Ivana Bacik

Order of Business

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Senator Ivana Bacik:     I call for a debate in this House with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on waste management, following the excellent “Prime Time” report last night on the fiasco concerning the incinerator at Poolbeg and the decision making by the executive of Dublin City Council against the wishes of the elected representatives on a number of matters to do with waste management. This takes in not just the incinerator but also privatisation of waste collection and the transfer of the service to Greyhound, which has led to enormous problems in waste collection across Dublin city. There is a real issue for us to debate at a broader level about where responsibility for waste management policy should lie. Should it be with the employees of the council or should it be referred back to elected representatives? I would like to see a debate here whenever the Minister can facilitate it.

…     I call for a debate on blasphemy law. There was an excellent briefing yesterday from Professor David Nash of Oxford Brookes University, a leading expert on blasphemy, who spoke about the international impact of the passage of the 2009 Defamation Act in Ireland, particularly section 36, which created a new statutory offence of blasphemy. There was an excellent debate on it in this House, and many colleagues participated in it. There is an issue as there was an adverse international impact, with certain countries adopting Irish arguments on blasphemy and using this to bolster prejudice against different religions, even Christian religions in Islamic countries. We have also seen that Ireland has gone against the EU norm in adopting a new statutory definition of blasphemy based on a definition of offence. It is outdated and I am glad it is up for review in the programme for Government. We must move forward by having a debate in the House on how we can ensure incitement to religious hatred laws are strengthened in the Statute Book. We no longer need an offence of blasphemy.

I will refrain from mentioning a report in The Irish Times that too much testosterone makes for bad decisions, with a study from University College London suggesting—–

An Cathaoirleach:     Is the Senator seeking a debate on it?

Senator Ivana Bacik:     —–that if there is too much testosterone in a meeting, co-operation goes out the window. As it happens, tomorrow we will debate the Electoral (Amendment) Bill with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, which will for the first time introduce enforceable targets for political parties to adopt in selecting more women candidates. I hope that will lead to better decision making in Ireland and less testosterone in meetings.

SENATOR BACIK CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION

Senator Ivana Bacik
Labour Party Seanad leader and Spokesperson on Justice
4th November 2011

Speaking in response to the publication yesterday by the Minister for the Environment on national climate change policy, Senator Ivana Bacik has today confirmed the commitment of the Labour Party in government to the introduction of climate change legislation.

Senator Bacik said:

“The Labour Party in government remains committed to introduce climate change legislation.  The clear commitment in the agreed Programme for Government is to publish a Climate Change Bill which will provide certainty surrounding Government policy and provide a clear pathway for emissions reductions, in line with negotiated EU 2020 targets. The legislative programme for this government published less than two months ago states that publication of this Bill is expected in 2012. 

“In 2007, I published a private members bill on climate change in the Seanad; and Labour in opposition also published a climate change bill in the Dail. It is a key commitment for us in government, and that remains the case despite media reports suggesting otherwise.”
 ENDS                   

SENATOR BACIK CALLS FOR STATEMENT OF FIANNA FAIL SUPPORT  FOR CLIMATE CHANGE LAW

Statement from Senator Ivana Bacik

Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Wednesday 19th January, 2011

During the resumed debate today on the Climate Protection Bill, Senator Ivana Bacik will say:

“In the debate on this bill last week, we heard much about the Green Party’s position on climate change – but very little about Fianna Fail’s view of the bill. It is very disappointing not to hear a clearer statement of policy, even from a Party renowned for fence-sitting and refusing to take policy positions. If Fianna Fail are really serious about tackling the urgent issue of climate change, they must bite the bullet and give us a strong statement of their support for the bill.

The Labour Party welcomes the introduction of a climate change law, but we condemn the Government’s unconscionable delay in introducing this bill - well into the dying days of this failed regime. We are critical of the bill in that it is considerably weaker than the Government’s own Framework Document published in December 2009 and weaker than the cross-party bill introduced by Liz McManus TD on foot of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change.

However, we do support the bill and cannot justify any further delays in progressing climate change law. We urge the Government to strengthen and improve it by accepting our amendments during the Seanad and Dail debates.”

