of direct provision because it is matter of great concern to many of us on both sides of the House. We have always worked very...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I am happy to work with other Senators on the motion. I congratulate Patricia King on her appointment as head of ICTU to replace David Begg in March. I welcome the decision, as she will make an excellent leader of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. As other Members did yesterday, I commend the appointment of Kevin Vickers as the new Canadian Ambassador to Ireland. He received his...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I strongly welcome the publication yesterday of the referendum wording for the marriage equality referendum by the Government. It was an historic day to see the straightforward clear and concise wording put forward. It received an almost universal welcome, certainly from across the political spectrum, and also in a joint press release from the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, the Irish...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, and welcome that the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, was here to introduce the Bill. I also welcome all in the Gallery and thank them for all their work on this issue over many years. The Tánaiste has already spoken about the progressive nature of the Bill. I very much welcome it, as, indeed, I...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Other colleagues yesterday raised the issue of the Central Bank's proposed new rules for mortgage applications. As many people said yesterday, these have been widely criticised, particularly the requirement for a 20% deposit. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate in the near future on this. I note that criticism has been made of the proposal by, among others, Mr. Jack O'Connor of SIPTU, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Chairman and the witnesses for their submissions. My background as a criminal lawyer means that I would disagree with the issue on perception and functionality of firearms. In terms of perception, it is very important when firearms are being used for illegal purposes. That is why we ban imitation handguns. Colleagues will be glad to hear I have only two questions. I return...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: My second question is totally unrelated but it is something that struck me when reading through the submissions made by those interested in the topic. It is the issue of gender. I believe I am correct in saying this is a very male-dominated sport. Mr. Keogh was the only one to refer to having women and men as members. What percentage of women are involved in the sport? What efforts are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I did not want to be the one to say it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: (Resumed) Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Yes, I am.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I also join Senator Darragh O'Brien in wishing everyone a happy new year and welcoming everyone back. In particular, I welcome the new schedule, the new timings for Seanad sittings and our new procedures, especially the matters on the Commencement, as they are now to be known rather than matters on the Adjournment. I was delighted to have the opportunity to raise one of those matters...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I also welcome the extensive legislative programme for the spring and summer session until the end of July. I note there are 41 Bills on the A list. I very much welcome publication of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill and the fact that the Gender Recognition Bill will commence in this House tomorrow. Some very important legislation is on the agenda. Could the Leader make...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Courts Service (20 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister of State for his full response. I am delighted to note that the proportion of women in the Judiciary has increased to 33%. I was conscious that there had been increases since we did our last survey in December 2013. While this increase is welcome, it must be noted that over 50% of those entering the Law Society as trainee solicitors are women. Indeed, two thirds of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Courts Service (20 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, to the House, and I welcome the fact that my matter on the Commencement was one of those chosen on the first day of this new procedure. I very much welcome the change we have made, which will streamline Seanad procedures and make them more effective. I am grateful to the Minister of State for coming in to answer the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate (14 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I join with others in welcoming all three witnesses and commend them on this excellent and really comprehensive report. It contains a great deal that members cannot hope to cover today but the joint committee will try to cover some parts of it. I noted throughout the report a theme of good practices locally but inconsistency with regard to overall adherence to appropriate standards,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate (14 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: My second question relates to the addendum regarding the Guerin report. The inspectorate makes the point that this was something it was asked to do pursuant to a request from the Minister. It does not make any additional recommendations, following this additional inquiry, on the basis that its recommendations cover the issues in the Guerin report. From my reading of the Guerin report, it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate (14 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to ask questions about Part V which deals with crime management. Everything is related but one thing that struck me is the fact that the Garda Síochána has no electronic crime management system which is a major obstacle to consistency. The reclassification of offences has been mentioned in the study which found that only 13% of reclassifications were correct and often no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate (14 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I have one follow-up question which relates to something the witnesses had addressed earlier in terms of the implementation of recommendations, which is always the critical issue. Deputy Mac Lochlainn asked about the working group to oversee the implementation of recommendations, and the witnesses answered that. In part 11 of the recommendations, at recommendation No. 21, the inspectorate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate (14 Jan 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Is that an entity within the Garda Síochána?