Results 8,321-8,340 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Like Senator MacSharry, I welcome the outcome of the US election. No doubt the result is a great relief to the many supporters of the Democratic Party in Ireland. Studies have shown that very few people in Ireland would have supported Mitt Romney if they had been entitled to vote. It is good to see President Barack Obama re-elected for a further four-year term. I agree with Senator...

Seanad: Amendment to Terms of Reference of Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to the House, although I am sure the Minister would share in everyone's sense of déjà vu at being back in the House seeking a further extension to the tribunal of inquiry. It is undoubtedly frustrating that Members are back here again, but given what the Minister has indicated, they all must accept there is no alternative and the tribunal has good...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: No.

Seanad: Amendment to Terms of Reference of Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that the terms of reference contained in the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 23 March 2005 and by Seanad Éireann on 24 March 2005, as amended by the Resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 1 June 2011, the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 16 November 2011 and by Seanad Éireann on 17 November 2011, and the Resolutions...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: This still happens in respect of Oberstown. The High Court was sending kids there and it was, as Fr. McVerry described, necessary to check first.

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: In response to Professor O'Donnell's point on political commitment, I was greatly struck by a paragraph in Dr. Warner's paper on Finland about the upward swing in the Finnish prison population from 1999 to 2005. It now has turned decisively downwards again as reducing prison numbers is a Government objective. It is a good example and one members must really scrutinise when visiting Finland...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I was struck by Dr. McCullagh's suggestion because it is a radical and attractive one on one level but it is true. We had a longer visit in Mountjoy Prison and judging by the difference in its physical appearance and state of the place it has improved and it has scope for improvement. Many of us would be very wary of recommending its closure after what happened with Thornton Hall and that...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: -----and it is something we should do here. The Care After Prison group put it up to us - to borrow a phrase Senator Zappone used in saying the witnesses have put it up to us - that because it is very hard to provide structured release programmes of any sort for people serving very short sentences, which they put at six months or less, that instead of considering remission and so on should...

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Is that right? I knew there was some models of that elsewhere.

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Will Mr. Costello comment on the argument put forward by the Irish Penal Reform Trust that legal representation should be available to all prisoners appearing before the Parole Board, in accordance with international jurisprudence norms?

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I was struck by that comment in the submission that such prisoners felt badly treated if people got out with the same level of remission and that they had participated in programmes while others had not. Mr. Costello said that 30% of prisoners declined to be reviewed by the Parole Board. Why is that?

Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Sub-Committee on Penal Reform: Penal Reform: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the delegates for taking the time to appear before the committee to give us the benefit of their experience and expertise in this area. We appreciate it. The submissions and notes provided to the committee are helpful and stimulating. The presentations were substantial and challenging. All of us on the sub-committee share the frustration of the witnesses at the number and extent...

Seanad: Amendment to Terms of Reference of Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that the terms of reference contained in the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 23 March 2005 and by Seanad Éireann on 24 March 2005, as amended by the Resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 1 June 2011, the Resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 16 November 2011 and by Seanad Éireann on 17 November 2011, and the Resolutions...

Seanad: Amendment to Terms of Reference of Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to the House, although I am sure the Minister would share in everyone's sense of déjà vu at being back in the House seeking a further extension to the tribunal of inquiry. It is undoubtedly frustrating that Members are back here again, but given what the Minister has indicated, they all must accept there is no alternative and the tribunal has good...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We are all frustrated that a further extension to the Smithwick tribunal has been sought, but I understand that there is new information and that justification-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: -----will be provided for it. I will welcome the debate this evening. On the Dolphin report, we are all agreed on the importance of the flagship children's hospital project going ahead. It did not do so under the last Government, but this Government is committed to proceeding with it. It is an important project and everyone will agree that we must get its location right. In response to...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Perhaps I have said enough about colleagues' books. Senator Reilly raised the very sad news of the 90 jobs lost in a poultry factory in Cavan and the questions about the viability of the sector. The Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, will come to the House on 23 November for a debate on jobs and it is something that should be raised with him then. The agrifood...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator O'Brien raised a number of issues, as did a number of other Senators. Senator O'Brien first asked about the Seanad taking on the role of scrutiny of EU legislation. I am told the Leader obtained a reply on this matter, which has been previously raised in this House, from the Ceann Comhairle. The issue will be discussed at the group leaders meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on junior certificate reform and the numeracy and literacy strategy, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, to conclude not later than 5.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called to reply to the debate not later...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I finally get a chance to say that the Leader will respond to Senator O?Brien?s request for an amendment to the Order of Business. I have spoken on health in this House many times. The Government is the first to adopt a radical policy of health care reform. It is the first Government to take on consultants. Let us not forget who negotiated the sweetheart deal with the consultants. That...