ENDS

SENATOR BACIK WELCOMES CLIMATE CHANGE BILL, CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT DELAY

Statement from Senator Ivana Bacik

Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Thursday 13th January, 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik will today lead for the Labour Party in the Seanad on the second stage debate on the Government’s Climate Protection Bill.

 Senator Bacik will say:

“We welcome the introduction of a climate change law. But we condemn the Government’s unconscionable delay in introducing this bill - well into the fourth year of the term of this appalling Government. The consequence of this delay is very serious. Introducing a complex bill during the last dying days of a failed coalition means that there has been less time for consultation and to ensure cross-party support and the support of important stakeholders.

In addition, we are critical of the bill in that it is considerably weaker than the Government’s own Framework Document published in December 2009. It is also weaker than the cross-party bill introduced by Liz McManus TD on foot of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change.

However, despite these reservations, we in the Labour Party do support the bill. Labour has a strong track record on environmental issues. We have been calling for climate change legislation for some time. I introduced the first climate protection bill in the Seanad in Oct 2007; and Liz McManus’ bill was introduced last year. We cannot justify any further delays in progressing climate change law, but we condemn the Government’s long delay in introducing this bill; and we urge the Government to strengthen and improve it by accepting our amendments during the Seanad and Dail debates.”

ENDS

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik:  Like other colleagues, I will begin by expressing my condolences to the families and communities in counties Limerick and Cork for the terrible tragedies that have happened there. I echo the words of other Members who have spoken of the need to ensure the maintenance of funding for mental health services. This is without making any specific connection but all Members are conscious that this is an important priority.

On the economy, it is extraordinary to hear Members on the Government side speak of “bailout” in so many different ways. They have called it borrowing or a response to help us with the situation—–

Senator Jerry Buttimer: That is right.

—–but they will not use the word “bailout”. While listening to the Minister for Finance this morning, I noted that he danced around the issue. Unfortunately, it is time to embrace the reality that all Members deeply regret, which is that we have sold out our economic sovereignty for the sake of a few zombie banks. One should be clear that this does date back to the bank guarantee scheme of September 2008 and to the mistake made at that point to guarantee everything—–

Senator Jim Walsh:  What does the Senator think would have happened had we not done so?

An Cathaoirleach:  No interruptions. Questions to the Leader.

Senator Ivana Bacik:   —–and to shore up banks that are in effect zombie banks. We still are shoring them up and are paying this incredible price. This huffing and puffing and culture of denial from the Government must stop because it is clear to all in Ireland and internationally that we are about to be bailed out. This has been more or less implicitly accepted by Members on the Government side.

In addition, I seek clarification from the Leader with regard to the climate change Bill, the heads of which were to have been published yesterday. I am unsure, in the midst of all the other grim news, whether this was the case. I seek clarity on this point because they have been promised for so long.

While I welcome the release of Aung Sang Suu Kyi at the weekend in Burma, no Members believe this will mark any sort of real return to democracy for that country, especially as more than 2,000 political prisoners remain in custody there. A debate on this issue is needed and Members must think about the real suffering and sacrifices being made by the citizens of Burma.

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik: I wish to second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Hannigan. Senator Coghlan might have already seconded it, so I will third it, as it concerns debating the climate change Bill that I proposed three years ago. The debate is long overdue. I noted with interest Senator Boyle’s response to Senator Hannigan, in which Senator Boyle suggested my Bill was deficient. I take issue with his comment, as the deficiency lies in the three years of prevarication and delay from a Green Party in coalition that insisted in 2007 that climate change legislation was one of its top priorities. We still see no sign of the legislation. It will be three weeks tomorrow since I last called a vote on this matter. Three weeks ago, Senator Boyle assured the House that there would be progress within two weeks and that, if there was none, he would be frustrated. I hope he can express his frustration by voting with us to change the Order of Business so we can debate climate change legislation and he can tell us what are the deficiencies.

Senator David Norris: Hear, hear.

Senator Rónán Mullen: The climate has changed in the Green Party.

