Results 9,481-9,500 of 11,441 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I am raising this matter in the context of a debate on the church and the State. The saying of a prayer each day was also raised in the Dáil last week by Deputy Ó Riordáin of the Labour Party. He and I have both ensured that this matter is on the agendas of the Committees of Procedure and Privileges of the Dáil and the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Yes, that is the position. However, it is a matter for the entire membership of the House to consider whether it is appropriate in a modern republic and whether it is respectful to those who are not of a Christian religion, to continue to say a Christian prayer at the commencement of proceedings each day in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I have raised it many times before.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: It was raised in the Dáil by my colleague-----

Seanad: SPHE Curriculum: Motion (20 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister to the House and I compliment the Independent nominees group on this very useful motion. I listened to the debate on the monitor and it has been very strong. It has been very encouraging to hear the words of the Minister. It is useful for us to consider the social, personal and health education programme and I know Senator Moran and others went into great detail on...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Follow that.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: Very lively.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I join in congratulating Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and his family on their new arrival. I welcome the new format announced by the Leader for today's discussion with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A question and answer session has the potential to be far more productive than the traditional set-piece speech from the Minister. I welcome the appointment of Mrs. Justice...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: It is clear that the flaw lies with the original Bill and the absence of a reference to children there. This is a tax measure and I accept the Minister's point that perhaps the changes proposed to provide for parity between children of civil partners and children of married couples go beyond the scope of a tax Bill. That is in line with the general principle, but it is disappointing that...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: The Senator should confine himself to the section at issue.

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Michael Noonan, to the House. We all very much welcome this Bill. It was very evident on Second Stage how much support there is for it across the floor of the House. It is clearly designed to give effect to the commitments in the programme for Government following from the passing of the civil partnership legislation. We all very much welcome that. On...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I refer to the Minister's response to the previous recommendation and his point, clearly correct in law, that the status of separation does not exist for civil partners. Senator Zappone is correct to point out that this means there is no parity between civil partners and spouses. However, is judicial separation a desirable process? That we have such a developed law on judicial separation...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I was referring to judicial separation.

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I pay tribute to Senator Zappone. It is welcome that the Minister has accepted that the recommendation raises an issue which needs to be addressed. I apologise for going off on a tangent about the judicial separation regime, which is a different issue, albeit one which I always considered to be a feature of the absence of divorce in this country. It is important that we ensure individuals...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful to Senator Katherine Zappone for raising this issue. The absence of protections for children in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 was raised by me, Senator Norris and others in this and the other House during the debate on that legislation. The Ombudsman for Children published a robust critique of the absence of protection for...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: The Labour Party Ministers of State in the Department of Health have attended this House on a number of occasions, and I think Senator O'Brien will acknowledge that.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: The Ministers of State, Deputies Kathleen Lynch and Róisín Shortall, have attended the House on numerous occasions. I apologise to Senator O'Brien for the delay on the Palestine motion. We will get back to him on that today. It took a little time toing and froing. I commend the Leader and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Nos. 1 and 2 on the Order Paper. Both are noteworthy...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (13 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: We are all wearing shields.

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (13 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: I begin by welcoming the Minister of State to the House, as others have, and the Bill, which as the Minister of State has mentioned is a single-issue Bill. It was prepared under the last Government and supported by both sides of the House. I also declare my interests in the issues we are discussing as I am junior counsel in the case being taken by my dear friend and colleague, Senator...

Seanad: Finance (No. 3) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (13 Jul 2011)

Ivana Bacik: In this House there were some dissenting voices but we have moved beyond that. It is very clear that the Civil Partnership Act and the necessary amendments following it - including this Finance Bill - will now achieve unanimous support. I have not heard any dissenting voices, which is very important. I will refer to a couple of other points which may go beyond the direct import of the Bill....