Results 8,181-8,200 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I ask for a ruling from the Chair. I thought there was a tradition or at least some sort of practice in this House of not naming Senators who were not present in the Chamber. Once we start doing that, we could do it on both sides.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Thank you. I again commend the Leader for extending time yesterday on the Second Stage debate on the Social Welfare Bill. I thought it was a really good, comprehensive debate. I want, in particular, to welcome the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Burton, in her response on Second Stage and I call on the Leader to follow up on the Minister's commitment to publish the report on child...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: ------and to see where there is a lack of availability of respite care places. On another note, I welcome the Government decision yesterday on the introduction of legislation and regulations to implement the X case and to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C case. Some 20 years after the X case, it is long overdue that we have Government action on...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I know we will have hearings before the Joint Committee on Health and Children, which is very welcome, but we need to move to keep pressure on within the Government to ensure the legislation is drafted and brought forward swiftly. The expert group report sets out a very clear blueprint for the content of such legislation. I very much welcome finally, after 20 years, a Government decision on...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Not my press releases.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Listening to Senator MacSharry, one might think the Labour Party is in single-party Government. It is interesting that the Senator has constantly singled us out. I am not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with the Senator on the revelations this morning that a journalist, Mr. Ed Moloney, provided. Any of us who heard the interview on "Morning Ireland" would have listened with real horror as he outlined very clearly the extent of knowledge that was not referred to in the de Silva report, which suggested that knowledge had come much later to the British authorities. There are very...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We discussed this difficult issue on Second Stage and we all appreciate a balance must be struck between ensuring the safety of children, which is a paramount consideration, and ensuring the legislation is reasonable. The Minister is correct to point out that reward cannot be the criterion. I know as a parent this is not just about a neighbour's child baby-sitting my child. Many people...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We discussed this difficult issue on Second Stage and we all appreciate a balance must be struck between ensuring the safety of children, which is a paramount consideration, and ensuring the legislation is reasonable. The Minister is correct to point out that reward cannot be the criterion. I know as a parent this is not just about a neighbour's child baby-sitting my child. I understand he...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I would like to see the letter before giving a response. Senator Hayden raised the issue of the local property tax, which will be before us over two days next week, and we will have a full debate. Senator Daly asked for a debate on uniting Ireland, which is of interest and a bit different. That was in light of a survey in Northern Ireland on national identity, which I also read with...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Landy reminded Sinn Féin about its record of broken promises in government in Northern Ireland and supported Senator Hayden's points about the property tax. He also raised a separate issue on misleading advertising. If the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation comes to the House in the new year, we might raise the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator White spoke about respite care cuts and called for an amendment to the Order of Business to allow the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, to come to the House. The Minister will be before the other House today and will be here for three days next week so I cannot agree to the request. Listening to Senator White and other Fianna Fáil Senators, I am sometimes struck that...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: They have lost powers of reasoning and memory.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is very hard to take a lecture from Senator White. We should try to avoid personal comments across the floor of this House; I have always tried to do that.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: As a matter of courtesy-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: To comment on people's appearance is a low.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Healy Eames reminded Fianna Fáil of its responsibility for the current economic position, which is timely, and sought a debate on the school curriculum. That debate was also being sought by Senator Moran while welcoming survey results on education. The Senator also noted how well Northern Ireland is doing, which is important. We should have the debate and consider, in particular,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: This issue arose in the latest review. It is not a new deal. Senator Colm Burke commented on the budget and the need to be constructive in dealing rationally with it. That is an important point and I hope colleagues will remember it next week. Senator Ó Clochartaigh seconded the Sinn Féin amendment, which cannot be agreed. Senator O'Keeffe reminded us of a positive story in the Western...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: There is.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien asked for the Minister for Children, Deputy Fitzgerald, to attend the Seanad next week to deal with the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgment in the case taken by Mr. Mark McCrystal on the children's referendum. Otherwise, the Senator will oppose every section of business next week.