Senator Ivana Bacik: It certainly has. Climate change legislation is a key element of its programme for which it should be pushing. Senator Hannigan, others on this side of the House and I, who have been calling for this debate for so long, are doing the Green Party a great favour by pressing its senior partner in coalition on this matter. We want to see a change in the Order of Business to discuss the Bill. It is not deficient. If Senator Boyle believes it is, let him debate it in the Chamber. I ask also for a long overdue debate on prisons. On Friday the Minister for Justice and Law Reform published no fewer than five long-delayed reports on prisons from the Inspector of Prisons. One report, dated 13 August 2009, contained damning critiques of conditions in prisons, in particular in Mountjoy Prison. The Inspector of Prisons, Mr. Justice Michael Reilly, stated there was “inhuman and degrading” treatment going on in our prisons every day and night of the year, with the horrible and brutal practice of slopping out continuing, among other things. We need to have a debate now that we have the five reports and the necessary information and Senator Cummins and I have called for one.

 SENATOR BACIK CALLS FOR INTRODUCTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION 

Order of Business

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik:      I, on behalf of the Labour Party, join other Members in welcoming the Paisleys to the House. It is historic to see them in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery.

Yesterday, I asked the Leader for a debate on the need for climate change legislation. Today, I renew my call, this time to the Deputy Leader, for such a debate. It is noteworthy the Government side only defeated the amendment I proposed to yesterday’s Order of Business by two votes, 28 to 26. That was with all three Green Senators voting with the Government side and against the call for a debate on climate change.

Senator Dan Boyle:      And we will do so again.

Senator Ivana Bacik:      Yesterday, the Deputy Leader said the heads of the Government’s climate change Bill will be published by the end of this week and the Bill itself in the next term.

Senator Dan Boyle:      By the end of the month.

Senator Ivana Bacik:      Will he clarify when precisely the heads of the Bill will be published and the Bill be introduced? I commend Friends of the Earth and the Stop Climate Chaos campaign which ran a full day’s lobbying yesterday in Buswells Hotel on the need for climate change legislation. My Climate Protection Bill has been languishing on the Order Paper since October 2007. If the Government is finding it difficult to come up with its own Bill, it could simply adopt my legislation.

I will not be lectured by Senator Mullen on the need for women Members to take an interest in issues around prostitution and trafficking. I have often called upon the Leader for debates on these issues.

Senator Rónán Mullen:      I was not giving any Member a lecture.

Senator Ivana Bacik:      I have worked for many years with organisations such as Ruhama on the need to protect victims of abuse and trafficking.

Senator Rónán Mullen:      I spoke about criminalising the users of prostitution.

An Cathaoirleach:      No interruptions.

Senator Ivana Bacik:      It is important the House debates this matter and that all male colleagues take an active role in it. It is men who are the users of prostitutes.

Senator Rónán Mullen:      We can work together on it.

Senator Ivana Bacik:      We should be working together on this. However, as Senator Keaveney said, we will not be lectured by male Members on this topic.

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik: I support the Green Party’s call for a ban on stag hunting, which is a barbaric practice. I am glad to see Green Party members standing firm on this. Senator Prendergast commented that they might wish to rename themselves “the stag party”, although that is probably not worthy of following up.

An Cathaoirleach: Could we have questions to the Leader on today’s Order of Business?

Senator Ivana Bacik: I ask the Leader for a debate on the issue of stag hunting, which seems to raise passions. Before anyone accuses me of being involved in the urban-rural divide, I grew up in the country and remember people following the fox hunts on foot in Cork, so I know it can be part of a community. However, there are other ways of doing it, such as drag hunting and so on.

It is important to remember that the Greens, while they are supporting animal welfare on this important issue, have still been making savage cuts in terms of human welfare in the social welfare Bill we opposed but which, unfortunately, passed Second Stage yesterday. I ask the Leader for a debate on the impact these social welfare cuts will have on the most vulnerable, assuming the Bill passes.

Assuming the Bill passes, we need a debate on the impact the cutbacks are having, including the reductions in carer’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance for young people. We need to know the impact this is having on young people in practice.

I support calls for a debate on Gaza, which is an important issue on which there is cross-party consensus. Finally, I am glad to see legislation announced by the Minister, Deputy Harney, on assisted human reproduction. I ask the Leader for an early debate on this issue.

An Cathaoirleach: The Deputy’s time is concluded. I call Senator Fitzgerald.

Senator Ivana Bacik: Just because there are sensitive and complex issues here does not mean we should not face up to our responsibilities as legislators and legislate. We have the report from the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction to guide us.