Results 7,021-7,040 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I propose a suspension until 11.45 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I will first respond to Senator Darragh O'Brien who raised the issue of adult mental health services and the publication of the inspector's annual report for 2013. I raised the issue on the Order of Business on Tuesday and Senator Gilroy has also raised it again today. We all asked for a debate and I support the Senator's call for a debate. I cannot accept the amendment to have the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I take issue with some of the words Senator Darragh O'Brien used. He used words such as incompetence in respect of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, which is most unfair. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has been one of the most reactive and proactive Ministers. She has secured ring fencing for funding for mental health services.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Let us not forget that she is implementing a policy that has cross-party support - a previous Government's policy in A Vision for Change, which is a policy to close the big residential facilities and move to smaller facilities. The report, as I said this week, exposes inconsistencies in standards and certainly it is cause for concern and it would be good to have a debate on it. However,...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014 - Second Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes.

Seanad: Child Protection: Motion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank all my colleagues for their support and the Minister of State for taking the motion and responding so positively to it. As I said earlier, it is an historic debate. It is the first time either House of the Oireachtas has debated the issue of forced marriage or child marriage. I thank all those who contributed. Senator van Turnhout really eloquently placed this motion in the...

Seanad: Child Protection: Motion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That Seanad Éireann: - notes the need to ensure adequate protection of children and of children’s rights in our laws, and in particular to ensure that children are not coerced or forced into 'arranged' marriages; - notes that sections 31 and 33 of the Family Law Act 1995 allow exemptions from the normal rule that parties to a legal marriage must be over 18; and that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: The Benefits of e-Conveyancing: Discussion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is of interest to us as an Oireachtas committee. Most of the time people or entities that come to us are looking for changes in the law. What is required in this case is more a facilitative than a prescriptive environment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: The Benefits of e-Conveyancing: Discussion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Mr. Dorgan for his very helpful clarification that what is proposed is not in fact a major change but a change in process rather than substance. I have one follow-up question, if I may. Given that contracts require to be witnessed in writing, which is currently a major part of conveyancing transactions, how will this issue be addressed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: The Benefits of e-Conveyancing: Discussion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I apologise for arriving a little late. The witnesses made a strong case for the benefits to consumers and all stakeholders, including Government, of e-conveyancing. A great deal of work has been done and we have heard about buy-in, albeit less buy-in on the part of some parties. What is the next step to further the project? From some of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Justice and Home Affairs Council: Discussion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: My other question concerned the European public prosecutor's office, EPPO. I know we have considered this and issued a reasoned opinion. I know that there is more information in the fuller briefing about the Minister's point that the collegiate model we seem to be moving towards would be more conducive to Irish participation than the original hierarchical command and control structure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Justice and Home Affairs Council: Discussion (25 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Chairman for suspending the meeting. That was kind. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald. She has been in the Seanad already several times since her appointment as Minister but this is her first time before the committee, and I welcome her here and wish her the very best of luck. I thank the Minister for the comprehensive briefing on the Justice and Home Affairs Council...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am sure that others will wish to join with me in paying tribute to Gerry Conlon whose death occurred last Saturday, 21 June. He was one of the Guildford Four, released from imprisonment in Britain in 1989, and spent the rest of his life campaigning for other victims of miscarriages of justice. Many of us were impressed by his work over the years. I wish to express my sympathy to his...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the review of section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. Let us be clear about what section 8 does. It provides that certain offences under Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 - offences specifically dealing with organised crime under sections 71(a), 72, 73 and 76 - would be regarded as scheduled offences and that, therefore, the DPP...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I think colleagues may deduce for themselves what position Sinn Féin would take.

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I propose amending the Order of Business to reflect the time originally allocated for this debate, given that the session with former judge and Senator, Ms McGuinness, went a little over time. I presume there will be agreement to enable everyone contribute.

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: And the later session will conclude at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome the opportunity to debate the review and continuance of the relevant provisions of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. It is hugely important that the Oireachtas would maintain an overview of these provisions given their draconian nature and the fact that they depart from the normal criminal justice system measures. I...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am not. I believe it is the fervent wish of the Government that the time will come when these provisions will no longer be required. That is right, and all of us should wish for that time and it is important that we would move to normality. All of us very much welcome the peace process and the continued steps towards normality but it is difficult to oppose the request by the Garda to...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30 June, 2014 and ending on 29 June, 2015.”