Results 121-140 of 289 for going forward speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and his stated commitment to reform in this area, which Senator McDowell has also noted. I commend Senator McDowell and his colleagues on bringing forward this important Bill. I also note Senator McDowell's most interesting account of some of the context and background to Seanad reform. I spoke on this matter last week when we debated Senator...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Nov 2020)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Leader for facilitating the debate today on non-Government motion No.5 proposed by my colleague Senator Mark Wall on the siege of Jadotville. I am really glad that we have Government time today to debate that issue, which is of interest to quite a number of Members. I also renew calls on the Leader for a debate on the gender pay gap. Monday was Equal Pay Day and I know that...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...of all the institutions.I do support that, as does the Labour Party, but the difficulty for me is that the reform is one that needs to be done as part of a package of reforms because, otherwise, we are going to see such a skewing of the electorate. We would have six Senators elected by 800,000 university graduates with just this Bill. Without the other much needed reforms, one would not...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (5 Nov 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ..., however, is genuinely a technical one and I am happy to support it on behalf of the Labour Party Senators. Previous speakers have also referred to the fact that the Minister will bring the Bill forward only to Second Stage today and that we will have some time, which will be short no doubt, before Committee and Remaining Stages. That should not need to be said. It is exceptional that...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...rule and so on. We know all of that is in the 2004 Act, but that Act is not set in stone and could have been amended. Indeed, the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 could have been brought forward. I tried to ensure it would be brought forward under the Minister's predecessor, Katherine Zappone. For all of those reasons, it is unfortunate, to say the least, that the Bill has...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...is to be imposed in one hour. I wish to reiterate what Senator Hoey said, outline our serious reservations about the Bill and express our reasons for supporting the sensible amendments put forward by colleagues seeking greater oversight of the provisions of this legislation. Unfortunately, due to the guillotine, we may not get to speak on the amendments. Very few of them are likely to...

Seanad: Electoral (Civil Society Freedom)(Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...and have worked on the issues it addresses with colleagues in civil society groupings, in particular with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. I commend Senators Ruane and Higgins on bringing it forward, and note also that it has received support from a wide range of civil society organisations and NGOs. The number is 65, I am told, including ICCL, Amnesty International Ireland and The...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...behalf of the Labour Party, and other colleagues from across the Opposition group, we are unhappy at the way in which the Bill is being rushed through both Stages today. It is unfortunate and not good legislative practice, particularly when such important matters are at stake. I support Senator Higgins's amendments. I reiterate her point on the need for a clear rationale as to why the...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...therefore, legislation was necessary to deal with that aspect. Why this legislation? Why not deal with the problem disapplying the 30-year rule? If that is the plan in any case, because there is going to be a future information and tracing service, which, apparently, will be conducted by Tusla in line with future legislation, then why not disapply the 30-year rule in this legislation?...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...this Bill and appreciate, as my colleague Deputy Nash has stated in the Dáil, the necessity for many of the measures in it, it is, as far as we are concerned, a missed opportunity. It could have gone much further and could and should have been used to build a far more solid basis for a recovery in our view. I will elaborate a little on that point. Deputy Nash summed up this point...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jul 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...support from Fianna Fáil and the Green Party and we very much hope that we will see it pass all Stages in the lifetime of this Seanad. As such we are restoring it to the Order Paper so it may go to Committee Stage. Our second Bill is the Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016 which likewise passed Second Stage in the House in February 2017 with...

Seanad: An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála eile ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail), 2020: An Dara Céim - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Second Stage (20 Mar 2020)

Ivana Bacik: ...and from where we are hearing awful reports of the terrible impact of the virus. I want to pay tribute to the Minister, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste - who was here earlier - and to all of those in government who have shown immense leadership in this short period.I think it is only 20 days since the first case was diagnosed here in Ireland. The Minister for Health has shown immense...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Nov 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...increased investment in public services. There is a fundamental problem on the right throughout Europe, whereby spending, whether on public services, health, education or housing, is viewed as money going out, whereas it should be viewed as investment in services for all of us. It is not empty expenditure but rather investment in assets for all of us to share, and in future generations...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Nov 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...supportive of the family. I think there would be great support for Senator Conway-Walsh's proposed amendment and I am happy to second it. In the Dáil last week, there was significant movement forward on that debate. It would be useful for us to take a similar approach in the Seanad, in keeping with the approach we have taken before on the issue of Shane's tragic death. The recent...

Seanad: Inquiry into the Death of Shane O'Farrell: Statements (20 Nov 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...Party colleague, Deputy Penrose, also spoke on this. What should have been done in respect of Shatter v. Guerin, was that the Government should have reverted to the Dáil and Seanad as promised, if a proposal was going to be put forward on the Attorney General's advice to amend the terms of reference. Instead, it was an Opposition motion that brought the Government back to the House...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...the Labour Party Private Members' Bill on education and commend my colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin, who initiated it. We took it through Committee Stage without opposition last night and I look forward to working with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, and colleagues to ensure it is passed. We are happy to discuss amendments and so on in the meantime. I...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2019)

Ivana Bacik: I just want to voice my support for the amendment. We are putting it forward again in a constructive manner, as we have done throughout the process, in order to try to ensure that the legislation is strengthened. To reiterate what Senator Nash said about confidence in the system, it is welcome to hear the Minister state that the numbers of women going for cervical screening have increased...

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...are serving on boards. If we are agreeing to the principle that persons convicted of certain offences are eligible, surely those convicted of offences for which a lengthier sentence is likely are going to be more important on the board. I note that the Irish Penal Reform Trust has suggested this amendment. It states it believes the relevance, gravity or seriousness of length of time...

Seanad: Parole Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...reform, as expressed by the leader, Deputy Brendan Howlin, when it was introduced as a Private Members' Bill in 2016. I join colleagues in paying tribute to Deputy O'Callaghan for bringing it forward. It is long overdue that the mechanisms for dealing with the parole process and the Parole Board itself be placed on a statutory footing. I am grateful to the Irish Penal Reform Trust for...

Seanad: Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2019)

Ivana Bacik: ...debate the Bill, which has been a long time coming. As some of us pointed out on the Order of Business this morning, Second Stage of the Bill was taken on 22 March 2017, which is over two years ago. We had awaited the amendments and I know we will now have a full debate on those amendments. Section 1 gives the Short Title of the Bill as the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016....