Results 6,701-6,720 of 11,422 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Senator. I will certainly write to the Taoiseach. I also believe a cross-party motion would carry more weight. Senator Gerard P. Craughwell raised the issue of additional funding to tackle homelessness, a matter about which I have spoken. He also spoke about the need for additional funding for Childline, an issue, again, to which I have responded. The Senator also supported...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is Áras Attracta.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Out of courtesy, I will of course respond to everybody who raised an issue on the Order of Business but in recent days, it has been striking me how frequently people come into the Order of Business, speak and then leave. Both the Leader and I have been responding consistently to everyone who speaks but I am conscious that this is extremely tedious for the few Members who remain to hear the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: ----- and in hoping they will make progress in particular on the three issues Senator Daly mentioned, namely, on flags, on parades and on the past. Senator Daly also raised a number of other issues and I am sure there will be quite a range of issues discussed under those headings and beyond that as part of the talks. However, as all Members are aware, matters are at a critical point in...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding arrangements for the sitting of the House on Monday, 15 December, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Finance Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to be adjourned not later than 2 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 3, Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill...

Seanad: Role of Culture and Arts in Irish Society: Motion (10 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to the House again, having already briefly spoken. The motion on culture and the arts in Irish society put forward by my colleague Senator O'Keeffe is important. I pay tribute to Senator O'Keeffe for her immense hard work and perseverance in getting Yeats2015 off the ground. Those of us who know Senator O'Keeffe will be aware that it is no...

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It was well before the watch of this Government.

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The trustees-----

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I think Senator O'Neill has pointed out that the difficulty lies in what the alternative is, particularly for the scheme as a whole. As the Minister points out, the funding proposals would cause huge difficulties for the deferred pensioners but the risk for all the members of the companies and the wider economy is greater. It strikes me that we are caught between a rock and a hard place....

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming to the House at short notice to discuss this important issue. We are debating the IASS pensions in a week when the Waterford Crystal pension scheme issue has finally been resolved after a great deal of work. I have a strong connection with that and I welcome it. I pay tribute to the Unite union, Deputy Ciara Conway and others who worked so...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien that everyone will want to express their disgust and horror at the revelations on the "Prime Time" programme last night. While they were flagged in advance and we knew what would be in the programme, watching the scenes on the hidden camera was appalling. I refer in particular to the humiliation and degradation of residents by staff. I agree with...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the good news that the Cabinet has today given approval to a pension settlement for former Waterford Crystal workers. It is very positive after a long battle for the former workers in Waterford Crystal. I have a particular family interest in it, but the Unite trade union and Deputy Ciara Conway in Waterford, in particular, have been working very hard with the Minister for Social...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We have not had an opportunity in the House to comment on it since. We had a good debate on homelessness last week, but we might seek a debate in the new year on progress made in achieving the commitments made on Thursday - very welcome commitments by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, and by those stakeholders involved in the forum - to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I also express my sympathy to the family of Sally Rowlette. Anyone following the progress of the inquest will have been horrified to hear of the medical misadventure that led to her unnecessary and tragic death. I absolutely agree that it raises serious issues about staffing, particularly in Sligo General Hospital at the time. I am sure all colleagues wish to express sympathy to the family...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader for yesterday's debate on jobs with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton. That debate was extremely timely, coming as it did on a day when the live register figure for unemployment dropped to 10.7%, which although still too high reflects 36 consecutive months of decrease in the live register. As the Minister pointed out, more than 144,000 people...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin to the Chamber. I welcome his comments on the Seanad, in particular his change of view. I am very heartened to hear that, as we all are in this House. I would like to think that we have brought about his change of view through our work and contributions

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: That is a threat.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is certainly honest. I commend Senators Crown, Barrett and Daly on bringing forward this Bill, in particular Senator Crown who introduced it on 3 July. It exemplifies the best work of the Seanad when we bring forward Private Members' Bills that are accepted by the Government. I welcome the Government's decision to accept it. I too happened to see the queues of people queuing up at the...