Results 7,401-7,420 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

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,-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: -----particularly if there may be criminal proceedings arising from some of these issues. On another issue raised by Senator Darragh O'Brien that I was also going to raise, namely, Seanad reform and a certain report in today's newspapers that the Taoiseach was to meet with Seanad political leaders, as leader of the Labour Party group in the Seanad I have not been approached or asked about a...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien has raised serious matters of grave concern. The general point he makes is that if anyone has information about corruption or criminal matters that have arisen, then clearly he or she has an obligation to report this to the Garda. That overrides any imperative for discussing such matters in this or any other forum. The other issue is that the Garda Commissioner and...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Self assessment.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for that very clear and full reply and for that commitment to examine how it operates in practice. That is very helpful to hear. I also thank him for setting out the practical detail of how the Revenue will operate this. That is also helpful.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: This issue was raised by several Members on Second Stage. We all understand the valid policy reasons given for the change to this credit and I thank the Minister for clarifying the 100-days issues. Senator Jim D’Arcy first asked if this measure would be looked at again and I raised it with the Minister in October. We all welcome the amendment to allow the relinquishing of the credit...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I spoke yesterday in support of Senator O'Brien on the pyrite Bill. It is important that we do not simply rush through all Stages of the Bill in one sitting, just because it is welcomed. Indeed, it is welcomed by both sides of the House and, in principle, it is a good idea. I know the Leader has made every effort, particularly with the Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013, to ensure we have...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: And there are data protection issues for those involved. We must make sure, however, that it is not made difficult for separated parents in these circumstances. I agree with Senator D'Arcy, as someone who drinks wine but who is not an excessive drinker, that it was unfair to target wine in this way.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I welcome the opportunity to have a debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill, particularly in the more positive economic climate. I have been debating with Senator Michael D'Arcy about whether it feels like a long three years or a short three years since the troika came to town. We are in disagreement on it but it is welcome to see them departing...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to add to Senator O’Brien’s comments on the pyrite Bill. There is real merit in the points he makes. We all welcome legislation to address this long overdue issue. It is clearly preferable that we would be given time to consider a Bill at each Stage, even a Bill that is welcomed by both ...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I know the Leader will respond to the Senator's comments about hospital waiting lists. I have asked previously and I ask again for a debate in the new year on the children's hospital and on the important and long overdue plans the Government has to establish a new children's hospital. The conditions and the facilities in Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals have been criticised in the past...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to the House. I commend my colleagues, Senator O'Keeffe and Moran, for proposing and seconding this motion on behalf of the Labour Party Senators. I am delighted the motion has cross-party support because such a topic deserves our support. It acknowledges the Government's commitment to work on mental health services and to improve the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the good news that the Minister for Justice and Equality this afternoon signed the package of bankruptcy reforms that will put into effect the new provisions on bankruptcy contained in the Personal Insolvency Act. People will be capable of automatic discharge from bankruptcy after three years instead of 12 years. We all acknowledge that this will make a significant difference to...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Nov 2013)

Ivana Bacik: On behalf of the Labour Party group in the Seanad I join in the expression of condolences to the family and friends of the late Bernard McGlinchey who died in April. As others have said, he was a long-serving Senator for Fianna Fáil and served from 1961 to 1982. I did not know him. I know, having listened to the tributes paid to him and reading some of his obituaries, that he was a...