Results 7,201-7,220 of 11,422 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Government amendment makes that very clear.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am delighted to second the Government’s amendment to the motion. There is a great deal of confusion about this issue, notably in the text of the Sinn Féin motion, which calls for the undergrounding of electricity pylons, which gives rise to some bizarre images.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: There is a more serious misunderstanding underlying the text of the motion: the conflation of, or confusion between, the memorandum of understanding, to which others have referred, and the development of EirGrid and the national transmission system. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has made clear, as I am sure the Minister of State will, that plans to develop the grid have nothing to do with...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Sinn Féin is not quite against everything, but I will address that in a moment.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Mulcahy’s question, “What exactly is Sinn Féin for?”, was a fair one. The second imperative is to increase the proportion of energy we derive from renewable sources. That is very clear. We have agreed as a binding target under EU law that at least 16% of all energy consumed must come from renewable sources by 2020. Those targets were hard-won. I believe...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is a gap in the logic of many who regularly speak against wind turbines and electricity pylons and deliberately conflate those issues. We have to be clear about the need to develop a modern energy infrastructure and to put forward constructive ideas about how to do so. That is what the Government amendment does. It recognises that important regulations need to be put in place. Senator...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I do not think that-----

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: It is a matter of debate and I would be happy to debate it further in this House. While it is not the subject of this Bill, having the elections on the same day would resolve the issue of cost, if that is an objection to having universal suffrage.

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Thank you, but the principle of universal suffrage is hugely important. The 43 Senators elected to the five vocational panels should cede an expansion of the electorate, commensurate with the expansion we will see on the university panel which I very much welcome.

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House, particularly to debate this important issue. I am delighted we have the opportunity to debate the general scheme of the Bill to extend the university franchise at this early stage. It is a welcome change to our normal processes and I hope we will see plenty more of this because it gives us a real opportunity to make an input and give the Minister our...

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I imagine the Garda is investigating the matter. The point was made this morning that the issue should be publicised. It is important that it is publicised and that anyone with information should bring it forward to the Garda. Senator Noone adverted to the conference of the European People's Party, EPP. She welcomed the thousands of delegates and the 500 journalists. I am fond of my...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien raised the issue of an item of legislation that has been on the A list for some time. Senator O'Brien will appreciate that quite a number of items on the A list were not reached over a period due to the necessity to bring in emergency legislation, troika legislation and so on but I am happy to report to Senator O'Brien that the consumer protection and competition Bill is...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Mooney raised this issue also, and I must report to the Senator that I had some cake in the National Library café on Tuesday of this week and found it to be excellent value and excellent cake. It was probably unfortunate to pick one particular venue.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: We all appreciate the issue raised about needing to ensure good value.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am always satisfied by good cake.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: There is excellent cake to be had in the National Library café.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Zappone raised the issue of the lack of financial assistance to persons facing arrears on their mortgage. This is an issue about which everybody shares concern. As the Senator knows, this Government has undertaken the biggest shake-up of personal insolvency law in a century. Part of the difficulty has been our archaic, until now, and difficult law on bankruptcy, leaving people with...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013 - Report Stage, amendments from Dáil Éireann, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.

Seanad: Child Protection: Motion (5 Mar 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.