Results 6,981-7,000 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulation on Eurodac: Motion (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Is that Bulgaria, Chairman?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Business of Joint Committee (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Unfortunately I cannot attend due to the Labour Party's leadership election taking place but thank the Minister for her wonderful invitation. I would love, as I am sure other members would, to attend future ceremonies even if some of us cannot be present this Friday.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Crown raised the issue of the multiple sclerosis drug fampridine. Senator Colm Burke has pointed out that he raised this on the Adjournment recently and that the HSE is to reconsider a new application on the matter. Senator O'Brien has also raised this issue a number of times in the House, and it has been raised in the media. All of us have concerns about this. The HSE received an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulation on Eurodac: Motion (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for having had to leave the meeting for a vote in the Seanad earlier. To follow up on the Chairman's question, could we have deferred opting-in until we had fully complied with Prüm, in other words until the database legislation was fully operational and the database is established?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulation on Eurodac: Motion (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Deputy Mac Lochlainn already raised issues about balancing the rights of asylum seekers and so forth. I apologise if some other member of the committee raised this but I have a question about the lower age limit of 14 years under Eurodac. There are greater protections for those under 18 years of age in our database Bill. Are additional protections envisaged in Eurodac for minors of 14 to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulation on Eurodac: Motion (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I wonder why that age was chosen. It appears to be an arbitrary age. Statewatch has given us very good data on the vast divergence of standards across member states in asylum laws.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien referred to the Cabinet reshuffle projected to take place next week. Of course, we anticipate it, as well as the outcome of the Labour Party leadership election on Friday. The Senator asked a question about the local property tax and the four Labour Party Deputies who had spoken on the matter. To be fair, they raised an important issue about the need to ensure...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is progressive.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Let us be clear: taxation on property is more progressive than taxation on income or labour. According to the ESRI, t is six times more job-friendly than taxes on labour. The issue is to ensure it is levied in a fair and progressive way.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It will be used to pay for vital public services, including local enterprise and job support measures, fire services, road maintenance works, libraries and recreational amenities. As the Senator is aware, we had a long debate on the legislation when it passed through the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I will certainly ask to have the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in the House again, as it would be good to hear more on the issue. However, it is also worth noting the high level of compliance with the tax, a feature sometimes overlooked in debates on the matter. Revenue which is engaged in ongoing collection of the local property tax has already collected over...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien also raised the issue of centenaries. Interestingly, he called for the former Taoiseach Mr. John Bruton to come to the House. It must be unprecedented for the leader of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad to call for a former leader of Fine Gael to come to the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I think he would be an excellent choice.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: However, Senator Darragh O'Brien should put the request to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: However, I was somewhat surprised by Senator Darragh O'Briens comments on Pádraig Pearse. I recommend all colleagues to visit the Pearse Museum in St. Enda's Park, Rathfarnham. I go there regularly and believe it gives a fascinating insight into the workings, views and ideology of Pádraig Pearse who was a man of many parts and a hero for many of us in terms of his work in...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We are all entitled to hold different views on Pádraig Pearse, but I recommend anyone interested to visit the museum, if he or she has not already done so. Senator Paul Coghlan referred to rhododendrons in oakwoods. It sounded somewhat like a party political broadcast on behalf of Kerry tourism and an ode in praise of the oakwoods, with which we all agree.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Katherine Zappone made a most eloquent contribution welcoming the Taoiseach's commitment to hold the referendum on marriage equality next spring. I agree absolutely with the Senator that it is altogether welcome to hear the Taoiseach's confirmation. The Senator reminded us of the 79% vote at the Constitutional Convention in favour of marriage equality and the Tánaiste's comment...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I will update the Senator on the matter. The HSE has established an expert panel which will examine and recommend the range of medical conditions that should be considered for inclusion as part of the process. It is chaired by Professor Frank Keane and has been asked to report to the director general of the health service by September. I gather swift progress is being made. Senator Feargal...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and adjourned not later than 1.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, Health Identifiers Bill 2013 Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 2.15 p.m. and conclude not later than 3 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair; No....

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday.