Results 11,081-11,100 of 11,503 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

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.

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

Ivana Bacik: I wish to follow on from the Minister of State's comment that there was no run on the bank. However, in answer to the question as to why the bank should be nationalised, he stated: "Market confidence in the bank was further eroded and this was reflected in a limited weakening of Anglo Irish Bank's funding base in recent weeks and the increased risk of knock-on effects on its credit ratings."...

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

Ivana Bacik: The Minister of State should clarify exactly what the words, "a limited weakening of Anglo Irish Bank's funding base" mean. Although it is not clear, this is the clearest explanation that has been given as to the reason Members are being asked to nationalise a bank that they were told 25 days ago would not require nationalisation.

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the House for permission to share half of my time with Senator Doherty. I welcome the opportunity to put my thoughts on the record about this Bill. I echo the words of others on this side of the House to the effect that it is a real shame there is not more time to debate such detailed legislation, which we have only seen in a rushed manner. We are debating in the absence of a great...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I echo calls from Senators on both sides of the House for a cross-party motion on Pamela Izevbekhai. I attended the meeting in the audio visual room yesterday when she spoke so powerfully and eloquently about her dreadful experiences in Nigeria and her fears for the safety of her daughters, Naomi and Jemima, who are here in Ireland with her. There is enormous compassion and sympathy for her...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with the Senators who are seeking a debate on the economy. As I recall it, the Leader promised that the House would debate the economy on a regular basis.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Ivana Bacik: If I am not mistaken, he promised that we would have such a debate every month.