Results 8,621-8,640 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Passenger Name Records: Motion (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the opportunity to debate the motion which was not going to be forced through.

Seanad: Passenger Name Records: Motion (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It had been referred to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which is the normal procedure. We had a full debate at the committee, in which I participated, and I am delighted that we are having a further debate in the House. The committee scrutinised the motion closely and, as the Minister will recall, I raised two issues with him. This is about ensuring a balance is...

Seanad: Passenger Name Records: Motion (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is hard to see how this detail would be routinely disclosed during an exchange of passenger name records.

Seanad: Passenger Name Records: Motion (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Council decision contains specific additional safeguards for the exchange of such data. Will the Minister set them out? The issue of concern is that personal sensitive information, rather than just one's name and address, could be disclosed. A useful briefing document was made available before the justice committee met. It would probably be useful if it was made available to Members....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator David Norris has raised an issue I was going to raise and I thank him for doing so. I will come to it in due course.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien asked me to ask the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, to come to the House to debate the issue of mortgage arrears. The Leader is consulting the Minister on framing a full and comprehensive debate in the House on the economy which would cover the issue of mortgage arrears. This would be welcomed by us all. As soon as the date is arranged, the House will...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We will be able to inform the House of the date for the debate with the Minister as soon as we know it.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The second issue Senator Darragh O'Brien raised was the pyrite report. The position remains the same, as I advised the Senator last week. The expert review group is continuing its work. The Minister is expecting its report by the end of this month or in early June. A debate with him on the issue will certainly be requested. I understand the Minister for the Environment, Community and...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Yes. I am told it will be available by the end of the month or in early June. I certainly hope it will be available in the first week of June. We will have the Minister in the House to discuss the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in any case on 6 and 7 June. The Senator also mentioned the sale of State assets. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is a fair procedure. It is a relatively minor obligation on us, as Senators, to be present in the House for the Order of Business. I have looked around the Chamber and have seen no more than ten to 15 Senators present at any one time. For a Seanad that will be subject to public scrutiny in the coming months, particularly in the approach to the referendum-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am not casting aspersions on an individual Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We need to consider our practice, particularly on the Order of Business. Senator David Norris asked about the motion on the exchange of data on passenger names. As justice spokesperson for the Labour Party, I will certainly be present to speak to the motion and raise with the Minister some of the issues I raised previously at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator Whelan's point about the credit union movement. It is something we need to look at in the debate, both in this House and in the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of Africa Day or, as it has become, Africa week. I would share the welcome for that. He sought a debate on immigration and asylum seekers. We recently...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I would agree. I would very much hope that it will be initiated in this House. I would agree with the Senator about the delay in processing applications. It is something that we need to see changed. However, since the Minister, Deputy Shatter, has taken office, it has been well publicised that he has speeded up substantively the dreadful delays in the processing of citizenship...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister, Deputy Shatter, said it in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Sheahan raised the issue of building standards and we could usefully have a debate on that, and I will inquire when the Coroners Bill 2007 will come before the House? Senator Gilroy called for a debate on NAMA and welcomed the €2 billion investment that NAMA has announced. It would be useful to have a debate on NAMA and review it, particularly as it moves into this new phase of...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Mooney also supported that.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I think it has already been agreed. There will not be any difficulty. Senator Mooney asked about the Taoiseach coming to the House. I have already explained that the Leader has been in contact with the Taoiseach who stated he will come to the House in June.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: As I stated in a response on the Order of Business last week, the Taoiseach has indicated he will come in to deal with Northern Ireland and other issues. I understand we have not yet got a final word on framework for the statements but I think there will be an opportunity to raise other issues also. Senator Michael D'Arcy raised the issue of non-DEIS schools. We might deal with that in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Ivana Bacik: That is a matter for the Cathaoirleach.