Results 6,781-6,800 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Public Order Offences from Alcohol Misuse Perspective: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Ms Jones for clarifying that point, it has been helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Public Order Offences from Alcohol Misuse Perspective: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have one more question. I should declare an interest, having acted in case law on the selling of alcohol to under-age persons. I am conscious that in her presentations Ms Jones displayed a letter about the conflict between responsible retail and consumer's rights. In her view, what is the best way to resolve that issue? I have worked in this area and I know the difficulties that arise,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Public Order Offences from Alcohol Misuse Perspective: Discussion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for the fact that I will be obliged to leave in a moment in order to go to the Seanad. I thank our guests for their presentations. Is there a conflict between the two groups in respect of section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008? I am seeking to obtain clarity on the respective positions of the two organisations represented by our guests in the context of brining the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I hope colleagues across the House will join me in condemning the violence and acts of criminality which arose during certain protests over the weekend and since. These were appalling acts, particularly when perpetrated by a particular elected representative, in terms of the detention of the Tánaiste in her car and the barracking and harassment of the Taoiseach and ordinary members of...

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 18 November 2014.

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: There is no corruption in the Labour Party.

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister and the opportunity to debate commemoration planning, particularly in the week in which we marked Remembrance Day and the day after the launch of the commemoration programme in the GPO last night. I was sorry I was unable to attend it, but I was representing the justice committee at a conference. However, my party's Seanad spokesperson, Senator O'Keeffe, attended, as...

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We were commemorating the 1916 Rising in a way that seemed almost to celebrate the military and weapons. It made me uncomfortable. For many of us who wish to attend the parade with families and children, it would be appropriate if there were some aspect of the parade that recognised, for example, the role of women. Senator Mac Conghail spoke about the role of women, the role of marginalised...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I have given a very full response on it. Senator Jim Walsh called on the Minister for Finance to come to the House in order that we might have a very broad debate with him. The Senator has raised a different issue about NAMA and the moneys to be recouped by the taxpayer from its activities. The finance committee may well have addressed this issue already. If not, we can seek to have the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Paschal Mooney referred to the talks on junior cycle reform between the teacher unions and the Minister for Education and Skills. It is a matter of regret to us all that those talks have not achieved a resolution of the differences of opinion on this issue. I agree with Senator Gerard Craughwell that this is not the end of the matter; there is an ongoing process on engagement. To...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: In countries like Scotland, Finland, Australia and New Zealand, where we see high-performing school systems, state examinations at the end of junior cycle have been either abolished or replaced with the type of sensible combination of examinations and course work the Minister is proposing. What is envisaged now is different from what was originally proposed. Introduction of the previous...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am setting out the actual nature of the reforms that are being proposed. Under the system proposed by the Minister, 60% of marks in the junior cycle will be allocated on the basis of an examination at the end of third year. In other words, the majority of marks will still be given on the basis of an examination that will continue to be set and marked by the State Examinations Commission,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2014)

Ivana Bacik: To be fair, this issue was raised by several colleagues and is a matter of genuine concern.