Results 241-260 of 10,683 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I support the calls on this side for a debate on education. I ask the Leader to guarantee that there will be a debate on education next week, given the levels of concern.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: We had a debate on a specific aspect of education cutbacks on children with disabilities. This is an important aspect but we need a fuller debate on education. I fully support what Senator Alex White has said with regard to those on the Government side speaking on both sides. After Senator White made the point this morning, we heard a number of Senators making this point. It undermines...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: Perhaps it is time we had a debate on cynicism in politics and on speaking the truth in politics, speaking in support of policies and voting——

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: ——the way they have spoken and in accordance with principle. Senator Boyle expressed his support for a debate on education yet voted against the amendment to the Order of Business tabled by Fine Gael, not once but twice, this week and last week.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: That beggars belief. Those who have been in this House a long time become utterly cynical about it and it is no wonder people outside these Houses are utterly cynical about politicians if they hear people saying one thing and then voting another way. This happens all the time. I ask the Leader for a debate on people voting the way they say they will vote and on people voting against their...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Oct 2008)

Ivana Bacik: All of us would be concerned about legislation of this import that must be rushed through. I understand the reasons this is so but we all share the concern that there could be unforeseen deficiencies in the legislation, and the issues which have been raised are important, especially that concern the purported retrospective effect. The effect of this is difficult to predict. I have a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Deputy Leader for a debate on the Climate Protection Bill 2007, which I introduced to the House in October last year and which still has to resume on Second Stage. In the justified uproar and protests over the dreadful budget, it may have missed the attention of those in government that last week the UK passed the first binding climate change law. The new British Act sets a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is unfortunate that this Bill was not passed into law before the British Act was passed, but given that they have passed it, it shows that an argument against passing our Bill into law has been removed. It is clearly possible and practical to pass legislation creating binding targets for reductions in carbon emissions. It is becoming obvious that we have no option but to do so, or else...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: ——or other degenerative diseases and for whom research of this type can offer a real prospect of treatment for the future. We should not close the door on them and lack compassion towards them when we are debating stem cell research.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: That is the real issue for us and that is where our concern would be better placed.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: We need a new Government to manage the economy.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: It is still a lot better than what we have, which is no Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am delighted with the election of Senator Barack Obama as President. It is wonderfully exciting and hopeful for the world to see a change of regime in the White House. Given that Senator Obama has made it clear that one of his key priorities will be the challenge of climate change, I renew my call on the Leader to allocate time for the debate on the Climate Protection Bill which I...

Seanad: Medical Cards: Statements (5 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I thank Senator Quinn for sharing time and I welcome the Minister. I wish to tackle a topic to which other Members referred, namely, the principle of universality. Essentially, as the Minister and other Senators stated, this matter boils down to a single question as to why richer older people should receive free health care. The Minister for Education and Science framed the same question...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I renew my call for an answer to my question on when the debate on the Climate Protection Bill 2008 can be resumed. This is the third day I have asked the question. I asked the Deputy Leader the question on Tuesday and was given an ambiguous answer on the resumption of the debate. I am anxious to have the debate resumed. It is timely in a week when a US President has been elected who is...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I am grateful for the time. Like every Member who has spoken today, I condemn the dreadful murder of Shane Geoghegan in Limerick and extend sympathies to his bereaved family. It is time we had a debate on how best to deal with gangland murder. The focus on sanctions and trial processes is not the most effective response for the victims of this appalling crime. We would be better placed...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: There is a question as to why it has been singled out in this way. That must be answered. We need a debate in the House and the Minister should answer us why he is watering down the protections offered to ordinary people by the authority in this way.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader for a debate on the conduct of business in the Seanad. Many of us on this side have been severely critical of the absence of legislation before the House, but that does not mean we are critical of debates and statements. We all accept there are some important debates that must be had and in the course of making statements on issues we can express ourselves fully. That is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I ask for a debate on the role of the Equality Authority in light of the swinging cuts that have been made. We need to have the Minister in the House to answer questions on why the authority has been singled out in this way, given the good work it has done. I am grateful to Senator Quinn for pointing out a report on page two of The Irish Times on the EU management committee on fruit and...

Seanad: Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report 2007: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Ivana Bacik: I join others in welcoming the Minister to the House. I also welcome this opportunity to speak on the Criminal Assets Bureau, and on its 2007 report in particular. This is a topical issue today as we are all still recovering from the news of the heinous murder of Shane Geoghegan in Limerick at the weekend. His murder has shocked people in communities across Ireland. None of us can imagine...