Results 8,981-9,000 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: As good as Senator Paul Coghlan.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I join Senator O'Brien and the whole House in condemning the murder in Tallaght of the young girl which has shocked all of us. It was a particularly horrific crime and we send our sympathies to her family. It is a good idea to continue to have debates on the fiscal compact and to set aside more time for this in the coming weeks. Given what is taking place as we speak in Greece and the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Brown or otherwise.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am sure the Minister of State will give a similar response to the comment made by the Tánaiste when he attended the excellent debate we had on foreign affairs and trade last Thursday. He pointed out the important work that he and others, in Government, have been doing to restore Ireland's international reputation since last February. None of us should describe a Senator's decision to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We have to be conscious of human rights issues.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I have been to China on human rights training programmes. It is important to keep Senator Norris's point in mind. We should also bear in mind the positive aspects of further links with China. We are already seeing large numbers of Chinese students being welcomed in our universities and colleges. It is important for us to foster such links. The establishment of strong links between China...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: A wide range of foreign affairs and trade issues were covered during last week's excellent debate with the Tánaiste. In light of what is happening today with Bord Bia and the development of links with China, it might be worth having a full debate on Ireland's trade links with other countries. We had such a debate with the previous Minister of State in this role, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. It...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Like other Members, I would like to welcome the Tánaiste to the House. I commend him on his work as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He is enhancing Ireland's international reputation. Like other Senators, I commend the important stance the Tánaiste has taken on Gaza and on Palestinian rights. It serves to maintain and enhance this country's reputation as a protector of human...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: And opposition to Labour Party policy.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: She wanted the chance to vote for a mediocre woman.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator's surname has never hindered him.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister's speech is being made available now.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am delighted to be here to speak on Second Stage of the Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011. I am particularly pleased and grateful to the Minister that the Bill is being introduced in the Seanad. It is most appropriate that it is introduced here. The Bill will make important reforms to political donations, increase transparency in our system of political donations and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Norris. This is as a result of positive action as regards the nominees of the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. In any case, international rankings are based on the lower house in parliaments or on those parliaments which are unicameral. We know that the Seanad has not increased representation organically and we know that the Dáil will not do so unless positive action is taken....

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: This sends out a very important message. Other speakers, including the Minister, have referred to the report of which I was an author and with which I was ably assisted by Aoife O'Driscoll of my office. The report was adopted unanimously by the justice committee in 2009. The report deals with women's participation in politics. I am happy to say that instead of gathering dust, it has indeed...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hopefully we will see something similar as part of the public awareness programme designed to encourage more women to enter politics-----