Results 8,841-8,860 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Now.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: On the future of the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Labour Party's position remains the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: In common with Senator Darragh O'Brien, I also welcome the setting of 31 May as the date for the referendum on the fiscal treaty. It is important to have set a date towards which everyone can work. I am also glad to hear that Fianna Fáil will campaign actively for a "Yes" vote, as will the Labour Party, which is gearing up for that already.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: However, whichever side of the debate Members are on, it is important that they contribute, as public representatives, to making it an informed debate. It has been useful to have already had a debate in this House on foot of a briefing by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, which has contributed greatly to everyone's understanding of the referendum and of the treaty. Hopefully, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: In response to Senator Norris, I very much share his concern about the appalling report of what happened in the Netherlands.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful to the Senator for raising it in this House as it is important. Finally, I thank all those who attended a seminar last night on the future of the Seanad organised by the classics department in Trinity College. It was a worthwhile event chaired by a former Leader of the Seanad, Maurice Manning, and was part of a process that Members must help to initiate in the Seanad. Members...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator O'Brien on the need for a debate on the Mahon tribunal report. All of us would appreciate generous time being spent debating the findings of the tribunal which we are all still absorbing. The report made some substantive findings and some very substantive recommendations which will require legislation if they are to be put into law. We need to debate how we do that,...

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...