Results 1-20 of 10,534 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I too congratulate the Cathaoirleach and, prematurely, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, on their appointments. I support the call for a motion condemning the recent actions by the military junta in Burma. It is appropriate to express our concern about this given that the Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been honoured in this country and elsewhere. This is not empty posturing as...

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Sep 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his election. It is just as well we are all independent in this row because I disagree with Senator Quinn. Unlike the Senator, I welcome the scheme of this Bill. I welcome the idea of public lending rights and the introduction of this Bill which is long overdue. I will make some brief points in my allotted time. The public lending rights scheme...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (26 Sep 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment this important international human rights case and the Minister of State for agreeing to take it. I raise the matter of the detention of Ms Ingrid Betancourt, a Colombian politician, former member of the Colombian Senate and peace and anti-corruption activist, who grew up in France, holds French citizenship and was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Will the Leader consider holding a debate on how legislation can best provide for greater gender equality in the home? I refer in particular to legislation providing for paid paternity leave. The urgency of this is highlighted in a comprehensive opinion poll published in The Irish Times today, which presents the views of a large number of women surveyed. Among the more alarming findings is...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Female Members in particular may like me to repeat what I said. Today's edition of The Irish Times contains a comprehensive opinion poll of women's attitudes to various issues, including work and life in the home. One of the more alarming findings is that of the women surveyed, only 33% reported that their male partners contributed regularly to housework. Men clearly need some gentle...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2007)

Ivana Bacik: This was part of my policy platform when I stood for election. One of the main reasons that men do not contribute more in the home to child care and other responsibilities is that there is no recognition of their role in this regard. Despite our extensive equality legislation, we do not yet have paid paternity leave. I note that the Labour Party Government in Britain has introduced...

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (3 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I support Senators Alex White, Ross and Norris. I raised this matter on Second Stage and suggested it would be preferable to insert the word "shall" rather than the word "may" because leaving the word "may" implies a discretion which, as the Minister of State said, we clearly do not have since we are in breach of European law. Like the other Senators, I do not see the problem with this...

Seanad: Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (3 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: The word "may" means a choice.

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Order for Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I am delighted to welcome the Minister. I should first apologise to my Seanad colleagues for the clogging of their e-mail in-boxes with approximately 20,000 e-mails that have been sent by supporters of Friends of the Earth, the NGO with which I worked on this Bill, and supporters of other NGOs, seeking their support for the Bill. Some supporters are also present for the debate in the Seanad...

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister and Members who spoke in support of the Bill. I am very grateful to them for doing so. I am also very grateful to Oisín Coughlan, Friends of the Earth, the other lobbyists and members and supporters of Friends of the Earth and the other development and environmental NGOs which supported the Bill and lobbied Senators. Colleagues mentioned support from all parties. Just...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I second that.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I apologise for speaking out of turn earlier. I second the motion proposed by Senator Norris to have a debate on Seanad reform. I thought Senator Hanafin might have got there before me when he spoke in favour of a debate on Seanad reform, but he seemed to refuse at the last hurdle and not second Senator Norris's motion. We had much discussion on the matter on the first sitting day of this...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Will the deputy leader consider holding a debate on abortion, a topic of ongoing concern, particularly to women? Politicians have ignored and overlooked the topic. Governments have failed to legislate for abortion, particularly to provide for the circumstances in which an abortion may be carried out in line with the Supreme Court judgment in the X case, whereby continuing a pregnancy poses...

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I would like to pick up where Senator Norris left off. I welcome debate on this motion as it is an issue about which I feel strongly and one I have raised on the Order Paper and previously on the Order of Business. The Minister is well aware of the problem of the lack of planning that led to the crisis over school places in Balbriggan. However, we need to focus on the deeper, structural...

Seanad: Burma: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Like other Senators, I welcome this cross-party motion. It is most important that the House achieve consensus on this issue. It is particularly important that we call upon the member states of the United Nations, especially those countries with seats on the Security Council, to put pressure on the despotic regime in Burma to cease its repression of the Burmese people and release its...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: We all saw the announcement in today's newspapers that the European Commission will take legal action against the State over the failure to protect adequately sites of national heritage. This is in the context of the Hill of Tara and the fiasco of the motorway going through this national monument. It is timely to call for a debate on the lack of protection we give to our national monuments...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I welcome the opportunity to engage in a debate on this issue, in which I have a strong personal interest, having worked for years as practitioner in the criminal justice system and teaching criminal law in Trinity College. It is important that we do not engage in pantomime politics. Rather than being a Punch and Judy show, I was going to start by making some constructive comments and...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I was not sure if Senator Doherty was going to be in the Chamber, otherwise I would have asked at the start. I will share my time with him. Could the Leas-Chathaoirleach tell me how much time I have left?

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Perhaps the Leas-Chathaoirleach could tell me when I am five minutes through. With the permission of the House I will share the last three minutes with Senator Doherty.