Results 11,261-11,280 of 11,469 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Budget Statement 2009: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Quinn for sharing his time with me. I would like to put forward some reasons the budget should be criticised and opposed. We all accept the Government is in dire financial circumstances. There is no question about that. However, many of us would say the Government must bear some responsibility for the state of the economy. That is the least we can expect, given it has...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2009: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: A tax of 1% of €35,000 means a lot more than 1% of €100,000.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: The budget is most regrettable and regressive, as other speakers on this side have said. There is an immense amount of hardship and pain to be suffered, much of it hidden in small print and in back door measures. There will be a slow burn of anger as people realise the true impact of the budget on them, their incomes and their family and household incomes. We will see a long-term impact,...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I have a question and it is of particular concern. The Minister has asked the Commission on Taxation to examine more generally the payment of universal child benefit. Does this mean he will extend this apparent attack on universal benefit provision in a most regrettable way to child benefit payments? As legislators we deserve to know this and if it is the Minister's intention we should...

Seanad: Volunteering in Irish Society: Statements (14 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this important topic. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy John Curran, to the House. I agree with his comment that volunteering is central to ideals of democracy, social inclusion and active citizenship and support for volunteering is essential to ensure a vibrant civic society....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is wonderful to hear Senator Mary White joining the ranks of the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I agree with Senator Mary White. The cost of child care is a subject very close to my own heart as a mother of two children, one of whom is just over two years and the other under two years. I hope she will vote with us the next time I or anyone else on this side of the House calls for a debate on child care.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am very grateful to Senator Mary White for clarifying that she cannot put her money where her mouth is on the subject of child care.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am very sorry she cannot.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I was supporting Senator White's call for a debate on child care but I would also like to ask the Leader for a debate on third level education in the context of the report of the great achievements of our universities. I echo Senator Hannigan's comments congratulating our universities on their achievement, in particular Trinity College Dublin on becoming the first Irish university to enter...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am asking the Leader for clarification as to whether this merger will go ahead. The money that would be saved would be minuscule in the context of the billions about which we are talking. It would be a retrograde step should this merger go ahead. I hope it will not, and I ask the Leader for clarification.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, I referred yesterday to my Climate Protection Bill. However, I thank the Leader for returning to the matter today.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise but yesterday I sought to have the debate on my Climate Protection Bill resumed.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: This amendment gets to the root of the problem some of us have with the Bill. The Minister has suggested we are obsessed with the assets and liabilities of the institutions. However, it is appropriate and responsible to examine the potential exposure of the taxpayer to liability under the Bill in the terms of the guarantee scheme proposed by the Minister. While we accept and all hope that...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support this amendment which goes to the heart of providing a safeguard and an adequate degree of oversight to the guarantee the Bill provides. It would address some of the concerns we have with the legislation. The Minister has already indicated he would like to see a representative of the public interest appointed to the boards of institutions receiving financial support. Will he...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: This is an important measure as, presumably, were financial support to be provided, this would be a matter of public record. Therefore, were financial support to be provided for an institution, it would be in the public domain. Consequently, it makes sense that if financial support is being provided for an institution, there should be a report, at least on a monthly basis.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: This is all about corporate governance.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: With respect to Senator Walsh, this is about corporate misgovernance. The Bill is and must be about corporate governance. What we have asked is that the Minister clarify the situation and include, perhaps in the scheme he will bring before the Houses, some conditions relating to chief executives and higher bank officials in terms of a cap on their salaries and expenses. This is a limited...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support the amendment. If the Minister is not willing to accept it, he might consider putting something similar into the scheme he is presenting before the Houses. It seems eminently sensible to have some provision for review of salaries and bonuses paid to board members and senior officers of institutions which are seeking financial support under the Bill.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support this very important amendment. As the Minister said, part of the problem we now see is as a result of a disproportionate reward of excessive risk-taking by some bankers. I accept what he said that not all bankers were reckless. However, it is clear there were bankers who were reckless and who were disproportionately rewarded. That is politically unacceptable and, as Senator...