Results 10,341-10,360 of 11,444 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I will be brief. First, will the Leader confirm we will be having a debate on women's participation in politics next Tuesday? Second, I support calls for a debate on banking. We need to ask two key questions in this House. Why can Postbank be allowed go to the wall and yet Anglo Irish Bank is apparently of such systemic importance that it must be saved no matter what at enormous cost to...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Will the Leader arrange a debate on the timing of debates? It was deeply ironic that yesterday on the same day we debated the welcome initiative relating to children's rights, we also debated the outrageous cuts to the number of SNAs for children with special needs. It is wrong that on the one hand the Government is speaking forcefully about the rights of children while, on the other, it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I also seek a debate on the preservation of our history. This has been an historic week in the context of political upheaval and resignations. I refer to a matter raised by Senator Quinn weeks ago regarding the National Archives. It has been proposed that the National Archives of Ireland and the Irish Manuscripts Commission should be merged into the National Library of Ireland, which has...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the passage of the Bill and add my voice to that of Senator Regan in my party's welcome for it. We decided in the Labour Party not to table amendments to it. However, I raised a number of concerns on Second Stage which the Minister of State indicated he would take on board. It is welcome that we are streamlining arbitration procedures. It is extremely important that we would...

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: We do not nitpick just for the sake of it.

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am obliged to the Minister of State for that response.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010: Second Stage (17 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and apologise for not having been present for the entire debate as I was attending two joint committee meetings. On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome the Bill which makes some sensible amendments. I would like to see some further amendments which I shall outline shortly. The Minister of State stated the Bill does not represent "a full review...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I was talking about what parents want. I do not think they want more Catholic schools.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I join Senator Fitzgerald in expressing concern about the outcome of the bishops' talks in the Vatican. It is appropriate, given the enormous influence the bishops continue to have in the institutions of the State through the system of patronage of schools, that we express our concern, as legislators, about the lack of any sense of responsibility or accountability on the part of the Vatican...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: These are issues on which people on both sides have very strong views. Therefore, we need to debate them. The influence of the Catholic Church on the Constitution is still felt very strongly in respect of the role of women. It is very welcome to see a proposal to have a constitutional amendment to enshrine the rights of children in the Constitution. I am glad to see the place of parents,...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: On a personal note, I wish former Senator Deirdre de Búrca well. I am sorry she felt the need to resign rather than follow the example of colleagues such as Bronwen Maher and cross the House to join the Labour Party group.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: If Senators Ó Brolcháin and Boyle feel lonely, there will always be a place for them over here.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Like Senators Alex White, Feeney and others, I call for a debate on the report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. Having had only a brief opportunity to examine it, it is to be welcomed. It is well considered and thorough and the wording recommended seems to strike a fair balance. As Senator Feeney stated, it is welcome to see the report recommend a...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Do not rule it out.

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Second Stage (11 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this developing area. International arbitration is a multi-million euro business and there is intense competition among countries to attract its business. There is an increasing interest in arbitration and alternative methods of dispute resolution among legal practitioners, commercial practitioners and businesspeople generally. It is...

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Second Stage (11 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Arts or crafts or trades, I do not know.

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: By agreement, I will use eight rather than the full 12, as I want to allow colleagues speak also. As Senator McCarthy said, there is nobody present on the Government side of the House to counter the motion we are putting to the House. As a result, I hope the Government will just agree to it, although that is unlikely to happen. The motion tabled by the Labour Party calls on Seanad Éireann...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I move: That Seanad Éireann notes with concern the rise in joblessness in Ireland, in particular the rise in youth unemployment; and calls on the Government to implement a jobs strategy, including retraining and back to education support, to tackle this crisis.

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (10 Feb 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to propose the motion.