Results 6,701-6,720 of 11,719 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is very difficult to sit and listen to Senator O'Brien's brazen hypocrisy on the issue of Aer Lingus. As I said, his party, when in government, presided over the effective privatisation of Aer Lingus by selling off 74.9% of its share. It is brazen hypocrisy, and nothing less than that. Furthermore, the Senator has now spoken for nearly 20 minutes on the subject of Aer Lingus. I do not...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is now 11.50 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: He still spoke for a lot longer than the time allowed. Given that the Leader has scheduled a debate on Aer Lingus today, as requested by many of us, and that the Minister will be on his feet in the Dáil for most of the day, I do not see how we can have the debate any earlier. I ask the Senator to read the letter sent by the CEO of Aer Lingus, Mr. Stephen Kavanagh, to the Minister of...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I did not interrupt Senator O'Brien.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: He provided helpful reassurance on the issue of registered employment agreements, compulsory redundancies and outsourcing, three of the key issues which most concern many of us in the proposed sale. I welcome the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government today of a €91 million investment in housing. Senator Hayden will also welcome the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator has missed his vocation.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader for arranging the debate at the request of the House. Indeed, I was one of the Senators who looked for the debate. Will all of those who shouted so loudly on the Order of Business now turn up to participate in this debate? My own position, as leader of the Labour Party group, is that I opposed the effective privatisation of Aer Lingus and the sale of the controlling...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Again, the nature of the share is set out in the steering group report. That share will enable the Minister to block any proposed disposal by Aer Lingus of any of its Heathrow slots indefinitely. Therefore, it is a much strong stronger protection than currently exists. I think this addresses the connectivity issue. I note that my colleague, Deputy Ciarán Lynch, pointed out the...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with colleagues that we should be able to see whether money can be put aside from the sale of Aer Lingus for this fund. I am certainly happy to take that up with the Government as I am sure my colleagues will also. In regard to the connectivity fund of €335 million, the Labour Party has secured agreement that the proceeds of this sale will be ring-fenced into a fund operated...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I will finish on that point. I ask colleagues to reflect on the issue of growth as I am doing. I am making a journey on this issue myself.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator's party flogged most of it.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Is that for the July 2006 Dáil motion, to sell 75%?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: It is hard indeed to hear the hollow words of Senator Darragh O’Brien across the floor of the House. Fianna Fáil effectively privatised Aer Lingus in 2006 by selling off-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: -----the Government’s controlling share.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I wonder why Fianna Fáil privatised Aer Lingus in 2006. I wonder why Fianna Fáil got rid of the Government’s controlling share.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O’Brien should be embarrassed.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: He should have been embarrassed when he stood up to suggest that, in some way, it was a wonderful thing that Fianna Fáil preserved a 25% Government share for the sake of connectivity.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I have already expressed my view. I would have preferred if the Government-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I did not interrupt Senator O’Brien, although I was very tempted to.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

Ivana Bacik: I would appreciate the opportunity to speak on this matter. Personally, I would have preferred for the Government to have retained its 25% share. However, I note the agreement made is significantly improved on what was offered before. IAG has agreed to an indefinite Government veto on the disposal of the Heathrow slots which guarantees State control of connectivity. According to Senator...