Results 11,181-11,200 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: The event will also illustrate to all of us how low the proportion of women in political life remains. It would be very useful for us to have a debate in December on how best we can achieve a greater number of women in the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support the amendment. It strengthens the notion of consultation, which is often an empty term where it involves simply providing information. The amendment strengthens the provision by ensuring housing authorities also seek responses from the listed bodies. This does not impose an onerous obligation on them but it requires that responses would be sought, which is an important...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I also support the thrust of the amendment which does not place unduly onerous obligations on housing authorities, which would be a concern given amendment No. 15 refers to "or any other bodies". The amendment does not require them to provide this information to a range of bodies, which would be too onerous.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support both amendments. It is important to allow for a more concrete method of consultation to take place whereby written submissions or observations can be made. I think six weeks may not provide enough time, however, and eight weeks would allow the bodies concerned a little more time to consider the information they have received from the housing authority and to make more...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am very grateful to the Minister of State for indicating that. It is very helpful that he is willing to look at the provision.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support the amendment. It adds an important extra dimension to the background to which the housing authority must have regard when performing its functions. Social background is a relatively broad provision, but to include "economic or cultural" extends it to encompass different groups that are already represented in our communities. I ask the Minister of State to indicate that he might...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support the amendment. It is important to specify in this Part of the Bill that housing authorities must work to prevent and reduce homelessness. As was said in the context of earlier sections, it is important to see some reference to homelessness included in the Bill. I know the 1998 Act provides the definition and we have heard the Minister of State's views on that. We had a vote on...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, are we now permitted to speak about flourishes to the amendment as well as the amendments themselves?

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: To echo what other Senators said, I would welcome clarification from the Minister of State as to what precisely he plans to do with regard to the homeless implementation plan. While this may be my misunderstanding, I understood him earlier to say he would put the implementation plan for the homelessness strategy on a statutory footing at a later stage this year. I understood that as meaning...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I now understand it may be put as an amendment to this Bill, perhaps on Report Stage in the Seanad or at a later date in the Dáil, or even when the Bill returns to the Seanad. We would like clarification from the Minister of State as to exactly at which stage he intends to bring forward this provision to place the homelessness implementation plan on a statutory footing. I do not believe any...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senator Doherty's amendment and I echo the words of Senator Norris on this matter. It is crucial a more comprehensive definition of homelessness is provided. I said this on Second Stage and I repeated it earlier. I am grateful to the make room campaign led by the four national voluntary organisations working in the area of homelessness and housing, namely, Threshold, Focus...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: They have been very helpful to several of us in working on the Bill. It is important there is a more comprehensive definition of homelessness. I say this, as did Senator Doherty, in the spirit of supporting and broadly welcoming the Bill, as I have previously said. A Bill dealing with housing in such a comprehensive manner is welcome. However, there is an omission and it would be a missed...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I was going to venture a suggestion on mobile homes, although not necessarily an intellectual one. Some qualifying word could be countenanced so that "mobile home" would not be included as an absolute term. One could refer instead to "inadequate", "unsuitable" or "insecure" mobile homes, to provide for the scenario whereby people want to be in mobile homes. They might otherwise feel it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with some of my colleagues who have expressed delight at the successful outcome of certain research, as reported today in The Lancet. I welcome the news that a woman in Spain is making a good recovery following the procedure that was carried out. I disagree with those who have suggested that this development should preclude or prevent the development of other sorts of research into...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am rather uncomfortable about the apparent obsession with women's reproductive capacity that is displayed by some Members of this House. I note that Senators on the other side have expressed their support for Senator Mullen's legislation. While I do not imagine I will support it, I look forward to seeing Members on the Government side crossing the floor — one needs to put one's money...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: We need a debate on the impact the budget cuts will have on people with disabilities.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: The centre for deaf studies will be unable to offer training in Irish sign language and English interpretation. Even in the narrow context of the courtroom, it is very important that training for interpreters is provided so that people with hearing disabilities can participate in legal processes.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Given that this is the definition section, it is a missed opportunity not to include within it a new statutory definition of homelessness. I made this point on Second Stage. The definition of homelessness currently does not include those who are in short-term rental accommodation. A broader definition modelled on the European-wide definition to include persons who experience inadequate or...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I move amendment No. 3: In page 9, line 11, to delete "may" and substitute "shall". This amendment is intended to replace the word "may" in the section with the word "shall". This would place a legal obligation on housing authorities to provide housing services which would significantly strengthen the legal obligations provided for in section 20, on which I have tabled amendments. Section...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls made for a debate on the economy and the position of the banks. We should have this debate rather than the debate proposed for Private Members' time on Wednesday on tourism. Important though that subject is, the economy should be a more pressing issue of concern for us at present. I note Senator O'Toole's point that there may be a cycle of fear whereby people are afraid to...