Results 161-180 of 204 for echo speaker:Ivana Bacik

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Seanad: School Capitation Grants (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Norris who, as always, puts his case with great eloquence. I echo his words and share his disquiet about speaking on behalf of this sector in the first place because I have a fundamental disagreement with the basis of our education system and the sectarian basis on which it is divided. I have criticised very strongly and will continue to do so the fact that children may be...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: It is clear we need a debate on expenses. This Order of Business has effectively turned into a debate on expenses and allowances and I echo the calls of others on both sides of the House to the Leader for that debate. I share the concern expressed by others at the way in which all Members have been tarred with the same brush as a result of the revelations in The Sunday Tribune in particular...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ...now ranked 13th in Europe. This is excellent news and tribute must be paid to all involved, both students and staff. This ranking is in the face of very severe cutbacks in the education sector. I echo Senator Hannigan's call for a debate on overall funding, particularly in the light of the disturbing news that funds allocated for the schools building programme were not fully spent,...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Ivana Bacik: -----if I may be permitted to do that, as I am speaking about a Member of this House. I echo the words of Senator Alex White in that it does seem absurd in the extreme if we cannot comment on any individual outside the House. Clearly, we do it all the time as a matter of routine and this must continue. I also welcome the outcome of the Lisbon treaty referendum which I hope will usher in new...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senator White in thanking the Minister for his engagement with us throughout the debate today. I thank also his officials who worked so hard on the Bill and staff in the Attorney General's office who I understand also advised on different aspects of the Bill. Although I agree this was a good and measured debate and that we engaged on many of the points about which we had...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ...Court and Circuit and District Courts are not up to dealing with organised crime and that instead we must create this parallel system of justice. The idea of a parallel system gives rise to echoes, and I accept it is a slightly overblown comparison, of the Guantanamo Bay regime, which we must not forget was set up as a sort of parallel regime for dealing with people by the US authorities,...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senators Regan and Alex White. I refer to the Minister's comments on the cross-examination of a garda on the beat or the garda who proposes to give this evidence. The difficulty is that a garda, of chief superintendent or another rank, routinely claims privilege. Perhaps I will wait until I have the Minister's attention. The garda claims privilege over sources or...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senator Coghlan and again call on the Leader to ensure we have a debate on the pharmacy issue with the Minister for Health and Children next week. I believe he has already promised and I would like him to confirm it. I also support Senator Ó Murchú's call for an all-party motion to be adopted in this House on the need for humanitarian relief to get through to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of other Senators in calling again for a debate on prison policy. In light of the announcements that have been made about the Central Mental Hospital and Thornton Hall, it is timely that we would debate this. Like others, I heard Professor Harry Kennedy on the radio this morning. He is doing an excellent job in the Central Mental Hospital despite difficulties with...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jul 2009)

Ivana Bacik: To echo Senator Regan, I take the Minister's point that tracking devices are less intrusive than surveillance devices more broadly. Entry to people's homes is authorised under section 8 to plant and withdraw tracking devices and these devices can be placed for up to four months without judicial authorisation according to this section. I take the Minister of State's point that they could be...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senator Alex White in calling for a debate on the ownership of national schools. While Archbishop Martin's comments that the Catholic monopoly, as he put it, over schooling is not tenable are welcome, some caution is necessary. The archbishop referred, in the reported version of his speech, to the management of schools rather than ownership. If we are to have debate on...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (17 Jun 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ...of State. I declare my own interest in this matter as I have represented people before the Special Criminal Court and have, therefore, worked with the provisions at issue in the motion. I echo Senator Alex White's words by expressing some concern about the procedure and the low level of scrutiny we give to these measures. It is important we retain the power of annual review. Before I...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I certainly will raise it again. I echo comments made by colleagues on the Ryan report and the need for further debate on it. It was an issue on which many people expressed their views strongly and in very emotional terms. It was a real issue underlying the elections. Moreover, issues arise from the Ryan report which is not a report about history. In response to Senator Mullen, Deputy...

Seanad: Gangland Crime: Statements (30 Apr 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Norris for sharing his time with me and I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I echo the words of Senator Norris in expressing sincere sympathy for the families of Roy Collins and, before that, Shane Geoghegan. Those two people in particular have in recent months come to symbolise the real problem that so many communities, not just in Limerick but around Ireland,...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ...as to what lies ahead in this mini-budget. The ICTU's ten-point social solidarity plan provides at least some sort of blueprint for the way forward. I hope there is real engagement on that. I echo the calls made yesterday for the Leader to arrange a debate on the reintroduction of third level fees. It seems from reports in today's newspapers that their reintroduction is imminent but,...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the words of Senator O'Toole about the proposed strike or day of action on Monday. We are all in agreement that it is unnecessary. Even though I speak as a committed trade unionist, many of us are very unhappy about the way it looks and many in the public sector are understandably reluctant to be seen to be withdrawing labour at a time when so many of their friends, relatives and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo the calls for further debate on Seanad reform following the successful debate last night that was prompted by Senator O'Toole's motion. It would be useful for Members to debate Fine Gael's proposals on Seanad reform. I also made some modest proposals for internal reforms to Seanad procedures to make its sittings somewhat more accessible and more relevant. The Leader should take on...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: ...the publication of the interim papers from the Commission on Taxation to enable Opposition and Government Members to see what the commission proposes to do is a useful recommendation to explore. I echo the calls of other speakers for a debate on the economy in advance of whatever mini-budget or tax increases we face. On a more positive note, I was privileged to play a part in ensuring...

Seanad: Legal Services Ombudsman Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Mar 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I echo Senator Norris's words of welcome for the Bill. I thank the Minister of State for all his work on it and for answering the points we raised with substantive replies, rather than formulaic ones that we sometimes get on legislation. The Bill will provide for an important extra layer of scrutiny, as has been said. It will improve the quality of services provided to members of the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Feb 2009)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the opportunity to support the amendments, both of which have the same effect by providing for a sunset clause. I echo the comments of Senators Twomey and White. The Government refers to the Bill as an emergency measure, which is not a tax. However, this comes down to honesty. If the Government parties want to be honest, it would be more honest and straightforward to raise...