Results 7,961-7,980 of 11,433 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: -----they have to go as far as possible without spending any of their own money. Two students have got as far as Argentina and won the prize. It is a great initiative that has received a lot of publicity and raised much money for the chosen charities.

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Second Stage (7 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Second Stage (7 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Second Stage (7 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to the House, and I also welcome the Bill, which is being welcomed by all parties. That is good to see. I also welcome the overall reforms that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, and the Minister of State present have been involved in introducing in the education sector. We have had debates in the House on the transformation...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is a question for the CPP.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: Tomorrow is International Women's Day and I remind colleagues that Senator Susan O'Keeffe and I are hosting a coffee morning today in the Private Members' dining room. All are welcome to attend. It is in aid of SAFE Ireland which is the national network of domestic violence services. It has developed services that respond to and advocate for the needs of women and children who are victims...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Senator. I welcome the announcements made at a press conference yesterday. The Government announced the progress that it has made after two years in office. I ask the Leader to invite Ministers to attend debates here on a regular basis. I know that other Senators sought the same earlier in the week when I was Deputy Leader during the Order of Business. I know that the Leader...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. As others have done, I also commend Senator John Crown for the immense amount of work he has put into drafting this detailed Bill. I am aware that it can be difficult to draft a Private Members' Bill, particularly one dealing with a technical matter, and he has done a tremendous job. It is both welcome and useful to debate the issue of Seanad...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: However, the Bill is being introduced at a time when the Government has committed to putting the continued existence of the Seanad to the people in a referendum to the people. That commitment is made in the programme for Government. Those of us on the Government side of the House knew this when we signed up to that programme and we are committed to supporting the referendum Bill. It is...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is important that we have a measured debate on this issue. There is no great advantage to be gained in quoting Robert Mugabe.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is interesting that this was included in the manifestos of the political parties and that this commitment has been made, but the proposed referendum has focused the minds like never before of people both in the House and elsewhere on the issue of reform. Having listened to Senator Katherine Zappone and read the excellent consultation paper that her group produced in September on radical...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I will ignore the Acting Chairman's implied comment.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Acting Chairman for his clarification. I am conscious that the debate on abolition has concentrated minds on the issue of reform and that we have had more lively and thoughtful reflections on it than ever before. The article by Mr. Eoin O'Malley of DCU in today's edition of The Irish Times in which he proposes radical reform of the Seanad has a great deal of merit to it. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I also extend a welcome to Professor Huxley, who is in the Visitors' Gallery. I call for a debate on legislation on assisted human reproduction following the two judgments on surrogacy by Mr. Justice Henry Abbott at the High Court yesterday. We discussed them briefly on yesterday's Order of Business. I wish to reiterate how important it is that we legislate in this area. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: That is a whole other issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: That is a whole other issue. That leads me nicely into Senator Noone's point.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I think he is trying to be supportive, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Senator Noone also raised the issue of nutrition in hospitals and the issue of poor food being served. Many of us heard with concern the reports on malnutrition being a real issue. It was linked with lack of reference to good nutrition in the provision of hospital food. That should be raised with the Joint Committee on Health...

Seanad: Diseases of Animals Acts: Motion (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that section 17A (inserted by section 2(1) of the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act 2001 (No. 3 of 2001)) of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (No. 6 of 1966) shall continue in force for the period ending on 8th March, 2014.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: It is unfair on couples, parents and families to be obliged to take litigation. Many of us have been saying for a number of years that legislation is required in respect of IVF, assisted human reproduction and surrogacy. There is an excellent report on assisted human reproduction which was commissioned by a previous Government and the recommendations of which really should be implemented....

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2013)

Ivana Bacik: That is quite alright. It was a pleasure. Senator Comiskey also welcomed the paper on suicide prevention produced by Senator MacSharry. He went on to refer to road safety issues. It is worth nothing that the number of road deaths has fallen year on year since 2006. Every road death is a tragedy, however. Senator Kelly also referred to road deaths. This is a matter we could debate in...