Results 7,341-7,360 of 11,422 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: We are debating Second Stage of the Adoption Bill.

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the House, and commend her on introducing this Bill. As the Minister and others have said, it is a narrowly focused Bill with a specific purpose, which is amending a provision of the Adoption Act 2010. However, as Senator van Turnhout and others have said, it raises much bigger issues surrounding adoption. This is a very difficult issue and one...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Dealing specifically with the state of the investigations, I understand an investigation by An Garda Síochána into a complaint made by NAMA against a former employee some time ago is at an advanced stage. I know colleagues will be relieved and glad to hear the investigation by An Garda Síochána into that former employee is at an advanced stage so it would be inappropriate...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: As I said, I appreciate that and have acknowledged the role played by the Senator and the Seanad, but the Garda will investigate fully any allegations of criminal activity. I am sure we will be glad to receive any further documentation the Senator may have. Senator Clune raised the issue of the mid-term economic review and called for a debate on that in the new year. I would agree with...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I should say that the Oireachtas Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will continue to deal with the Legal Services Regulation Bill in the new year. I know it will be before us. I imagine it will probably be February or March 2014. We can certainly have a debate on the idea of a drop in the age of consent. I know the Government has confirmed that the general scheme of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about the further allegations that have been made regarding NAMA. I join others who have commended the Senator on raising this issue. This is an illustration of the importance of the Seanad as an appropriate forum for highlighting issues. Clearly, these are serious matters that fall within the remit of the Garda. Like others, I am glad to hear that Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: In any event, I am not sure it would be appropriate for the Minister to debate the matter with us. Senator Mullins, who was one of the many Senators to speak on this issue, sensibly suggested it would be more appropriate for the board of NAMA to be brought before the Committee of Public Accounts or the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform to be interrogated and to answer...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Such investigations are solely matters for the Garda Síochána. Any person who has information that might be useful should make it available to the Garda. People have been critical of the NAMA legislation. I think that is fair. There are specific offences under the NAMA Act in relation to the inappropriate disclosure of confidential information.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude no later than 1.30 p.m.; No. 2, Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (17 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I support the comments made by Senators Cullinane, Wilson and Cummins. I ask the Minister to report back to his Cabinet colleagues that it is unacceptable to have a frenzy of legislation in the last week of the session. It has put undue pressure on the Bills Office, in particular, and on the staff of the Houses. It is not a good way to legislate. I accept, as I think we all do, that some...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (17 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (17 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that was agreed this morning. I propose that we conclude Committee and Remaining Stages at 5.30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (17 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I ask that the sitting be suspended for 20 minutes.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (17 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Until 4.15 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I read the report in today's edition of The Irish Times concerning the projected liabilities of Dublin City Council, to which Senator O'Brien is referring. Certainly, I would share his concern about that. It does seem somewhat invidious that the council would be left with liabilities without relevant assets. We will have the opportunity to debate that with the Minister, Deputy Hogan, on...

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Tomorrow.

Seanad: Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome this Bill, which has clearly received a general welcome across the House. It is nice, when Members are debating other Bills that are not quite greeted with the same level of consensus, that this Bill has been introduced. Others have already spoken about the general recognition of the need to provide some resolution for the many homeowners...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: We need to be careful about what we are saying,-----