Results 11,041-11,060 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Statements (5 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: That is what we agreed. I am happy with two minutes.

Seanad: Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Statements (5 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing time with me. I echo his words about the need for equity, about the problem with the burden of blame being heaped on the public sector and the unfair scapegoating of public service workers. In the public service, we all accept the need to pay our share. I support the principle of the pension levy, but I disagree with the inequitable way in which it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Of course it has.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls by Senator O'Toole and others for a debate today on the Government's economic package. I take issue with those on the other side of the House who suggest we are not being constructive. We need to take issue constructively with the elements of the package that has been proposed by the Government. We have heard the mantra from Senator Boyle, the Minister, Deputy Harney, and...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: We had this debate last year when the Government proposed a 1% levy, which they were to impose equally on all up to a certain level, and it had to revise that. It saw it was profoundly inequitable to charge the same percentage levy on the lowest paid. It must do the same U-turn on the pension levy. It would be most unfair to charge people on €15,000 and €20,000 a 3% levy to pay for...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: That would make it appear more equitable and would make it easier to bear the pain of these unpopular measures. We need to engage constructively and we need to do so today. I also ask that the Leader would take on board the wording I proposed to him last week of a cross-party motion from this House calling on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to grant Pamela Izevbekhai and...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome Senator Mullen's expression of support for the separation of church and State. I am delighted to hear it.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: Many of us have long called for a true separation of church and State in Ireland, particularly in the education and health care systems, and I am delighted to hear Senator Mullen support that. I take objection to the way he lectures anyone——

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——who dares to criticise the Pope's decision or the Vatican State's decision on Bishop Richard Williamson, who clearly denied the Holocaust on Swedish television, which is appalling. Chancellor Angela Merkel is correct to make a diplomatic issue of this with the Vatican State.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: May I give the last minute of my time to Senator Doherty? I welcome the Minister to the House. It gives me great pleasure to support Senator Norris's motion. It is a very important time for us to debate the Government's commitment to human rights. We have all acknowledged we face a deeply difficult economic period, but at a time like this we need to renew our commitment to human rights...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (4 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: We must bear in mind the language used here. I want to speak about the Equality Authority in more detail. Saturday's Irish Times carried a very powerful letter by the seven saoithe of Aosdána, among them Louis le Brocquy, Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel and Camille Souter. They expressed grave concern at the position of the Equality Authority following the recent resignation of its director,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing time with me. I support some of the reforming elements of this legislation. It is welcome to hear the Minister say he intends to impose spending limits on local election candidates. That is an important change and will ensure greater democracy and equity in the running of local elections. I am concerned to hear, however, that this matter was not...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I know others have raised the matter in this House. I ask that we take some time in this House in the next week or so to debate what can be done to ensure Israel is held accountable for the undoubted war crimes that it committed in inflicting such appalling onslaughts and attacks on the people of Gaza. We saw 1,300 Palestinians killed, with a third of them children, there were an enormous...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——it would be far more important if we did our patriotic duty as citizens of the world by not buying Israeli goods and services. Israel deserves to be treated as a pariah state.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I was among those who called for an end to diplomatic relations with Israel at the height of the appalling carnage that occurred. That was an appropriate call to make at the time. The Seanad could take a strong role — I am aware that there is cross-party support for this — in the context of trying to hold Israel accountable in respect of what was done. I also wish to request a debate on...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader for a debate on what can be done in the aftermath of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. In the general doom and gloom of the news over Christmas and the early part of this month, the worst news of all was undoubtedly of the carnage inflicted upon the people of Gaza by Israel.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I also support the amendment. It is an excellent idea that this sort of measure would be adopted. We have all agreed, on both sides of the House given the speeches I have heard in the debate, that accountability is key and that those at the top of Anglo Irish Bank responsible for effectively poisoning the entire banking sector in the State should be held accountable. Issues of criminal law...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I did suggest there may have been a run on the bank. It is one of the matters about which there has been speculation——

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ——and Members have received no clear information one way or the other. Consequently, I would like an answer.