Results 9,041-9,060 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Like Senator Darragh O'Brien, I welcome the fact that we now have a text for the intergovernmental treaty, the so-called fiscal compact. I agree that we should have a public information campaign on the treaty and I look forward to debating it in the House. We need to reserve our position on a referendum until we hear what the Attorney General has to say. There is only one reason to hold a...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I call for a debate on public procurement and professional fees. In the context of the forthcoming debate on the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, I am interested in the issue of the State's role in setting professional fees and the distribution of professional work. We must consider this issue in respect of other professionals as well as lawyers. I am conscious that the Bill envisages...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Government's debt and bankruptcy relief plan and the publication of the draft general scheme of the personal insolvency Bill. I have the draft scheme here. It is a very lengthy scheme. It was circulated yesterday to the members of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. We will be conducting public hearings on the Bill. To follow what Senator O'Brien said, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: It is subject to legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General, to a report by the joint committee and to submissions from anyone who has an interest in the area. The Minister has let that be known. Changes may still be made. From my first reading it is not my understanding that it gives powers to the banks. Rather, it will assist the 30,000 home owners who are in arrears and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: They include a State-run insolvency service, a system of debt release certificates for forgiveness of debt for those who have no assets and no income and are unable to meet qualifying debts totalling up to €20,000, a debt settlement arrangement scheme and a personal insolvency arrangement. A series of measures are set out in the scheme. The joint committee has been told we have a tight...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: This is the first time any of the three eurozone economies in bailout has succeeded in selling bonds of this maturity. That is an important point. It is welcome, particularly on the day when an unwelcome repayment was made. Those of us on the Government side are, of course, most unhappy at paying the Anglo Irish Bank bond.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We saw it as a necessary evil. That was clearly set out by the Tánaiste and by the Minister for Finance yesterday. It is very much an evil and we do not like to have to do it. However, it is a strategy that appears to be working and we are going to work with it in an attempt to ensure that we achieve growth. No real or practical alternative has been offered by those who have been...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the report of the Advisory Group on Small Business (resumed), to be taken following the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m., with the contributions of Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called upon to reply to the debate not later than 1.20 p.m.; and No. 2, statements on ideas for job creation to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I am rising above these comments.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senators have raised a range of issues and I will try to reply to them to the best of my ability. Senator Darragh O'Brien requested that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, meet the residents of Priory Hall. I will pass on the Senator's request to the Leader and ask him to communicate with the Minister on it. This matter has been raised in...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Like other Senators, I have sought a more general debate on education with the Minister and I am hopeful such a debate will take place in the coming weeks. As stated, the Minister will be before the House next week.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Darragh O'Brien also referred to minority faith schools. He will be aware that last year the Minister established the forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector which was set up, with a buy-in by the patrons of all schools, specifically to consider how diversity could be accommodated in the school system. I attended a public meeting of the forum in November and its...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I understand a report on the matter is due to be published in coming weeks when I hope the House will be able to engage in a debate on the matter and the Senator and others will be in a position to raise with the Minister the issues about which they are concerned. Senator Feargal Quinn referred to the sale of Aer Lingus. I agree with him about reports on the sale of State assets and the need...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I will rise above them.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to clarify for the Senator that the legal fees relating to the Mahon tribunal were set by the previous Government and at an outrageous level.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: I think I will rise above that comment, too. Senator Tom Sheahan referred to the need to reform the coroner system. As the Cathaoirleach helpfully pointed out, the Coroner's Bill 2007 is before the House on Committee Stage. I do not have information on a timeframe for it, but we should try to ascertain when it will be taken. Senators Labhras Ó Murchú, Michael Mullins and Paul Coghlan...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: We have a direct link with the members of the National Transitional Council through the woman to whom I refer. Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh welcomed, in fluent Irish, the debate which took place in the House yesterday on the Irish language. I wish I could match him in that regard. Senator Tony Mulcahy referred to health service delivery. It should be possible to seek a debate with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Ivana Bacik: As stated, I am aware of the case to which the Senator refers. Senators Walsh, Clune, Ó Clochartaigh, McSharry, Healy Eames, Mullins and Harte sought a debate on the household broadcasting charge with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte. The Minister has indicated that he is contemplating the introduction of such a charge. A number of Senators...