Results 10,441-10,460 of 11,695 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I will not press the amendment to a vote, but it is an important principle, to which the Labour Party and I personally adhere. We should seek to ensure in a modern, pluralist republic that, where possible, we separate church and State in every aspect. To include the word "oath" without also including "or affirmation" is bad practice in a modern state. I will not press the amendment, but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I move amendment No. 24: In page 78, line 44, after "purpose," to insert "as giving rise to civil or criminal liability or". The amendment seeks to strengthen the whistleblower's section, section 112, as we wish to ensure there is no omission in the protection of whistleblowers. The section only covers protection against an action for breach of confidence and does not provide for immunity...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for his kind words. I welcome the passing of the Bill which the Labour Party supports and on which we engaged with the Minister. Apart from the Government, the Labour Party was the only group to table amendments. We did so in a spirit of constructive engagement. As the Minister indicated, the debate on Committee Stage of the Bill in the Seanad was very good. We have...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: Our amendment No. 8 would have removed the exemption conferred on local authorities by the definition currently in the Bill. We believe the exclusion of local authorities is not in the best interests of the consumer, which is the purpose this Bill purports to champion. I assure the Minister that I welcome this legislation since it increases the rights and protections enjoyed by consumers in...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I reserve the right to bring forward a similar amendment to the amended section on Report Stage.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senator Donohoe's concerns about this amendment. If the Minister's desire is to limit the numbers of persons who are representatives of property services then the wording of the amendment should be, "not more than three" rather than to say, "Of the members of the Authority ... 3 shall be persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, are representatives of persons who provide...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful to the Minister for indicating he might accept my suggested amendment to insert the words "not more than three" on Report Stage. Otherwise, this amendment will not change the problem identified by the Minister which is that the authority could have a majority of representatives of service providers. I am glad to see in section 9(4) an obligation that the Minister shall ensure...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful that the Minister accepts my point that the words used should be "not more than three". I will certainly table an amendment to that effect on Report Stage. I do not know what groups he meant when he referred to bodies close to my issues or interests and would like to be enlightened. I would like to think the groups to which I am close nominate women for appointment.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I know where I stand on the agreement as a public service union member.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am not denying my allegiance to the Labour Party, but groups close to me or my party would, I hope, be better at appointing a more gender balanced team.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I will. However, the Minister's party has been guilty of cronyism in whom it appoints to State boards.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: It is important that we scrutinise whom we appoint to boards such as the Property Services Regulation Authority. Real problems have arisen within Fianna Fáil because apparently it saw nothing wrong with appointing cronies and buddies to boards. We need to move away from that practice. As the Minister will be aware, the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: A little like Fianna Fáil in government.

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I move amendment No. 27: In page 30, lines 8 to 17, to delete subsection (10) and substitute the following: "(10) A licensee who fails to comply with a code of practice is guilty of an offence.". This amendment is to ensure there are more teeth to the code of practice. As the Minister will be well aware, section 28 of the Bill will make it an offence to offer a property management service...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I accept there needs to be more detail in the amendment. The amendment is simply to set down a marker. Clearly, we have not prescribed any penalty and, as drafted, it is a rather vague offence. I certainly can come back with a more precise drafting. I take the Minister's point that the code is supposed to be by way of guidance. There is a bigger issue about how standards are to be...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: A better approach to section 35 might be to insert a provision which would allow the authority to refuse a licence to a person where it felt the person had not complied adequately with any code of practice issued by the authority under section 18. I take the Minister's point about avoiding the creation of unworkable criminal penalties. It would seem to me, however, that such a provision...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I was proposing an alternative to the criminal penalty proposed in amendment No. 27. It may give more teeth to the compliance with the code of practice provision. Section 35(4) states various extreme conditions, such as declaration of bankruptcy and an insufficient level of professional indemnity insurance which would allow the authority to refuse a licence renewal while section 35(6) deals...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to comment on section 59 to highlight an issue for consideration before Report Stage. I welcome the provisions in Part 6 of the Bill which will vastly improve the level of people's trust and confidence as both vendors and purchasers of houses. It is important to see the new rules being put in place. Section 59 which I also welcome requires licensees to retain records of the sale of...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful to the Minister for that response and apologise for my vagueness in raising it. I knew I had seen it somewhere. I believed it was in the programme for Government and I am glad to hear discussions are ongoing with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am aware that among consumer groups and the general public there is an enormous demand for this...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (21 Apr 2010)

Ivana Bacik: The Labour Party has always stood for transparency-----