Results 8,821-8,840 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Just as an aside.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator O'Brien for his very constructive comments on a number of issues. I agree with him that it is people's duty to pay the household charge. I disagree with him on the numbers paying. Over the coming days before the deadline of 31 March we will see an exponential rise in those paying. People always leave any payment until they absolutely have to pay it. I thank him for his...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: In my capacity last week as Acting Leader and further to my promise to the House then, I did write to the Taoiseach about the concerns expressed by Members on both sides about the delays in making progress on the problem of mortgage arrears. He and the Tánaiste spoke publicly about their concerns at the lack of progress and delays in this area at the end of last week. I hope our letter had...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011, Report and Final Stages, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business. The time allocated for this item shall not exceed two hours and 15 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I will only be responding to colleagues who are still in the House or who have given me their apologies for leaving, in keeping with the Leader's policy. Tá a lán ceisteanna inniu. The first and perhaps most pressing issue, which was raised by Senators Darragh O'Brien, Diarmuid Wilson, Mary White and others, is that of the suspension of the House yesterday and the deferral of Private...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Paul Coghlan also raised the issue of the comments of the Governor of the Central Bank. I believe it would be helpful to have a debate. There is a debate scheduled for 28 March on housing and the fallout from the Governor's comments about buy-to-let mortgages in particular is one we might discuss at that time. Senator Leyden raised the issue of the household charge. Again, that can...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful to Senator Conway for giving me some of the material, which I will read. I am very concerned to hear about this. However, if there is an issue with a particular school, it is more appropriate for the Adjournment. Senator White raised the issue of Ms Nancy Pelosi. I did not get my photo taken with her, so I am very envious of Senator White. The Senator is correct that we...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: In keeping with what Senator Mac Conghail said earlier, I am in favour of the spirit of the amendment but against it on a technical level. I do not have a difficulty with the proposal to start at 30%. That was recommended in the report that was produced by the Oireachtas joint committee in 2009. That recommendation was based on the Belgian model, which involves starting with a target of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome former Senator, Deputy and Minister, Ms Gemma Hussey, who has done so much to improve the position and increase the number of women in politics. I know she is continuing to do great work in that area with the 50:50 group. I would like to see this principle extended to local and European elections, as recommended by the 2009 report on women in politics by the Joint Committee on...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (15 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: At 12.30 p.m. next Wednesday, 21 March 2012.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business 1is No. 1, statements on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 4 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes. I ask all those interested to take part...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Go raibh maith agaibh go léir for raising so many issues. The matter of mortgage arrears was raised by Senators Darragh O'Brien, Jim D'Arcy, Cáit Keane, Marc MacSharry, Colm Burke, Diarmuid Wilson and Martin Conway. The common theme that emerged was frustration at the lack of progress, which we all share. Both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have stated there has not been as much...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: My apologies. The Senator also asked about inviting the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the House in this context. The debate on the Finance Bill will be held on Wednesday and Thursday of next week and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and presumably the Minister of State will be here for idt. Both of them will be here for the debate on the Bill-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I will also speak to the Leader about arranging a specific debate on the issue. Statements on housing are scheduled to be taken on Wednesday, 28 March, following requests from Members on both sides of the House. Clearly, that is the obvious debate in which to raise the issue of mortgage arrears. Another issue raised by Members concerns the repayment of the promissory notes in the context of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Tánaiste made a statement yesterday on the recent outbreak of hostilities and the Israeli airstrike in Gaza, in which he set out the Government's views and concerns. He has pointed out that civilians on both sides have been put at risk in these exchanges and welcomed the ceasefire agreed this week. He was in the House recently for a debate in which a number of Senators raised issues...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: That is a very worthwhile point. In terms of the issue of more women in political life, Ms Nancy Pelosi raised this issue so powerfully during her address to the philosophical society in Trinity College yesterday. We will be having the Report and Final Stages of the Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill tomorrow, which will provide a mechanism for many more women to get involved in...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am always wary of Senator Leyden bearing compliments.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: For the Senator's information, this new procedure was agreed with all Members. It was the same with the job creation debate. We are having a debate in the absence of a Minister but with a rapporteur present who will take a note of Senators' contributions and feed them back to the relevant Minister.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate and debate the treaty in a different environment, namely, in the absence of a Minister, as happened in the debate on job creation, given that the comments we make will be brought to the attention of the relevant Minister. I am grateful for the presence of a rapporteur who will feed back a summary of the ideas raised. I know that the...