Results 41-60 of 10,645 for speaker:Ivana Bacik

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: On 25 October I called for a debate on cockle fishing in the Waterford estuary and marine conservation. The Government parties rejected that call and voted against it but I was delighted that the Deputy Leader of the House, Senator Boyle, subsequently said the order I had criticised that allowed for cockle dredging in the estuary, thereby causing a great deal of damage to the marine...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I am raising the matter on the Adjournment but I also call for a debate on the matter.

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today and his presence here has solved a mystery for me. My question pertains to the universality of child benefit and initially I had addressed it to the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for children, Deputy Brendan Smith, because neither I nor the groups on whose information I am working were clear...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (22 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to ask a supplemental question arising from the Minister's reply and I believe I am entitled to so do. Am I to understand that direct provision is made instead of child benefit in cases where direct provision is made to the children?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: What is clear from what has been said in the discussion about the health service and the current crisis in Portlaoise in cancer care is that, for the sake of the women and their families who are suffering terribly at this time, the key question that must be asked in this House and elsewhere is who is responsible.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: If nobody will take responsibility, why not? It is clear the Minister bears ultimate responsibility for a system which she set up and which appears to be responsible for failures in communication, diagnosis and treatment. If not the Minister, why has somebody lower down the hierarchy not resigned?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: In Britain, the head of Revenue and Customs took the responsibility and resigned following an error of which he was clearly unaware. Nobody in the HSE, the Department of Health and Children, Portlaoise Hospital or anywhere else in the health care system has yet taken responsibility for the terrible situation in which these women find themselves. I renew my call for a debate on the...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I wish to share time with Senator Quinn.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I am pleased my name is appended to the amendment to the motion. I fully support calls for reform. The amendment goes further than the motion by calling for the publication of a timescale in respect of the implementation of the recommendations of the 2004 report. The Minister provided a concise summary of those recommendations. They received all-party support and members of Fine Gael, the...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: As the only Senator in the Chamber from the University of Dublin panel, it is certainly news to me that I represent people of any particular religious ethos. As somebody who was brought up a Catholic and is now firmly lapsed and an atheist, I am very proud to represent people of all religions and none. I hope all Senators here feel the same way. It is dangerous to start talking about...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Ivana Bacik: On a point of order, the Leader misunderstood the point I raised. I was referring to structures to support these women.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I support calls by Senator O'Toole and other Members for the release of Íngrid Betancourt. I raised this as a matter on the Adjournment in this Seanad's first week. The last official statement of Government policy was the answer given to me then by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Ireland's calls for the release of Ms Betancourt. There is a cross-party consensus for the Government to...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for a debate on prisons policy? It is generally overlooked as the cliche is that there are no votes in prisons. People are locked up for long periods. Last night, three young mothers in Cork were locked up for long sentences. The question never asked is what purpose does this serve? While the Minister is proceeding on...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: There appears to be cross-party support for a motion calling for the release of Íngrid Betancourt. I am delighted Senator Fitzgerald and others have raised the issue again. Yesterday, I asked the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the House for a debate on prison reform. A sum of €14 million has been allocated in the budget for the expansion of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: The Leader said yesterday, in the context of the drugs debate, that there is unanimity about the need for tougher measures and mandatory sentences. I do not believe there is. I do not believe mandatory sentences for drug and other offences serve a purpose in terms of rehabilitation. The three young mothers, whose cases were reported yesterday, were sentenced two days ago to long terms of...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: I support the calls made by Senators Norris and Hannigan for a debate on extraordinary rendition. The report of the Irish Human Rights Commission makes serious claims which should be debated in the House as a matter of urgency. It is important we ensure Ireland does not breach human rights obligations in this regard. In response to the calls for a debate on the drugs issue, while all...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: A strong case can be made for roadside drug testing as we already have roadside alcohol testing. The knee-jerk hysteria we hear whenever the issue of drugs is discussed is not the way to tackle the problem or help the real victims.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Accusing people of being soft on drugs is typical of the kind of hysteria that accompanies this debate and does not help anybody, especially the real victims such as the unfortunate couriers and others shown on the streets in the "Prime Time Investigates" programme last night.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2007)

Ivana Bacik: Our concerns should be with the real victims. The Simon Community has produced a report showing that many people are homeless on the streets as a result of drink, drugs and psychiatric problems. Homelessness is linked to the issue of prison. If the House debates homelessness, and I called for such a debate last week, it should also debate prison policy because many of those who leave...