Results 7,521-7,540 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It seems as if we are having budget statements before the budget has even been announced, which I do not think is appropriate. I thank the Leader for giving time this afternoon for statements on the budget. I think that is appropriate and it is good to see we will be able to do that. I renew my call on the Leader for a debate on universal health care and on the steps and progress that have...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Like Senator Marc MacSharry, I welcome the very positive report of the ESRI today on growth predictions and GNP. The institute points out that the latter is an underlying strength of the economy. I agree, however, that there are mixed messages on the adjustment it is suggesting should be made. It is somewhat surprising to see it suggest we should proceed with the adjustment of €3.1...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Data Protection Package: Discussion with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (9 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Data Protection Package: Discussion with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (9 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Mr. Hawkes for his thorough overview of the directives. What is the likely timeline for the adoption of the package and, then, its implementation into Irish law? In the context of the surveillance carried out by the United States and EU member states, I am concerned by two aspects of the right to privacy. The first is the right to be forgotten, the right to demand the deletion of...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the opportunity to speak on political reform in the wake of the very welcome result in the Seanad referendum, announced on Saturday. Other Members and I have already welcomed it on the Order Of Business. With respect to the Leader, I believe that while it is good to have the opportunity in the immediate aftermath of the referendum to discuss this matter, it is rather early. For...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: There are some very bossy people in both Houses; we can all agree on that. There are three stages of reform in which we need to be engaging. They are parallel and do not follow from each other. Each should be started immediately. The first concerns internal procedures, about which others have spoken. Senator O'Brien spoke in detail about the Order of Business. I agree with him and...

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I am glad that the Senator has reminded me..

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to the House and thank her for debating this motion on behalf of the Government. It involves a number of different areas of responsibility and, as the Minister said, local authorities bear some of the responsibility for some of the measures being proposed. I commend my colleagues, Senators Landy and Whelan, on proposing this motion and...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: A total of 39% voted.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Like the Leader and Senator Darragh O'Brien, I very much welcome the result of Saturday's referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. It shows that the people engaged very closely with the proposal put to them. They scrutinised the issues and were very keen, particularly in the immediate lead-up to the referendum, to inform themselves. Their decision speaks for itself. I also very much...

Seanad: An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Seamus Heaney: Statements (3 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Like others I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak during this debate paying tribute to the late Seamus Heaney following his sad and most untimely death. I also welcome Marie to the House and extend sincere condolences to her, as well as to Mick, Christopher and Catherine Ann, as well as to her grandchildren and family. I also welcome Professors Kennelly and Brown and other...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: That is not true. It is absolutely not true.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I am delighted time has been set aside for statements of appreciation on the life and work of Seamus Heaney who was hugely respected and loved nationally and internationally. I, too, commend Senator Quinn on the introduction last night of the Bill on upward only rent reviews, which is a hugely important issue. While I did not speak at length on it, I did contribute to the debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: As acknowledged by Senator Darragh O'Brien, this is not the first Government to face difficulties in tackling this issue. I acknowledged in my contribution last night that the previous Government had tried to tackle it. There is an underlying problem, which should be debated in the Seanad, namely, the elevated protection of property rights in the Constitution. I would welcome an honest...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I commend Senator Feargal Quinn on introducing the Bill, which seeks to tackle a real and pressing issue for many people, especially those working in retail and running retail businesses. The issue was raised with many of us in the lifetime of the previous Government as well as since the 2011 election. The issue of upward-only rent reviews was...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: That is right. As Senator Byrne said, it was not only about property rights. The striking down of the Bill was also related to the position of the family in Article 41 of the Constitution. The judgment was that the Bill went too far in encroaching upon the right of the family to decide for itself on what basis the ownership of the family home would be allocated. These are simply two...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I commend Senator White on her work on this matter. She has shown a long-term commitment to the issue of rights of older people. We had a session with the public consultation committee in the Seanad on that very issue but I would support her call for a debate to further that work in the future. Yesterday she mentioned that it was United Nations International Day of Older Persons, which I...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I have not yet received a response, but I will-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I commend those involved in organising the Trinity College public debate on the Seanad referendum last night. I am glad to say that the "No" side won handsomely. My colleague, Senator Barrett, spoke passionately at it. The reports have been good. Will the Leader arrange for an early debate on the reports of the Constitutional Convention? Like many, I was in attendance at the weekend when...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

Ivana Bacik: We were ahead of the Lower House. We are still awaiting a final Bill from the Dáil. It would be good for this House to debate the most effective strategy for emissions reductions and independent oversight and monitoring of the targets that must be set to combat this overwhelming threat to human life.