Results 6,721-6,740 of 11,422 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Standing Orders: Motion (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader for allowing time for debate on this motion. However, as the Leader said there was a full discussion on these proposed changes to Standing Orders at the CPP last night. I was happy to second the motion put forward at that meeting in the context that the committee of inquiry had been seeking these changes to ensure the efficient and effective conduct of its important work...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader for arranging a debate on the motions concerning Standing Orders 82B and 82C around the conduct of the committee of inquiry into the banking crisis. We had a long meeting of the Committee on Procedures and Privileges about that last night. I offer congratulations to Senator Susan O'Keeffe who is the chair of Yeats2015, which was officially launched in the Arts Club last...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: -----in convening a special forum on homelessness for tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am not sure if colleagues in the Opposition are fully aware that the Minister has invited in the chief executive officers of the four Dublin local authorities, the Lord Mayor of Dublin City, the cathaoirligh of South Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal county councils and the non-governmental organisations working in the sector, and he is also meeting the Catholic Archbishop of...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: That is not a negotiation.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister's door is open.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister made concessions.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: -----that seeks to redress the sustained neglect over many years of building in the social housing sector, which has led us to the crisis we now are in. I thank the Leader for organising the debate. I also commend the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, on her movement on the issue of junior cycle reform and her indication that she would be willing to engage further...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader and Senator Craughwell for initiating the debate on homelessness, which we will have for two hours tomorrow evening with the Minister, Deputy Kelly. It is extremely important given the tragic death in the past 24 hours of a homeless man on the streets of Dublin. It happened very close to Leinster House. We should all extend sympathy to the man's family. It is shameful...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the appointment of Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan as Garda Commissioner, following her recommendation by the Public Appointments Service as the only suitable candidate. It is important to note that there was an open and transparent recruitment and appointment process. As well as welcoming her appointment it is also important that we would all support her in the ongoing important...

Seanad: Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the Proposal for a Banking Inquiry: Motion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am pleased to speak in support of the motion on behalf of Labour Party Senators. The Leader, Senator Cummins, outlined the decision making process of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the meetings we had from 9 October 2014 onwards to evaluate the relevant proposal and the decisions we made. Senator Darragh O'Brien pointed to the constraints that applied in trying to devise and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for interjecting. This issue, known as the trickle-up fallacy, was examined in a report compiled by the joint committee some years ago. It refers to things happening naturally and without intervention.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien in welcoming today's debate on the motions concerning the banking inquiry. As he said, we have had a series of lengthy meetings at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to debate the shape and format of the motions. I very much welcome the fact that we are now at this stage and are having this debate which, as the Leader said, is open-ended. It will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I read the Judicial Appointments Review Committee's report and was struck by what Dr. Cahillane has referred to as self-perpetuation by the Judiciary. That seems to be the danger of many of the recommendations the review committee has made. Dr. Kenny also picked up on the report's suggestion of increasing the requirement for professional practice. It seems this is just picking more of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have a final question for all of our experts regarding the difference between the superior courts and the District and Circuit Courts. Should we have different appointment processes for different levels of court? Is political patronage more of an issue at lower or higher court?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Judicial Appointments: Discussion (26 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the three speakers. It was after hearing the three of them give presentations at the Law and Government conference in DCU that I felt we should invite them to come before the committee to explore this issue. It is in the context of the review of judicial appointments, which I hope this committee will feed into, because the witnesses have offered worthwhile insights. On the issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We will take statements on water services later, as requested by many colleagues. In the debate, undoubtedly, we will tease out the issues around the package of reform measures announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, last week which still have a very strong conservation element. As meters are installed, the issue of conservation will...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is difficult to follow that. It is a relief on this side of the House to hear someone from the other side commend some aspect of our water supply. I agree with Senator White on the water fluoridation issue. There have been many debates on it in the House with some heated exchanges. I thank her for putting so many of the factual aspects of fluoridation on the record. I welcome...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome the visitors seated in the Visitors Gallery. I acknowledge and commend the work of Dr. Fergus Ryan who is in the Visitors Gallery because he had a large part to play in the drafting of the Bill. I commend Senators Power, van Turnhout and Healy Eames for their work in preparing the Bill and presenting it to us this evening. They have given us...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I also welcome the fact that we will see an announcement this afternoon by the Government on revisions to the charging proposals for Irish Water. We do not know the full package but we have seen a good deal of information about them in recent days in the newspapers. The revisions are a sign of responsiveness by the Government to the concerns expressed by people through peaceful...