Results 10,161-10,180 of 11,444 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: As I stated, I do not accept administrative expediency as a reason for imposing what I would describe as an arbitrary limit of €100 and for this reason, I will press the amendment. There does not appear to be any good reason for providing that the power to pay in instalments will apply only to fines of €100 or greater. This approach will lead to hardship and have the unfortunate outcome...

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: A figure of €101 may appear nonsensical but under the wording of the section the instalment option will only apply to fines greater than €100. For this reason, a fine of €100 would not attract the power to pay in instalments. As I indicated during the previous debate on the Bill, leaving aside the larger point about the limit, the section should at least use the words "greater than or...

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I have a query on section 16(1)(b). Section 16 amends the Act of 1983 and states it applies to a person who has attained the age of 16 years. Does this mean fines can still be imposed on those under 16, but if they default they will still be imprisoned because the new provisions in respect of community service will not apply? I am not trying to catch anyone out on this, but am not clear...

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am aware of that, which is why I am puzzled by the age of 16 being inserted here, which makes it appear a child between the ages of 16 and 18 may be subject to two parallel regimes. I am trying to ensure there is co-ordination across the legislation and there is no dual regime in place.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with completing Committee Stage now as there is not much left to be done.

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I move amendment No. 58: In page 18, line 16, column 2, to delete "5 days" and substitute "2 days". These amendments try to do the same thing, namely, to change the link between the financial amount and the period of imprisonment. Although I did not get the opportunity to voice this on Second Stage, I have always felt strongly that five days imprisonment is a very severe penalty compared to...

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: The Minister said the periods of imprisonment in the table are maximum periods. However, this is not quite clear in section 17(a) which states the court "may make an order committing the person to prison for a term not exceeding the appropriate period of imprisonment specified in the Table". It seems to me that the term "appropriate period of imprisonment" implies that period is a set...

Seanad: Third Level Contract Staff. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: This matter relates to the position of contract researchers in third level institutions. The Minister of State is aware that pay cuts and pension levies have been applied to such staff in third level institutions, despite the fact that they have no permanence or do not have the benefits enjoyed by full-time academics and research fellows. I have referred to their position before and thank...

Seanad: Third Level Contract Staff. (28 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Section 6 of the Act allows for an exemption to be made, on which the Minister of State focused. I notice that he did not close off entirely the possibility of an exemption being made in the case of externally funded researchers. Therefore, I ask that the use of section 6 be considered to exempt the particular category of externally funded researchers mentioned. It seems unfair to include...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the debate scheduled for this afternoon on women's participation in politics and thank the Leader for at last acceding to the request from me and many other Members for such a debate. I am delighted the debate will take place today and look forward to debating, in particular, the recommendations of our sub-committee's report on women's participation. I am aware the former...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: It is 22%.

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: It is 13% in the Dáil and 22% in the Seanad.

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mary White, and welcome, in particular, her personal interest in this matter. I also welcome to the Gallery representatives of very many groups that have had a long-standing interest in this area, in particular, the National Women's Council, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the Irishwomen Lawyers Association, women from Trinity College gender studies...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: This legislation must be introduced as a matter of urgency. Experience elsewhere shows that, unless some quota is introduced, we will not change. The status quo has been stuck at 13%-14% of women's representation in the Dáil for a long time. The Seanad is better at 22%, 13 women out of 60, but the ranking on which we are being measured is done on the basis of the lower or single house of...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Getting on the ground is the problem.

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: We did.

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Second Stage. (22 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Second Stage. (22 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the Bill on behalf of the Labour Party. We believe it to be an important reform in the system of criminal justice and it is something we have sought for a long time. Essentially, its most important purpose as I would see it is that it will reduce the numbers of people being sent to prison because they have not paid fines. That is...

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Second Stage. (22 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: There was talk yesterday about the need to debate good news so I will begin by welcoming some good news, the fact that the airlines appear to be returning to normal service today with the announcement that the air space over Ireland is open again. That is very welcome. The only unwelcome aspect is that it means emigration will begin again. It has been said that the Icelandic volcano did...