Results 9,041-9,060 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Recent Developments in Eurozone and European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for her words about the Seanad. She is very welcome, with or without an entourage, and I thank her for circulating copies of her speech. It was helpful and has clarified some of the context of the debate. We all welcome the fact political agreement was reached last week by European leaders. We must also accept that at present this...

Seanad: Recent Developments in Eurozone and European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I am conscious all sorts of political points can be made about that. The language used is interesting. It is as yet unclear what it will become. It is an agreement of 26 rather than 27 member states. We know Chancellor Merkel had initially sought amendments to the Lisbon treaty, which would have been a different type of creature. We await more information. While at this stage political...

Seanad: Recent Developments in Eurozone and European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Berlin, not Boston.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: He admitted he was wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I join the Leader and Senator Mooney in wishing everyone a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. I thank all the staff, particularly Deirdre and Jody, the ushers and those who keep Leinster House running so smoothly and who make it such a pleasant place in which to work for everything they do. Like Senator Mooney, I extend best wishes to the leaders of the various groups and to all...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: ——when the continued existence of the House will be a matter for public debate. We will have to be on our mettle in that regard. We will be obliged to build on both the changes that have been introduced and the improvements that have been made in respect of our procedures. In that context, the question and answer sessions with Ministers are a major improvement on the old system whereby...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I support what Senator Norris said about the need for recognition of children of civil partnerships. This is an issue I, Senator Norris and a number of others made at various times during the Civil Partnership Bill debate. I am aware it is not directly concerned with this issue, but I want to mention it. I am hugely impressed by the detailed knowledge Senator Moloney has of social welfare...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I object to that remark. I did not start the political posturing.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, Senator Kelly is entitled to raise the matter on the Adjournment that Senator O'Brien also raised.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator O'Brien that we need a debate on the issues around the EU deal done last week and the question of whether we will have a referendum in the new year. I am delighted we will have the opportunity tomorrow, when the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton is here, to try to tease out the question of whether a referendum will be necessary and, if it is to be held, what it will be...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: What is the Senator suggesting?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: It is unfortunate there is a gap after the Order of Business today. The Leader would be too modest to say but he made strenuous attempts to fill it.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Given it is the last week and we are waiting for things to come from the Dáil, some difficulty was inevitable. I entirely agree, however, with levels of scrutiny of legislation on Committee Stage. This House has generally had a high standard of debate, particularly on Committee Stage, where we offer a higher level of scrutiny. That debate will be more common in the new year. I am looking...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Well done.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House. I had not quite anticipated that there would be no Opposition speaker between Senator Hayden and me. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak about the Bill. I listened very carefully to the debate, including the Minister's earlier speech, which was very strong. She is to be commended on preserving the basic rates of benefit in the face of such...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: A large adjustment for 300,000 people.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Surely the Sinn Féin members of Government in the North are in a better position to ring Mr. David Cameron. Why did they not do this?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Fianna Fáil said that earlier in the debate and the Minister has already responded.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Is this relevant?