Results 11,421-11,440 of 11,509 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I do not intend to name the drinks company so it will not show on the transcript.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I understand there is some levity about this, but it is a serious matter. It was raised by a constituent of mine who became deeply concerned about the issue while trying to buy a replica kit for his young son, as he found that his son would be walking around bearing the logo of a drinks company. This should be raised with the Minister for Health and Children. My constituent attempted to do...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Certain other issues were raised in the newspapers today and yesterday. One is the lack of funding for third level institutions. The heads of the two big universities in Dublin, University College Dublin and Trinity College, have raised major concerns about the lack of funding with the Minister for Education and Science. We must consider this for the third level sector. I wish to mention...

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome this opportunity to second the important motion proposed by my colleague, Senator Norris, with his customary eloquence. I pay tribute to the work he has done in bringing about much of the legal change to which the Government amendment refers. Before addressing the substance of the motion, I declare a professional interest in the matter. In my capacity as a practising barrister I...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome this Bill and congratulate the Minister on introducing this long overdue legislation. It at last means Ireland will comply with international obligations. Back in September, shortly after my own election, I put a motion to this House, which remains on the Order Paper, calling on the Government to bring forward legislation without delay criminalising the practice of trafficking in...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I ask permission to share time with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I second Senator Norris's motion to amend the Order of Business to withdraw the civil partnership Bill, for the reasons he has mentioned. The Government has treated him extremely shabbily in respect of this Bill. I note the Deputy Leader's comments about the time-frame for the introduction of Government legislation on civil partnership. It is the first time that it has been put on record...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: That is a core principle of equality. I wish to renew a call I made last term for a debate on women's representation in the Oireachtas. Senator Norris mentioned Barack Obama's successful run in the US presidential election campaign. On behalf of women Members, I note that Hilary Clinton has also been doing extremely well and should not be written off yet as a Democrat candidate. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Our record on women's representation is extremely poor at 13% of our parliamentarians. It is time to debate this seriously.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Yes, it is better in the Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Senator Clinton's candidacy has been a real inspiration for women in the United States and here, just as Senator Obama's candidacy is an inspiration for African-Americans. Senator Clinton also speaks for an under-represented and disadvantaged group.

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to share my time with Senator Pearse Doherty.

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome his measured approach and the fact he recognises the important need for a cross-departmental approach, which is recognised in the national drugs strategy. This is not just a matter of criminal justice or law enforcement issue. To see it in that light is to miss the point and not the way to go about changing the damage done by...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: With the permission of the House, I wish to share time with Senator O'Toole.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the concerns expressed by Senator Fitzgerald about the lack of time we have had to review and scrutinise the provisions of the Bill. There has been undue haste with the way in which it has been brought before us, in particular, because there is such a raft of amendments that the Bill purports to make, not just in the sections but also in the Schedules, and particularly in Schedule 1....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senator McFadden's amendment on paternity leave, an issue on which I have spoken previously in this House. There is a real need to consider introducing paternity leave. The Minister spoke yesterday about changes to parental leave but paternity leave should be regarded as something different from parental leave because parental leave is an entitlement for both parents. Paid...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senator McFadden's amendment, which seeks to deal with an issue I have raised on a number of occasions. I launched a campaign over a year ago to seek to restore universal child benefit to the children of asylum seekers who are being dealt with under the direct provision programme. The campaign is co-ordinated by the Free Legal Advice Centres and supported by a range of...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: We have heard much about U-turns. The difference between a U-turn and a climbdown is as clear cut as the difference between a statutory instrument and a ministerial order or the difference between a whip-round and a dig-out. All these terms are vaguely defined. The decision on water charges for schools is a welcome U-turn by the Government. There has been another welcome U-turn for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I am seeking a debate from the Leader on the need for another U-turn on the policy on children. There is a need for the removal of the habitual residence condition on child benefit. I have raised this before in the House and Senator McFadden has an amendment on it to the Social Welfare Bill. It is supposed to be a universal benefit but is denied to the children of asylum seekers in direct...