Results 7,341-7,360 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Homelessness Strategy: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O’Sullivan, to the House. I thank her for coming to deal with the motion on homelessness. I commend my colleague, Senator Aideen Hayden, who drafted and proposed the motion. I commend her on her great work with Threshold on the issue of homelessness and housing policy. Some people from Threshold are in the Visitors Gallery. I acknowledge the...

Seanad: Standing Orders: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am pleased to have an opportunity to debate these draft Standing Orders. As colleagues will be aware, we had a full debate when the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill came before the House. Senator Susan O'Keeffe spoke for the Labour Party group on that occasion and we had a full debate on the mechanisms for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Small Claims and Payment Procedures: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for setting this out clearly. All of us recognise the desirability of the changes. Like many of us, I am concerned about the small number who have taken up the EU small claims procedure in Ireland. Only 44 such cases came before Dublin District Court last year and we do not know what types of cases are involved. Presumably, the low usage of the regulation is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order I have to object to that. There is no such thing as a gay ideological movement.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Walsh is making himself ridiculous.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I am sure others will want to join me in commiserating with everyone who has been affected by the appalling weather during the past 24 hours. The pictures from Cork and other places that were affected are extremely dramatic. ESB crews have been out in all weathers trying to restore power and many householders and business owners have been trying to protect their properties from the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: -----being disposed of by the Dáil and referred to the Seanad. The lack of business coming through from the Lower House at present is extremely frustrating for the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2014)

Ivana Bacik: First, I wish our colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, well. I understand today marks an important anniversary in that it is his 21st year in the Seanad. I know all of us will want to join in those good wishes to him. I also support the call made by my colleague, Senator Averil Power, on Thursday for a debate in the wake of the reports of the RTE payout to the Iona Institute and other named...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Walsh said there were comments made that were defamatory but-----

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: -----that is a matter of view, not an established view.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: There has been no ruling on the nature of the comments.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: On behalf of the Labour Party group I wish to be associated with the sympathy extended to the family of the late John Carty, the former Senator and Member of the other House. I compliment Senator Katherine Zappone on last night's debate on Seanad reform which was prompted by the motion tabled by the Senator and her colleagues. It was helpful for all of us to hear from the Minister of State,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Community Courts System: Discussion (29 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for my late attendance. Unfortunately, I had to lead for my grouping in the Seanad on a debate. I appreciate, as do all the members, all the witnesses coming here to speak with us about this. This is an issue about which I feel very strongly, as do the Chairman and Vice Chairman, who have been lyrical and eloquent about the benefits of the community courts structure, having...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: He has a track record at it.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, and commend Senators Katherine Zappone and John Crown for their work on Seanad reform. It was a pleasure to campaign with Senator Katherine Zappone and Democracy Matters for the defeat of the referendum on Seanad abolition in October. That defeat gives us a welcome chance and an imperative to reform. On both sides of the debate, there was...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: I also welcome the appointments by the Minister to the expert group, in particular to very much welcome the fact that it will be chaired by former judge and Senator, Catherine McGuinness, who has proven herself an excellent chair on similar expert group reports on very different issues such as the prison at Thornton Hall. I anticipate that the group will conduct its hearings in a thorough...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2014)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Quinn referred to the school holidays as being too long. Primary school holidays are only two months long - it is just July and August. There are good pedagogical reasons children and teachers should have a break from the intensity of lessons. I speak as a parent of primary school children.