Results 11,241-11,260 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: If we accept that education is a right, not a privilege, as the 15,000 students argued yesterday, we must accept that it should be free at the point of access. Of course the rich should pay more but they should do so through a fair and progressive taxation system. Let us have a debate on taxation. I suggested in the House that we should not stop with 2% for people earning over €100,000...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader for a debate on universal access to public services. There has been much talk on universality in the wake of last week's budget because the Government is clearly set on attacking the principle of universal access to public services and introducing a means test for a range of benefits. In saying this, I include the signal by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan,...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I also inquired about legislation on civil partnerships.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: When?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: What about the Civil Partnership Bill?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: In the next session?

Seanad: Child Care Services: Statements (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to share my time with Senator Feargal Quinn. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the opportunity to debate this important issue. I wish to take up a theme rightly addressed by Senator Fitzgerald on the universal provision of child care services. Before doing that, however, I wish to say how delighted I was to hear what Senator Mary White had to say. She has spoken...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: We need a debate on universality as the Government has clearly placed the principle under attack. The Minister for Finance declared last week that he was reviewing the universality of child benefit payment. He has already tried to change the universal provision of medical cards for the over 70s in a botched and haphazard way. The European principle is that we supply public services to...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: The principle of equity of taxation is important and should be examined. If the Government asks for our suggestion, why not take those on the minimum wage out of the 1% levy and instead place a higher levy on those earning more than €150,000 or €200,000——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: ——instead of a blunt instrument of 2% for everyone over €100,000, irrespective of the fact that there are people in the country who can well afford to pay more than 2%, and who are earning well in excess of €100,000? I support the amendment and it is very important that we have this debate and we should closely examine what the Government is really about, which is attacking the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is certainly not 5%.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Tax the wealthy.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: What about access to education?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support the amendments to the motion proposed by Senators Frances Fitzgerald and Joe O'Toole. It is vital to debate these issues on the budget——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I second it and I support the other amendment. It is vital that we debate this budget. In years to come this will be know as Brian's botched budget——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is the first time ever that anyone can remember a budget that was open to negotiation after it was announced in the House. The people on the Government side should hear themselves this week, as they are saying something very different now——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Will the Leader call the relevant Minister to the House to answer valid questions, which are being asked by everyone in the country, about what exactly will happen with medical cards for the over 70s? We should defend the principle of universality of access. Senator Harris claims it is indefensible, but what about universality of access to primary schooling and waste services?

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Quinn for sharing time. I share his view that the problem of capital has not been resolved. On the night of 1-2 October I criticised the absence of adequate protection for taxpayers in the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008 and, as an Independent Senator, I believed it was my duty that night to vote against the Bill. I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Some of us are opposing it.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is interesting to hear Members on the other side being so critical of the budget. It confirms Senator Fitzgerald's comments on the reigning confusion. The more that Government spokespersons speaking on radio concede that there are anomalies and the more that Senator Boyle and others state that the budget may not have been well handled, the more confusion and anger there will be about its...